Tarlac enhances PH Marines amphibious landing capabilities

From Update.Ph (May 17): BRP Tarlac enhances PH Marines amphibious landing capabilities

Having the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) in the Navy’s inventory will greatly enhance the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC)’s amphibious landing capabilities. This was stressed by Philippine Fleet commander Rear Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado in a briefing Monday.

“You know the Philippine Navy (PN) in our modernization program, we’re trying to build capabilities, that’s why we call it a landing dock for amphibious operations,” Rear Admiral Mercado said.

He added that some of PMC’s troops will be embark aboard BRP Tarlac and the second SSV.

Amphibious capability is defined as an offensive military operation that uses naval ships to project ground and air power onto a hostile or potentially hostile shore at a designated landing beach.

Formerly, the PN’s amphibious capabilities were demonstrated by its World War II-era landing ship tanks.

The BRP Tarlac is ideal for this role as she can carry 500 troops at one time besides, two rigid-hull inflatable boats, two landing craft units and three helicopters.

She also has minimum operating range of 7,500 nautical miles and a complement of 121 officers and enlisted personnel.

The BRP Tarlac is 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.

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.

http://www.update.ph/2016/05/brp-tarlac-enhances-ph-marines-amphibious-landing-capabilities/5733