The Philippine Navy will boosts its arsenal as the government is expected to receive two landing heavy vessels from the Australian Navy this year 2015. The Australian Royal Navy confirmed that they will donate decommissioned vessels HMAS Tarakan and HMAS Brunei as soon as it gets new safety and navigation equipment.
According to Australian Defense Minister Kevin Andres they expect the vessels to be ready for handover this coming May 2015. The two sealift vessels were decommissioned during the 2014.
HMAS Tarakan and HMAS Brunei are capable of carrying large vehicles and it can dock in any shores. The HMAS Tarakan or L129 of the Australian Royal Navy is a Balikpapan class heavy landing craft first used in 1971, and served for the Royal Navy during its deployment in East Timor.
HMAS Tarakan was named before the town of Tarakan, in Borneo, one of the places occupied by the Japanese, during World War II and later on recaptured by the Allied Forces.
The HMAS Brunei (L127) on the other hand is also a Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft and one of the eight vessels built by Walkers Limited. It was named after the amphibious landings at Brunei Bay, part of the Battle of North Borneo in World War II.
Meanwhile the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) noted through AFP spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla Jr., that the said vessels will help the country boost its maritime capabilities, especially during times of storms and other calamities.
