In early 2011 , '' Tobruk '' was at Garden Island Naval Dockyard for heavy repairs to the propeller shaft . As a result , she was not available to participate in Operation Yasi Assist following Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi and , due to both ships of the '' Kanimbla '' class being out of service with mechanical problems , the Navy did not have an amphibious transport capacity at the time . Minister for Defence Stephen Smith stated afterwards that he was misinformed about when '' Tobruk '' would be ready to put to sea if required . Temporary repairs were completed by 7 March , and the ship was returned to " 48-hours deployment notice " status , although more permanent repairs will be required in the future . Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011 , '' Tobruk '' and '' Sydney '' were placed on alert to transport supplies and Australian Army engineers to Japan if this was requested by the Japanese Government . In May 2011 , the ship began a two-month-long maintenance period in Sydney . To provide an amphibious capability during this refit , the civilian icebreaker '' Aurora Australis '' was chartered from May until August . Although '' Tobruk '' was to be active during late August and early September , she would then return to dockyard hands for further maintenance during September and October in preparation for the 2011 – 12 tropical cyclone season . The Australian Customs vessel '' Ocean Protector '' was used for humanitarian and disaster relief operations during '' Tobruk '' docking
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
HMAS Tobruk (L 50)