Tarlac-class landing platform dock

BRP Tarlac (LD-601) underway in May 2016
Class overview
Name	Tarlac class
Builders	PT PAL Indonesia
Operators	Philippine Navy
Built	2015–2017
In commission	2016– present
Planned	2
Building	2
Completed	2
Active	2
General characteristics
Type	Landing Platform Dock
Displacement	Standard: 7,200 tons Full load: 11,583 tons[1]
Length	123 m (403.5 ft)
Beam	21.8 m (71.5 ft)
Draft	5 m (16.4 ft)
Installed power	1 x MAN D2842 LE301 diesel generator
Propulsion	Combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) arrangement: 2 × MAN-STX 8L27/38 diesel engines, each producing 3,915 bhp (2,920 kW)
Speed	Cruising: 13 kn (24.1 km/h; 15 mph) Maximum: 16 kn (29.6 km/h; 18.4 mph)
Range	9360 nmi (17334.7 km)
Endurance	30 days
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × LCU or LCM at floodable well decks 2 × RHIB or LCVP at boat davits
Capacity	500 troops plus associated vehicles and equipment
Complement	121 crew
Sensors and processing systems	Furuno X-band & S-band navigational radars Combat management system (planned) Surface search radar (planned) Air search radar (planned) Electro-Optical Fire Control System (planned)
Electronic warfare & decoys	Electronic Warfare Suite (planned)
Armament	1 × 76mm (3in) main gun on foredeck (FFBNW) 2 × 25mm secondary guns, one each on port and starboard sides (FFBNW) 6 x .50cal (12.7mm) guns
Aircraft carried	One × AW109E Power naval helicopter
Aviation facilities	Hangar for one medium (10-ton) helicopter Flight deck for two medium (10-ton) helicopters

The Tarlac class are landing platform docks of the Philippine Navy meant for amphibious operations and transport duties in support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The class was initially called the "Strategic Sealift Vessel" before being formally named. The ships will also double as a support platform for Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Search & Rescue (SAR) operations.

Two ships were constructed by the PT PAL Indonesia based on the Indonesian Navy's Makassar class.^[2] Construction of the first unit already started in January 2015 and was delivered in July 2016, while the second unit started a few months after and delivered by 2017 after going through sea trials.^[3] The lead ship was launched on 17 January 2016^[4] as BRP Tarlac.^[5] The second ship was delivered on 10 May 2017 and named as BRP Davao del Sur.^[6]

The Philippine Navy has reported in June 2022 that a future version of the Tarlac-class was ordered.^[7]

History

The original strategic sealift vessel project was based on a proposal to acquire a converted Ro-Ro (Roll On – Roll Off) vessel from Japan as recommended by the Center of Naval Leadership & Excellence in 2009. Purchase and technical assistance was to be provided by the DBP Maritime Leasing Corporation Inc. (DMLC).^[8] It was one of the priority items in the wish list for purchase between 2012 and 2016 presented by the armed forces to the House of Representatives' committee on national defense and security on 26 January 2011. But this project did not push through due to delays in budget allocation and with the ship being offered and sold to another buyer.^[9]

Initially a separate project from the Strategic Sealift Vessel, the Department of National Defense (DND) was rushing the acquisition of one or two multi-role vessels (MRV) for the Philippine Navy through government-to-government contract at a cost of 5 to 10 billion pesos. Initially the reported source of the said ships is either South Korea or Singapore.^[10] Previous statements and news reports indicate that the multi-role vessels are comparable to landing platform docks operated by foreign navies like the Singaporean Endurance class or the Spanish Galicia class.^[11] It was later confirmed that the ship would be from South Korea^[12] and is a variant of the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) Makassar-class LPD, and is packaged with four units Samsung Techwin KAAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles (AAV), two units Daesun 23-meter (75 ft) landing craft utility LCU-23, four units of 9.8-meter (32 ft) rigid-hulled inflatable boats, one unit truck-based mobile hospital, two units Kia KM-250 21⁄2-ton troop trucks, two units Kia KM-450 11⁄4-ton troop trucks, two units Kia KM-450 ambulances, two units Kia Retona 1⁄4-ton utility vehicles, and one unit forklift/cargo handling equipment.

