Balikpapan class LCH
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The Balikpapan class LCH (Landing Craft, Heavy) were originally a class of eight vessels built for the Australian Army. Today the Royal Australian Navy operates six vessels of this class, all the ships in the class having been transferred to the Navy while they were still under construction. The remaining two members of the class were transferred to the fledgling Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) when Papua New Guinea gained its independence.
The class is named after the prototype of the class HMAS Balikpapan, which is named after the city of Balikpapan, in Central Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, the site of an amphibious assault carried out by the 7th Australian Division during World War II. All vessels in the class are named after places in the Pacific region where the Australian Army fought with the support of the RAN during World War II.
The remaining six Australian vessels are in full commission in the RAN and are based in the northern ports of Cairns, Queensland and Darwin, Northern Territory. At one stage in the 90's HMAS Wewak had been laid up in mothballed status on a slip in Cairns.
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[edit] Capabilities
The Balikpapan class landing craft are capable of making oceanic voyages in moderate sea states and can mate their bow ramp to the stern of the HMAS Tobruk and the two ships of the Kanimbla class when operating in the ship to shore role.
The Balikpapan class landing craft are used for tactical beach lodgement, and can carry up to 180 tonnes of cargo. Indicative maximum loads include:
- 3 Leopard 1 tanks;
- 13 M-113 armoured personnel carriers;
- 23 quarter tonne trucks; or
- 400 fully equipped soldiers on short ship to shore voyages or 60 soldiers on longer voyages.
As the ships are only lightly armed they require escort in hostile, or potentially hostile, waters.
[edit] Units of class
- HMAS Balikpapan L-126
- HMAS Brunei L-127
- HMAS Labuan L-128
- HMAS Tarakan L-129
- HMAS Wewak L-130
- HMAS Salamaua L-131 (now with the PNGDF)
- HMAS Buna L-132 (now with the PNGDF)
- HMAS Betano L-133
[edit] Specifications
- Builder: Walkers (Maryborough, Queensland)
- Displacement: 316 tonnes
- Length: 44.5 metres
- Beam: 10.1 metres
- Ships Company: 13
- Propulsion: Two GE diesels
- Speed: 9 knots
- Armament: two 0.50 inch machine guns
