HMAS Betano

Last updated

HMAS Betano 2011.jpg
HMAS Betano in June 2011
History
Naval Ensign of Australia.svgAustralia
Builder Walkers Limited
Laid downSeptember 1972
Launched5 December 1972
Commissioned8 February 1974
Decommissioned12 December 2012
Homeport HMAS Coonawarra
Motto"Bravely In Difficulties"
Honours and
awards
StatusAwaiting disposal
Badge HMAS betano crest.png
General characteristics
Class and type Balikpapan-classlanding 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 Betano (L 133) was a Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Contents

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. [3] 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). [4] The landing craft have a standard displacement of 316 tons, with a full load displacement of 503 tons. [4] 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). [4] The standard ship's company is 13-strong. [4] 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. [4]

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. [4] [5] 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 [6] in six-berth caravans for longer voyages. [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. [4] The flat, box-like keel causes the ships to roll considerably in other-than-calm conditions, limiting their ability to make long voyages. [5]

Betano was laid down by Walkers Limited at Maryborough, Queensland on 3 October 1972, launched on 12 December 1972, and commissioned into the RAN on 8 February 1974. [7]

Operational history

In April 1974, Betano, Buna, and Brunei transited to Lord Howe Island as a demonstration of the Balikpanan class' oceangoing capabilities. [8]

Following the destruction of Darwin by Cyclone Tracy during the night of 24–25 December 1974, Betano was deployed as part of the relief effort; Operation Navy Help Darwin. [9] Betano sailed from Brisbane on 26 December. [9]

From 1985 to 1988, Betano and Brunei were assigned to the Australian Hydrographic Officer and operated as survey ships in the waters of northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. [8]

The ship was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce from 19 January to 19 February 2000. [10] Her service earned her the battle honour "East Timor 2000". [1] [2]

Decommissioning and fate

Betano was decommissioned at Darwin on 12 December 2012. [11] [12] The Philippine Navy has shown interest in acquiring the ship after the Australian government donated two sister ships, HMAS Brunei and HMAS Tarakan in 2015. [13] [14] It was later confirmed that the Philippine Navy will acquire three more LCHs from Australia, including ex-HMAS Betano, at a token price. [15]

Related Research Articles

HMAS <i>Balikpapan</i>

HMAS Balikpapan was the lead ship of the Balikpapan class of heavy landing craft (LCH). Ordered in 1969, Balikpapan entered service with the Australian Army Water Transport Squadron in late 1971. After this, the decision to place all seagoing Army vessels under the control of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) saw Balikpapan transferred and commissioned in 1974; the last of the eight-vessel class to enter RAN service. Balikpapan was placed in reserve in 1985, but was reactivated three years later. During late 1999 and early 2000, the vessel was part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce, and made additional deployments to East Timor in 2001 and 2006. On 12 December 2012, Balikpapan was retired from RAN service.

HMPNGS <i>Buna</i>

HMPNGS Buna is a Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft operated by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). Prior to 1974, the vessel was called HMAS Buna and was operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

HMAS <i>Kalgoorlie</i>

HMAS Kalgoorlie (J192/B245/A119), named for the city of Kalgoorlie, was one of 60 Bathurst-class corvettes constructed during World War II and one of 20 built for the Admiralty but manned by personnel of and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

HMPNGS <i>Lakekamu</i>

HMPNGS Lakekamu is Balikpapan-class landing craft heavy (LCH) operated by the Maritime Operations Element of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). The vessel was one of eight built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in the 1970s, and was commissioned into the RAN as HMAS Labuan in March 1973. Labuan was decommissioned in November 2014. She was transferred to the PNGDF for use as a training ship and was commissioned as HMPNGS Lakekamu in December 2014.

HMPNGS Salamaua is a Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft operated by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). Prior to 1974, the vessel was called HMAS Salamaua and was operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

<i>Fremantle</i>-class patrol boat Patrol boat class of the Royal Australian Navy

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<i>Balikpapan</i>-class landing craft heavy

The Balikpapan class is a ship class of eight heavy landing craft. All eight were originally laid down by Walkers Limited for the Australian Army in the early 1970s. A reorganisation of watercraft responsibilities in the Australian military meant the landing craft were to be operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), with seven commissioned directly into RAN service during 1973 and 1974, and lead ship Balikpapan transferred from the army to the navy. During the leadup to the independence of Papua New Guinea in 1975, two of the vessels were transferred to the new Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).

