| Career (Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Island of Labuan |
| Builder: | Walkers Limited |
| Laid down: | October 1971 |
| Launched: | 29 December 1971 |
| Commissioned: | 9 March 1973 |
| Motto: | "Fail Not" |
| Honours and awards: |
Battle honours: East Timor 1999-2000 |
| Status: | Active as of 2012 |
| 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 x 0.50 inch machine guns |
HMAS Labuan (L 128) is a Balikpapan class heavy landing craft of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Contents |
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.[1] 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).[2] The landing craft have a standard displacement of 316 tons, with a full load displacement of 503 tons.[2] 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).[2] The standard ship's company is 13-strong.[2] 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.[2]
The LCHs have a maximum payload of 180 tons; equivalent to 3 Leopard 1 tanks, 13 M113 armored personnel carriers 23 quarter-tonne trucks, or four LARC-V amphibious cargo vehicles.[2][3] 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.[3] 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.[2] The flat, box-like keel causes the ships to roll considerably in other-than-calm conditions, limiting their ability to make long voyages.[3]
Labuan was laid down by Walkers Limited, at Maryborough, Queensland in October 1971, launched on 29 December 1971 and commissioned into the RAN on 9 March 1973.[4] Labuan is named after Labuan, an island off the east coast of Sabah.
She was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy Reserve on 15 June 1979 to serve as the training vessel for the Port Brisbane Division,[5] but was later returned to active service.
Labuan was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping during 1999 and 2000.[6] She was attached to INTERFET on three occasions; 20 September to 14 October 1999, 10 November to 8 December 1999, and 19 to 23 February 2000.[6] These deployments were recognised with the battle honour "East Timor 1999-2000".[7][8]