HMAS Tarakan (L 129)

For other ships of the same name, see HMAS Tarakan.
HMAS Tarakan (L 129) during the International Fleet Review 2013
Career (Australia)
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: 'Trash Can'[1]
Honours and
awards:		 Battle honours:
East Timor 1999–2000
Fate: Awaiting transfer to Philippine Navy
Career (Philippines)
Acquired: May 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.

Design and construction

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.[2] 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).[3] The landing craft have a standard displacement of 316 tons, with a full load displacement of 503 tons.[3] 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).[3] The standard ship's company is 17-strong.[3] 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.[3]

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.[3][4] 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.[4][5] 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.[3] The flat, box-like keel causes the ships to roll considerably in other-than-calm conditions, limiting their ability to make long voyages.[4]

Tarakan was laid down by Walkers Limited at Maryborough, Queensland on 12 December 1971, launched on 16 March 1972 and commissioned into the RAN on 15 June 1973.[6]

Operational history

Following the destruction of Darwin by Cyclone Tracy during the night of 24/25 December 1974, Tarakan was deployed as part of the relief effort; Operation Navy Help Darwin.[7] The ship sailed from Brisbane on 27 December, and arrived on 13 January.[7]

In 1978, the LCH performed hydrographic surveys of Port Clinton, Queensland.[1]

Tarakan was placed in reserve on 6 September 1985, one of three landing craft decommissioned for economic reasons.[4][1] She was reactivated in 1988.[3][4]

From May 1992 to April 1993, Tarakan was used by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to relocate an overpopulation of Tridacna gigas clams from Orpheus Island to Grub Reef.[8] Tarakan was seconded to Operation Beachcomber on several occasions between 1991 and 1995 for hydrographic duties.[1]

In November 1997, Tarakan and Labuan delivered humanitarian supplies to drought-stricken areas in northern Papua New Guinea.[8]

Tarakan was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce during 1999 and 2000.[9] She was attached to INTERFET on two occasions; 30 October to 8 December 1999, and 13 January to 16 February 2000.[9] Following an overhaul of the RAN battle honours system, concluded in March 2010, Tarakan was awarded the honour "East Timor 1999–2000" for these deployments.[10][11] Tarakan and sister ship Balikpapan returned to East Timor in May 2006 as part of Operation Astute.[12]

In 2010, Tarakan and Labuan participated in the Pacific Partnership humanitarian deployment.[12] During June and July 2012, Tarakan was used to move personnel and stores to remote communities to facilitate the 2012 Papua New Guinea election.[12]

In October 2013 participated in the International Fleet Review 2013.[13]

After participating in Exercise Croix Du Sud off New Caledonia, Labuan and Tarakan delivered humanitarian supplies to remote coastal settlements in the Solomon Islands in September 2014 as part of Australian support efforts in the region.[14]

Decommissioning

Tarakan, along with Labuan and Brunei, were decommissioned on 20 November 2014.[15]

Tarakan and Brunei are to be refurbished and fitted with new safety and navigation equipment.[16] On completion (planned by May 2015), the two vessels will be donated to the Philippine Navy.[16]

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Swinden, Heavy Lifting for Four Decades, p. 22
  2. ↑ Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, pgs 79, 125
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 26
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 79
  5. ↑ "Balikpapan Class Heavy Landing Craft (LCH), Australia". Naval Technology. 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  6. ↑ Swinden, Heavy Lifting for Four Decades, p. 20
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sea Power Centre, Disaster Relief
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Swinden, Heavy Lifting for Four Decades, p. 23
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Stevens, Strength Through Diversity, p. 15
  10. ↑ "Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours". Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours" (PDF). Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Swinden, Heavy Lifting for Four Decades, p. 24
  13. ↑ Commonwealth of Australia (2013). "Participating Warships: International Fleet Review, Sydney, Australia, 3–11 October 2013". www.navy.gov.au. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  14. ↑ "Australian Navy Delivers Supplies to Solomon Islands". Naval Today. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  15. ↑ Staples, Natalie (20 November 2014). "Final farewell for landing craft". Navy Daily (Royal Australian Navy). Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Fonbuena, Carmela (29 January 2015). "Australia's gift to PH Navy: 2 supply ships". Rapller. Retrieved 30 January 2015.

References

Books
Journal articles