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 GM 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][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.[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]
Buna was laid down by Walkers Limited at Maryborough, Queensland on 31 July 1972, launched on 26 September 1972, and commissioned into the RAN on 7 December 1973.[5]
Operational historyedit
In April 1974, Buna, Betano, and Brunei transited to Lord Howe Island as a demonstration of the Balikpanan class' oceangoing capabilities.[6]
On 14 November 1974, Buna was decommissioned from RAN service and transferred to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.[7] In June 2021, Buna was decommissioned from PNGDF service.[8]
Referencesedit
^Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, pp. 79, 125
^ abcdefgWertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 26
^ abcGillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 79
^"Balikpapan Class Heavy Landing Craft (LCH), Australia". Naval Technology. 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
^"Former navy officers recall time on board Buna". The National. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
Sourcesedit
Books
Gillett, Ross (1988). Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946. Brookvale, NSW: Child & Associates. ISBN0-86777-219-0. OCLC 23470364.
Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. p. 26. ISBN978-1-59114-955-2. OCLC 140283156.
Journal articles
Swinden, Greg (April 2013). "Heavy Lifting for Four Decades: The Navy's Landing Craft Heavy". The Navy. 75 (2). Navy League of Australia: 20–24. ISSN 1322-6231.
April 18, 2024
hmpngs, buna, balikpapan, class, heavy, landing, craft, operated, papua, guinea, defence, force, pngdf, prior, 1974, vessel, called, hmas, buna, operated, royal, australian, navy, operating, near, port, moresby, 2016historyaustralianamesakevillage, bunabuilder. 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 L 132 and was operated by the Royal Australian Navy RAN HMPNGS Buna operating near Port Moresby in 2016HistoryAustraliaNamesakeVillage of BunaBuilderWalkers LimitedLaid down31 July 1972Launched26 September 1972Commissioned7 December 1973Decommissioned14 November 1974FateTransferred to Papua New Guinea Defence ForcePapua New GuineaAcquired14 November 1974DecommissionedJune 2021General characteristicsClass and typeBalikpapan class landing craft heavyDisplacement316 tonsLength44 5 m 146 ft Beam10 1 m 33 ft PropulsionTwo GE dieselsSpeed9 knots 17 km h 10 mph Capacity180 tons of vehicle cargo or 400 soldiersComplement13Armamenttwo 0 50 inch machine guns Contents 1 Design and construction 2 Operational history 3 References 4 SourcesDesign and construction editMain 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 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 GM 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 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 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 Buna was laid down by Walkers Limited at Maryborough Queensland on 31 July 1972 launched on 26 September 1972 and commissioned into the RAN on 7 December 1973 5 Operational history editIn April 1974 Buna Betano and Brunei transited to Lord Howe Island as a demonstration of the Balikpanan class oceangoing capabilities 6 On 14 November 1974 Buna was decommissioned from RAN service and transferred to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force 7 In June 2021 Buna was decommissioned from PNGDF service 8 References edit Gillett Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946 pp 79 125 a b c d e f g Wertheim ed The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World p 26 a b c Gillett Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946 p 79 Balikpapan Class Heavy Landing Craft LCH Australia Naval Technology 2014 Retrieved 27 September 2014 Swinden Heavy Lifting for Four Decades p 20 Swinden Heavy Lifting for Four Decades p 22 Swinden Heavy Lifting for Four Decades p 21 Former navy officers recall time on board Buna The National 28 June 2021 Retrieved 22 April 2023 Sources editBooks Gillett Ross 1988 Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946 Brookvale NSW Child amp Associates ISBN 0 86777 219 0 OCLC 23470364 Wertheim Eric ed 2007 The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World Their Ships Aircraft and Systems 15th ed Annapolis MD Naval Institute Press p 26 ISBN 978 1 59114 955 2 OCLC 140283156 Journal articles Swinden Greg April 2013 Heavy Lifting for Four Decades The Navy s Landing Craft Heavy The Navy 75 2 Navy League of Australia 20 24 ISSN 1322 6231 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMPNGS Buna amp oldid 1151178624, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
