HMAS Balikpapan (L 126)
HMAS Balikpapan in 2011
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| History | |
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 Australia
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| Namesake: | City of Balikpapan |
| Builder: | Walkers Limited |
| Laid down: | 1 May 1971 |
| Launched: | 15 August 1971 |
| Commissioned: | 8 December 1971 (Army) |
| Recommissioned: | 27 September 1974 (Navy) |
| Decommissioned: | 12 December 2012 |
| Motto: | "Bravely in Action" |
| Honours and awards: |
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| Status: | Awaiting disposal |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Balikpapan class landing craft heavy |
| Displacement: | 316 tons |
| Length: | 44.5 m (146 ft) |
| Beam: | 10.1 m (33 ft) |
| Propulsion: | Two Caterpillar diesels |
| Speed: | 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Capacity: | 180 tons of vehicle cargo or 400 soldiers |
| Complement: | 13 |
| Armament: | 2 × 0.50 inch machine guns |
HMAS Balikpapan (L 126) was the lead ship of the Balikpapan class of heavy landing craft (LCH). Ordered in 1969, Balikpapan entered service with the Australian Army Water Transport Squadron in late 1971. After this, the decision to place all seagoing Army vessels under the control of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) saw Balikpapan transferred and commissioned in 1974; the last of the eight-vessel class to enter RAN service. Balikpapan was placed in reserve in 1985, but was reactivated three years later. During late 1999 and early 2000, the vessel was part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce, and made additional deployments to East Timor in 2001 and 2006. On 12 December 2012, Balikpapan was retired from RAN service.
The eight-vessel Balikpapan class was ordered as a locally manufactured replacement for the Australian Army's LSM-1 class landing ship medium and ALC 50 landing craft. They are 44.5 metres (146 ft) long, with a beam of 10.1 metres (33 ft), and a draught of 1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in). The landing craft have a standard displacement of 316 tons, with a full load displacement of 503 tons. They are propelled by two G.M. Detroit 6-71 diesel motors, providing 675 brake horsepower to the two propeller shafts, allowing the vessels to reach 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph). The standard ship's company is 13-strong. The Balikpapans are equipped with a Decca RM 916 navigational radar, and fitted with two 7.62 millimetres (0.300 in) machine guns for self-defence.
The LCHs have a maximum payload of 180 tons; equivalent to 3 Leopard 1 tanks, 13 M113 armoured personnel carriers 23 quarter-tonne trucks, or four LARC-V amphibious cargo vehicles. As a troop transport, a Balikpapan class vessel can transport up to 400 soldiers between a larger amphibious ship and the shore, or embark 60 soldiers in six-berth caravans for longer voyages. The vessel's payload affects the range: at 175 tons of cargo, each vessel has a range of 1,300 nautical miles (2,400 km; 1,500 mi), which increases to 2,280 nautical miles (4,220 km; 2,620 mi) with a 150-ton payload, and 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) when unladen. The flat, box-like keel causes the ships to roll considerably in other-than-calm conditions, limiting their ability to make long voyages.
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