The Navy's new amphibious assault ship is designed to land a fully equipped force of more than 2000 troops using helicopters and water craft. Courtesy: Royal Australian Navy

THIS ship is absolutely gigantic. It’s easily the biggest warship ever built for the Royal Australian Navy.

It’s a Landing Helicopter Dock called the NUSHIP Canberra, and it weighs 27,800 tonnes.

The ship will be officially commissioned by the navy later this year. It’s currently being tested by BAE systems, the company that built it, along with some members of the new crew.

The massive vessel is designed to transport and deploy troops and equipment around the world. The navy says it will be used for both military and humanitarian missions.

MORE: Navy’s biggest warship enters Sydney Harbour

So, how is anyone supposed to describe the sheer size of this thing? We could reel off a long list of impressive numbers.

For example, the NUSHIP Canberra is 230 metres long. It can transport about 1,000 soldiers, along with 400 crew members. Its flight deck can hold 16 helicopters, while the lower decks have room for 12 tanks and more than 100 trucks.

MORE: Take a look inside the vessel

But statistics like those tend to wash over our heads even faster than the water washes past this ship’s bow.

So, here’s an extremely handy diagram.

You can also get an idea of the ship’s scale by comparing it to its surroundings. Most of these photos, for instance, were taken in Sydney Harbour. The NUSHIP Canberra actually makes monuments like the Opera House seem small.

Another Landing Helicopter Dock, the NUSHIP Adelaide, is in production at the moment. It should be commissioned next year.

The two vessels, which can also be called Amphibious Assault Ships, will cost the navy about $3 billion. Given that price tag, we certainly hope size matters.