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DARWIN, Australia – The U.S. Marine Corps has chartered the MATILDA 1, a specialized Stern Landing Vessel (SLV), to test and develop new tactics for coastal warfare. This three-year initiative, in close partnership with the Australian Army, will enhance mobility and sustainment for forces operating in the shallow coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific.
The MATILDA 1 is a 265-foot, purpose-built vessel designed to land personnel and equipment directly onto diverse shorelines. Its shallow-draft design and specialized stern ramp allow it to access remote beaches, providing a vital logistics link for the Marine Corps’ Stand-In Forces. These small, mobile units are a cornerstone of Force Design modernization, created to operate discreetly within contested maritime environments.
To maximize its strategic impact, the MATILDA 1 will make its permanent homeport in the Northern Territory of Australia. Housed in this critical regional hub, the vessel is positioned to support units such as the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and the Australian Army's 1st Division.
From its Australian base, the SLV will be utilized for operations and experimentation across the West Pacific and Oceania. This experimentation phase will focus on logistics-centric maneuver and sustainment, and the refinement of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for operating within the littoral water space.
Notably, the MATILDA 1 represents the second platform employed for such experimentation while the U.S. Navy matures the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program. The SLV is the tangible result of rigorous service-wide concept development and close coordination with international allies and partners to bridge a current capability gap in littoral mobility.
"The MATILDA 1 gives our Stand-In Forces a way to move personnel and equipment across contested littorals without relying on fixed ports or large amphibious shipping," said Aaron Hatfield, Maritime Program Manager, Science and Technology Division, U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. "Operating it alongside the Australian Army is a near-term, allied solution to a real capability gap, and the insight it generates will shape how the Joint Force fights in the contested littorals."
The vessel’s name carries deep historical weight, honoring the partnership forged between the U.S. 1st Marine Division and the Australian Army during World War II. After the pivotal Battle of Guadalcanal, the 1st Marine Division adopted the Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda" as an unofficial anthem. The name MATILDA 1 pays tribute to this shared legacy of mutual defense in the Pacific.
Managed by MariGuard LLC on behalf of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL), the vessel represents a proven Australian design with a 30-year operational history. U.S. Marines and Australian soldiers were the first to embark on the vessel together in July 2026, marking a new chapter in the nations' long-standing alliance. This collaboration underscores a unified effort to address evolving global security challenges and master nearshore maritime operations.
This charter is a critical bridge to future naval capabilities.
"The lessons we learn from MATILDA 1's operations will directly benefit both the Marine Corps and the Navy," said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Kenny Jones, Science and Technology Division Director at the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. "By experimenting with this vessel in real-world littoral environments today, we are actively reducing risk and shaping the operational requirements for tomorrow's integrated naval fleet."
Ultimately, this initiative will provide critical data to inform the final design of the U.S. Navy's upcoming LSM, ensuring the future fleet is as effective and versatile as possible for supporting the joint force in contested environments.
| Date Taken: | 07.13.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 07.16.2026 15:09 |
| Story ID: | 569816 |
| Location: | AU |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, MCWL Charters New Stern Landing Vessel to Spearhead Marine Corps Littoral Modernization, by Emily Carroll, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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