Portal:Military history of Australia/Equipment/15
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The Balikpapan class LCH (Landing Craft, Heavy) were a class of Australian designed and built landing craft which first entered service in the early 1970s. Eight Balikpapan-class ships served with the Royal Australian Navy from the early 1970s. Two of these were transferred to Papua New Guinea Defence Force in the mid-1970s. The remaining six were paid off from RAN service between 2010 and 2014. Of these, one was later transferred to the PNGDF and five have been gifted to the Philippines. The Balikpapan-class LCHs were capable of carrying up to 180 tons of cargo which can include up to 13 M-113 armoured personnel carriers or 400 soldiers.