HMAS Tarakan (L 129)
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HMAS Tarakan during the International Fleet Review 2013
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia
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| Name: | Tarakan |
| Namesake: | The Allied recapture of Tarakan |
| Builder: | Walkers Limited (Maryborough, Queensland) |
| Laid down: | 12 December 1971 |
| Launched: | 16 March 1972 |
| Commissioned: | 15 June 1973 |
| Decommissioned: | 20 November 2014 |
| Motto: | "Nothing Daunts" |
| Nickname(s): | 'Trash Can' |
| Honours and awards: |
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| Fate: | Awaiting transfer to Philippine Navy |
| History | |
 Philippines
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| Acquired: | 20 July 2015 (planned) |
| Commissioned: | 23 July 2015 (planned) |
| 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 GE diesels |
| Speed: | 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) |
| Capacity: | 180 tons of vehicle cargo or 400 soldiers |
| Complement: | 13 |
| Armament: | 2 × 0.50 inch machine guns |
HMAS Tarakan (L 129) was a Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). One of eight vessels built by Walkers Limited, Tarakan (named after the Australian landing at Tarakan during World War II) entered RAN service in 1973. During the vessel's career, Tarakan was deployed post-Cyclone Tracy as part of Operation Navy Help Darwin, undertook various surveying operations, was placed in reserve between 1985 and 1988, relocated an overpopulation of Tridacna gigas clams, was part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce, and participated in a Pacific Partnership humanitarian deployment. Tarakan was decommissioned from Australian service in 2014, and is to be transferred to the Philippine Navy in 2015.
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 were 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 17-strong. The Balikpapans are equipped with a Decca RM 916 navigational radar, and fitted with two 12.7 millimetres (0.50 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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