The BRP Iwak (LC-289) is a heavy landing craft of the Philippine Navy. From 1972 to 2012, it was known as HMAS Wewak (L 130) and served the Royal Australian Navy.[1] 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.[2]
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Name | HMAS Wewak |
| Builder | Walkers Limited (Maryborough, Queensland, Australia) |
| Laid down | 21 March 1972 |
| Launched | 19 May 1972 |
| Commissioned | 10 August 1973 |
| Decommissioned | 11 December 2012 |
| Fate | transferred to Philippine Navy. |
| History | |
 Philippines | |
| Name | BRP Iwak |
| Namesake | Iwak people, a minor Filipino ethnic group found in the Cordillera region 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 Balikpapan, underwent refurbishing, refit, and servicing works in Cebu for a few months.[3]
The ship was commissioned to Philippine Navy, together with 2 other sisterships and a new landing platform dock, on 1 June 2016 in Manila.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Philippine Navy commissions first SSV, three landing craft on 118th anniversary". IHS Jane's 360. 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ "Australia confirms Philippines' acquisition of three ex-RAN landing craft". IHS Jane's 360. 2015-10-28. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
- ^ "3 new ships officially turned over to Navy". Philstar. 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
- ^ "Navy chief asserts need to focus on territorial defense amid sea tensions". Inquirer.net. 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2016-06-01.