Landing Craft Heavy

The Heavy Landing Craft is an extremely important vessel, capable of moving large amounts of cargo, personnel and equipment from larger ships to shore. A very shallow draft allows these ships to deliver troops and equipment to areas otherwise unreachable.

Six LCH's form part of the Royal Australian Navy today. HMAS Brunei commissioned into the Fleet in January 1973 while HMAS Balikpapan, the prototype LCH, was originally operated by Army Water Transport. She transferred to the RAN in September 1974.

The LCH is an all-welded twin-screw vessel, able to trans-ship cargo and supplies from ships lying offshore to water terminals or across the beach. Maximum cargo load is governed by the load-fuel balance and varies between 140 and 180 tonnes. A typical load of 175 tonnes gives the LCH a range of 1300 nautical miles, increasing to 2280 nautical miles for a load of 150 tonnes.

Usual Army equipment lift can comprise three battle tanks, twenty-three quarter-tonne trucks or thirteen armored personnel carriers.

All six LCHs are currently active, with two based in Darwin and four in Cairns.

Vessels

Vessel	Pennant	Class	Commissioned
HMAS Balikpapan	L 126	Landing Craft Heavy	24412948 December 1971
HMAS Betano	L 133	Landing Craft Heavy	24420878 February 1974
HMAS Brunei	L 127	Landing Craft Heavy	24416885 January 1973
HMAS Labuan	L 128	Landing Craft Heavy	24417519 March 1973
HMAS Tarakan	L 129	Landing Craft Heavy	244184915 June 1973
HMAS Wewak	L 130	Landing Craft Heavy	244190510 August 1973