HMAS Tarakan (L 129)

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by LilHelpa (talk | contribs) at 17:56, 23 September 2014 (mos to remove typo). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For other ships with the same name, see HMAS Tarakan.
HMAS Tarakan (L 129) during the International Fleet Review 2013
History
Australia
NamesakeThe Allied recapture of Tarakan
BuilderWalkers Limited (Maryborough, Queensland)
Laid down12 December 1971
Launched16 March 1972
Commissioned15 June 1973
Motto"Nothing Daunts"
Nickname(s)'Trash Can'[1]
Honours and
awards		list error: <br /> list (help)
Battle honours:
East Timor 1999-2000
StatusActive as of 2014
General characteristics
Class and typeBalikpapan class landing craft heavy
Displacement316 tons
Length44.5 m (146 ft)
Beam10.1 m (33 ft)
PropulsionTwo GE diesels
Speed9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Capacity180 tons of vehicle cargo or 400 soldiers
Complement13
Armament2 × 0.50 inch machine guns

HMAS Tarakan (L 129), named after the Australian landing at Tarakan during World War II, is a Balikpapan class heavy landing craft of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Design and construction

Main article: Balikpapan class landing craft heavy

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] Tarakan has since been upgraded to two Caterpillar 3406E Marine Diesel engines.[citation needed] 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,[citation needed] or embark 60 soldiers[citation needed] in six-berth caravans for longer voyages.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] The ship sailed from Brisbane on 27 December, and arrived on 13 January.[6]

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.[7] 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.[7]

Tarakan was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce during 1999 and 2000.[8] She was attached to INTERFET on two occasions; 30 October to 8 December 1999, and 13 January to 16 February 2000.[8] 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.[9][10] Tarakan and sister ship Balikpapan returned to East Timor in May 2006 as part of Operation Astute.[11]

In 2010, Tarakan and Labuan participated in the Pacific Partnership humanitatian deployment.[11] During June and July 2012, Tarakan was used to move personnel and stores to remote communities to facilitate the 2012 Papua New Guinea election.[11]

In October 2013 participated in the International Fleet Review 2013 in Sydney, Australia.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Swinden, Heavy Lifting for Four Decades, p. 22
  2. ^ Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, pgs 79, 125
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 26
  4. ^ a b c d e Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 79
  5. ^ Swinden, Heavy Lifting for Four Decades, p. 20
  6. ^ a b Sea Power Centre, Disaster Relief
  7. ^ a b Swinden, Heavy Lifting for Four Decades, p. 23
  8. ^ a b Stevens, Strength Through Diversity, p. 15
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ a b c Swinden, Heavy Lifting for Four Decades, p. 24
  12. ^ 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.

Sources

Books
Journal articles
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMAS_Tarakan_(L_129)&oldid=626791704"