BRP Waray (LC-288)

BRP Waray (LC-288) is a heavy landing craft of the Philippine Navy. From 1972 to 2012, it was known as HMAS Betano (L 133) and served the Royal Australian Navy.[1] Betano was decommissioned in December 2012, stored until it was sold by the Australian government to the Philippine Navy to assist in improving the country's humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities.[2]

History
Australia
Name: HMAS Betano
Builder: Walkers Limited (Maryborough, Queensland, Australia)
Laid down: September 1972
Launched: 5 December 1972
Commissioned: 8 February 1974
Decommissioned: 12 December 2012
Fate: transferred to Philippine Navy.
History
Philippines
Name: BRP Waray
Namesake: Waray people, a Filipino ethnic group located in the eastern Visayas islands of Leyte and Samar, 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 Balikpapan and HMAS Wewak, underwent refurbishing, refit, and servicing works in Cebu for a few months.[3]

The ship was commissioned to Philippine Navy, together with two other sister ships and a new landing platform dock, on 1 June 2016 in Manila.[4]

Operational history

In November 2018, BRP Waray conducted a Community Outreach and Education Program to counter violent extremism in Barangay Doña Consuelo, Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental that benefited 2,137 individuals. The crew of BRP Waray were later given the Military Merit Medal (Philippines) for their participation in the operation.[5]

In December 2018, the ship together with the BRP Agta (LC-290), Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) Mk 1 (BA-484), BRP Juan Magluyan (PC-392), Philippine Marine Corps and Naval Special Operations Group units conducted an amphibious operation on Minis Island, Patikul, Sulu that resulted in the neutralization of seven Abu Sayyaf bandits, apprehension of 10 individuals and the recovery of several firearms and other war materials. The crew of BRP Waray were later given the Bronze Cross Medal for their participation in the operation.[5]

In June 2019, BRP Waray with personnel from the Naval Intelligence Service Unit 62 and Naval Special Operations Unit 6 intercepted M/L Lady Rosmina off the waters of Zamboanga City based on a tip that it was undertaking human trafficking operations. Over 100 victims were rescued, they were supposed to be brought to Malaysia thru Tawi-Tawi.[6]

See also

References
  1. "Philippine Navy commissions first SSV, three landing craft on 118th anniversary". IHS Jane's 360. 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
  2. "Australia confirms Philippines' acquisition of three ex-RAN landing craft". IHS Jane's 360. 2015-10-28. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  3. "3 new ships officially turned over to Navy". Philstar. 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  4. "Navy chief asserts need to focus on territorial defense amid sea tensions". Inquirer.net. 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  5. "Navy fetes Western Mindanao Personnel for Gallantry, Performance"
  6. "Navy intercepts Boat trafficking 100 to Malaysia"
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