BRP Tarlac to be Assigned to Sealift Amphibious

BRP Tarlac SSV (photos : Antara, Inquirer, Philstar, PAL)

MANILA (PNA) --- The newly-arrived BRP Tarlac (LD-601) will be assigned to the Philippine Fleet's Sealift Amphibious Force.

This was disclosed by Philippine Fleet commander Rear Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado Monday as the country's first strategic sealift vessel (SSV) was formally welcomed at Pier 13, Manila South Harbor Monday afternoon.

The BRP Tarlac was one of two SSVs acquired from PT PAL (Persero) for the sum of Php3.8 billion.

Mercado said the Filipino SSV was patterned after the Indonesian Makassar-class landing platform dock.

Her sister-ship is expected to be delivered by May 2017.

The ship has a complement of 121 officers and enlisted personnel.

She can carry 500 troops, two rigid-hull inflatable boats, two landing craft units and three helicopters.

BRP Tarlac has a tonnage of 7,300 tons, overall length of 120 meters, breadth of 21 meters, draft of five meters and carry a payload of 2,800 tons.

She has a cruising speed of 13 knots and maximum speed of 16 knots.

The ship has minimum operating range of 7,500 nautical miles. (PNA)

BRP Tarlac now PN's largest vessel in commission

MANILA (PNA) -- Pending the country's acquisition of an aircraft or helicopter carrier, the newly-arrived BRP Tarlac (LD-601) is currently the Philippine Navy (PN)'s largest commissioned ship.

The latter is one of the two strategic sealift vessels (SSVs) ordered from Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL (Persero) for PHP3,870,000,000.

The BRP Tarlac anchored off the breakwater of Manila South Harbor midnight of May 14 exactly four days later after leaving the PT PAL (Persero)'s shipyard in Surabaya last May 9.

Her distinction as the PN's largest vessel ever was confirmed by Defense undersecretary for veterans affairs and retired Navy flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Jesus Millan in a message to the PNA Monday.

"(As former PN head) personally I could say that for the transport category this Tarlac class vessel is the biggest now because it has a standard load capacity of 7,200 tons versus the landing ship vessel or Bacolod City class of 4,265 tons," he added.

Millan is the PN's 34th flag-officer-in-command. He assumed command of the Navy in April 30, 2014.

He retired on Aug. 10, 2015, turning over his post to Vice Admiral Caesar Taccad.

The PN operate two ships of the Bacolod City class and these were commissioned in Dec. 1, 1993.

The two ships in the class are named BRP Dagupan City (LCC-551) and BRP Bacolod City (LCC-550).

Millan said the SSVs are a multi-role vessel and very useful for humanitarian and disaster relief missions and can be transformed to a floating government center if required.

The SSV acquisition project for the PN was initiated upon the approval of Acquisition Decision Memorandum Number 2012-060 by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin last Oct. 30, 2013.

Furthermore, these vessels are critical assets for civil-military operations due to their capability of transporting large number of soldiers, logistics, and supplies.

Moreover, each SSV has the capacity to house three helicopters. The Navy’s Augusta Westland-109s are programmed to be on-board components of these vessels.

These forthcoming landing platform dock strategic sealift vessels will improve the transport capability of the PN and boost the defense capabilities of the country. (PNA)