BRP Agta (LC-290)

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.[1]

History
Australia
Name: HMAS Balikpapan
Builder: Walkers Limited (Maryborough, Queensland, Australia)
Laid down: 1 May 1971
Launched: 15 August 1971
Commissioned: 8 December 1971 (Army)
Recommissioned: 27 September 1974 (Navy)
Decommissioned: 12 December 2012
Fate: transferred to Philippine Navy.
History
Philippines
Name: BRP Agta
Namesake: Agta people, also known as Aeta or Negrito, an indigenous Filipino ethnic group scattered in the island of Luzon, Philippines
Operator: Philippine Navy
Acquired: 2016
Commissioned: 1 June 2016
Status: in active service
General characteristics
Class and type: Ivatan-class (Balikpapan class)
Type: Landing Craft Heavy
Displacement: 364 tons standard
517 tons full load
Length: 44.5 m (146 ft)
Beam: 10.1 m (33 ft)
Draft: 2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Propulsion: 2 × General Motors Detroit 6–71 diesel motors (original)
2 × Caterpillar 3406E diesel engines (RAN since 2005)
Speed: 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Range: 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) unladen
1,300 nautical miles (2,400 km; 1,500 mi) with 175 tons of cargo
Capacity: 180 tons of cargo
Complement: 16
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Racal Decca Bridgemaster I-band navigational radar
Armament: two 7.62 mm (0.300 in) machine guns

Prior to commissioning with the Philippine Navy, the ship, together with the former HMAS Betano and HMAS Wewak, underwent refurbishing, refit, and servicing works in Cebu for a few months.[2]

The ship was commissioned to Philippine Navy, together with 2 other sisterships and a new landing platform dock, on 1 June 2016 in Manila.[3]

Operational history

In December 2018, the BRP Agta together with the BRP Waray (LC-288), Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) Mk 1 (BA-484), BRP Juan Magluyan (PC-392), Philippine Marine Corps and Naval Special Operations Group units conducted an Amphibious Operation on Minis Island, Patikul, Sulu that resulted in the neutralization of seven Abu Sayyaf bandits, apprehension of 10 individuals and the recovery of several firearms and other war materials. The crew of the BRP Agta were later given the Military Merit Medal (Philippines) with Spearhead Device for their participation in the operation.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Australia confirms Philippines' acquisition of three ex-RAN landing craft". IHS Jane's 360. 2015-10-28. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  2. "3 new ships officially turned over to Navy". The Philippine Star. 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  3. "Navy chief asserts need to focus on territorial defense amid sea tensions". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  4. "Navy fetes Western Mindanao Personnel for Gallantry, Performance"
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