Balikpapan-class landing craft heavy
The Balikpapan class is a ship class of eight heavy landing craft. All eight were originally laid down by Walkers Limited for the Australian Army in the early 1970s. A reorganisation of watercraft responsibilities in the Australian military meant the landing craft were to be operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), with seven commissioned directly into RAN service during 1973 and 1974, and lead ship Balikpapan transferred from the army to the navy. During the leadup to the independence of Papua New Guinea in 1975, two of the vessels were transferred to the new Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).
HMAS Balikpapan in 2011
M-113 armoured personnel carriers disembarking on a beach from a Balikpapan-class landing craft
Australian troops landing in East Timor 2006, using HMAS Balikpapan
Balikpapan (left), Wewak, and a United States Navy Landing Craft Utility underway during Pacific Partnership 2011
Walkers Limited was an Australian engineering company, based in Maryborough, Queensland. It built ships and railway locomotives. The Walkers factory still produces railway locomotives and rolling stock as part of Downer Rail.
Queensland Rail IMU 100 class at Landsborough in April 2010
Image: State Lib Qld 1 95324 Maryborough (ship)
HMAS Toowoomba in 1941
Former Royal Australian Navy Attack-class patrol boat HMAS Advance on Port Jackson in October 2013