Australian and United States soldiers disembarking from HMAS Wewak during a 2001 training exercise |
|
| Career (Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Wewak, Papua New Guinea |
| Builder: | Walkers Limited in Maryborough, Queensland |
| Laid down: | March 1972 |
| Launched: | 18 May 1972 |
| Commissioned: | 10 August 1974 |
| Homeport: | HMAS Cairns |
| Motto: | "Do Not Yield" |
| Status: | Active as of 2012 |
| 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 GE diesels |
| Speed: | 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) |
| Capacity: | 180 tons of vehicle cargo or 400 soldiers |
| Complement: | 13 |
| Armament: | two 0.50 inch machine guns |
HMAS Wewak (L 130) is the fifth ship of the Balikpapan class of heavy landing craft operated by 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]
Wewak was laid down by Walkers Limited at Maryborough, Queensland in March 1972, launched on 18 May 1972, and commissioned into the RAN on 10 August 1974.[4]
Following the destruction of Darwin by Cyclone Tracy during the night of 24-25 December 1974, Wewak was deployed as part of the relief effort; Operation Navy Help Darwin.[5] Wewak was the last of the 13 ships to join the operation; sailing from Brisbane on 2 January 1975, and arriving on 13 January.[5]
Wewak was placed in reserve on 16 August 1985, but was reactivated in 2000.[2][3]