Timorese Navy sea ride on LCHs

29 June 2011 By LCDR Priya Chandra

Executive Officer HMAS Balikpapan, Lieutenant (LEUT) David Foulds (right) briefs Timorese Navy personnel about Royal Australian Navy (RAN) operations at sea, during the Exercise Pacific Partnership 2011.

Five members of the East Timorese Navy stationed at Hera Naval Base in East Timor recently spent four days onboard Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) HMAS Balikpapan.

Balikpapan, in company with HMAS Betano, was in East Timor supporting the multi-national and multi-organisational mission Exercise Pacific Partnership 2011, following their earlier mission in Vanuatu. A trip to the Lospalos region of East Timor provided an excellent opportunity for the East Timorese team to not only see the Australian Navy but also her LCHs in action.

These 'utes of the sea' are 44 metres in length and can carry a maximum of 180 tonnes of cargo. Their shallow draft allows them to undertake beach landings in areas that are difficult for larger amphibious transport ships to access.

The LCHs can also provide longer term transport, meals and accommodation for up to 14 personnel in purpose built accommodation modules placed on the tank deck.

Over the course of the Pacific Partnership mission Betano and Balikpapan demonstrated their flexibility and amphibious capability, transporting over 100 personnel to five sites in two different countries. This allowed medical, dental and veterinarian civil action programs to be conducted in remote locations.

This was the first time onboard an LCH for the East Timorese sailors.

"I'm more used to working in Patrol Boats and with the Portuguese," said Second Lieutenant Da Costa.

"It has been very interesting watching the Australian Navy at work. Everyone has been very welcoming."

During their time onboard the sailors were briefed on the ship's capabilities and were able to witness many of the crew in action conducting a light line transfer of stores and equipment from one LCH to the other, ship to shore transport of people and equipment, and tactical warfare manoeuvering.

The Executive Officer of HMAS Balikpapan, Lieutenant David Foulds, thought the experience was valuable.

"We’ve been able to go through many of our engineering operating procedures as well as some navigational techniques," said Lieutenant Foulds.

"Even though there was a language barrier I think they have still benefited from their time with us."