<i>Canberra</i>-class landing helicopter dock

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HMAS <i>Tobruk</i> (L 50) Modified Round Table-class Landing Ship Heavy of the Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Tobruk was a Landing Ship Heavy (LSH) of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), based on the design of the Round Table-class of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Planning for the ship began in the 1970s to provide the Australian Army with a permanent sealift capability. She was laid down by Carrington Slipways in 1979, launched in 1980, and commissioned in 1981. She was a multi-purpose, roll-on/roll-off heavy lift ship capable of transporting soldiers, APCs, and tanks, and delivering them to shore via landing craft or directly by beaching.

HMAS <i>Bathurst</i> (ACPB 85)

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HMAS <i>Labuan</i> (L3501)

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HMAS <i>Wewak</i>

HMAS Wewak was the fifth ship of the Balikpapan class of heavy landing craft operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Amphibious warfare ships of Australia

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HMAS <i>Adelaide</i> (L01) Landing helicopter dock of the Royal Australian Navy (launched 2012)

HMAS Adelaide (L01) is the second of two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and is the largest ever built for the Royal Australian Navy. It is the current flagship of the RAN fleet. Construction of the ship started at Navantia's Spanish shipyard with steel-cutting in February 2010. The ship was laid down in February 2011, and launched on 4 July 2012. Delivery to Australia for fitting out at BAE Systems Australia's facilities in Victoria was scheduled for 2013, but did not occur until early 2014. Despite construction delays and predictions the ship was commissioned in December 2015.

HMAS <i>Brunei</i>

BRP Ivatan (LC-298) is a Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft operated by the Philippine Navy. One of eight vessels built by Walkers Limited for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the ship was commissioned into Australian service in 1973 as HMAS Brunei. During her RAN career, Brunei visited Lord Howe Island, was deployed post-Cyclone Tracy as part of Operation Navy Help Darwin, performed coastal surveys of northern Australia and Papua New Guinea, and served as part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce.

BRP <i>Batak</i> (LC-299)

BRP Batak (LC-299) is a Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft operated by the Philippine Navy. One of eight vessels built by Walkers Limited for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the ship was commissioned into Australian service in 1973 as HMAS Tarakan. During her RAN 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.

BRP Waray (LC-288) is a heavy landing craft of the Philippine Navy. From 1972 to 2012, it was known as HMAS Betano (L 133) and served the Royal Australian Navy. Betano was decommissioned in December 2012 and stored until it was sold by the Australian government to the Philippine Navy to assist in improving the country's humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities.

The BRP Agta (LC-290) is a landing craft heavy of the Philippine Navy. From 1972 to 2012, it was known as HMAS Balikpapan (L 126) and served the Royal Australian Navy. It was decommissioned in December 2012, was stored until it was sold by the Australian government to the Philippine Navy to assist in improving the country's Humaritarian and Disaster Relief capabilities.

The BRP Iwak (LC-289) is a heavy landing craft of the Philippine Navy. From 1972 to 2012, it was known as HMAS Wewak (L 130) and served the Royal Australian Navy. It was decommissioned in December 2012, was stored until it was sold by the Australian government to the Philippine Navy to assist in improving the country's Humaritarian and Disaster Relief capabilities.

References

  1. 1 2 "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.
  2. 1 2 "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.
  3. ↑ Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, pp. 79, 125
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 26
  5. 1 2 3 Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 79
  6. ↑ "Amphibious Manoeuvre Operations". Semaphore. August 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Swinden, Heavy Lifting for Four Decades, p. 20
  8. 1 2 Swinden, Heavy Lifting for Four Decades, p. 22
  9. 1 2 Sea Power Centre, Disaster Relief
  10. ↑ Stevens, Strength Through Diversity, p. 15
  11. ↑ "HMA Ships Balikpapan and Betano decommissioned". Royal Australian Navy. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  12. ↑ "HMAS Betano". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  13. ↑ "Australia to donate heavy landing craft to Philippines". IHS Jane's 360. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  14. ↑ "Philippines edges closer to Australian landing craft procurement". IHS Jane's 360. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  15. ↑ "Australia confirms Philippines' acquisition of three ex-RAN landing craft". IHS Jane's 360. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.

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