In May 2011, reports surfaced on the possible acquisition of three landing platform docks from Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL. This would be of indigenous design and will have no resemblance to the previously constructed model for the Indonesian Navy, the Makassar class, which was of South Korean origin.^[13] This would represent another option as South Korea has been reportedly pushing for the sale of at least one platform based on the Indonesian Navy Makassar class. As of December 2011, the Philippine Navy was cleared to start negotiations for the ship/s from any friendly nations with a budget of Php 5 billion.^[14]

With the cancellation of the original SSV project, the two projects were combined as the strategic sealift vessel, based on the original multi-role vessel parameters and requirements. Based on the "Philippine Fleet Desired Force Mix" strategy concept publicly released in May 2012, the Philippine Navy requires at least four strategic sealift vessels to be available by 2020.^[15][9]

On 24 May 2013, the DND announced the proposed acquisition of two service support vessels (SSVs) worth P2 billion each, describing the ships as vessels smaller than the original MRV requirement but still capable of moving a battalion of troops with their armored vehicle complement, and equipped with helipad and a platform for search and rescue operations which could be fitted with hospital facilities.^[16][17] On 29 August 2013, the DND declared PT PAL of Indonesia as the winner of the two SSVs and considered as the "lone eligible bidder" with a bid price of Php 3,963,999,520.00. Other firms bought bid documents but never pursued their interest in the actual bidding procedures.^[18]

Design

The design is closely based on the Makassar class of Landing Platform Dock used by the Indonesian Navy, which in turn were actually based on a low-cost LPD design from Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering / Daesun Shipyard.

BRP Tarlac underway in Manila Bay

A scale model of Strategic Sealift Vessel presented by PT PAL during ADAS 2014.

Communication equipment

The communication equipment is supplied by the Portuguese company EID Naval Communications, specifically the ICCS5 communications control system, and Harris RF Communications VLF-HF and V/UHF radios.^[19]

Propulsion

The ships have a Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) layout and will be using similar engines as those used by their Indonesian counterparts, the MAN 9L28/32A medium speed engines. Combined power from the two engines will produce 7,830 brake horsepower (5,840 kW) transferred to two controllable pitch propellers.^[20][9][21]

Armaments

PT PAL confirmed that the SSVs will be designed to support one 76-millimeter (3.0 in) (3 in) main gun on the foredeck. Two stern-facing 25 mm (0.98 in) secondary guns will also be fitted, one each on the port and starboard sides.^[22][9] The weapons systems are supposed to be installed separately by the Philippine Navy after delivery. As of 25 October 2019, both vessels are only armed with six manually operated .50-caliber machine guns.

Flight support

Originally, the ships were designed to accommodate two medium-sized (10-ton) helicopters on the hangar as well as the flight deck, with the specifications emphasizing the US-made Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter as basis. But changes in the Philippine Navy's requirement later on changed the design to have a hangar for one medium (10-ton) helicopter and a flight deck for two medium (10-ton) helicopters.^[9]

Construction

SSV-1 officially started its construction on 22 January 2015 where a first steel cutting ceremony was held in PT PAL's facility in Surabaya, Indonesia.^[23] It had entered keel laying works as of 5 June 2015, and was launched as BRP Tarlac (LD-601) on 18 January 2016. Further works and testing will be made until the ship is delivered to the Philippine Navy by May 2016.^[24][25]

The second ship, SSV-2, undertook its first steel cutting ceremonies on 5 June 2015 in PT PAL's Surabaya shipyard.^[25] Its keel laying ceremony was held together with the launching of the lead ship on 18 January 2016, and was given a hull number LD-602. The ship reached Manila on 8 May 2017 and was accorded a formal welcome ceremony on 10 May 2017.^[26]

Ships of class

Ship name	Hull number	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Service	Status
BRP Tarlac	LD-601	22 January 2015[27]	18 January 2016	1 June 2016[28]	Sealift Amphibious Force	Active
BRP Davao del Sur	LD-602	5 June 2015[29]	29 September 2016	31 May 2017[30]	Sealift Amphibious Force	Active

See also

• List of naval ship classes in service
• List of equipment of the Philippine Navy
• Makassar-class landing platform dock

References

1. "PT PAL outlines weapons fit for Philippine Navy SSVs". IHS Jane's. 13 August 2015. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
2. "Indonesia's PT PAL signs contract to supply strategic sealift vessels to the Philippines". IHS Jane's. 16 July 2014. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
3. "PT PAL cuts steel on first Philippine Navy sealift vessel". IHS Jane's. 26 January 2015. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
4. "First of 2 new vessels for PH Navy to be launched in Indonesia". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
5. "LOOK: PH Navy's first strategic sealift vessel". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
6. "State ship builder PT PAL sends second warship ordered by Philippines". thejakartapost.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
7. "Navy buying more new ships". 10 June 2022.
8. Navy Journal Yearend Edition 2009, page 14. Navy Public Affairs Office, Headquarters – Philippine Navy, 2009
9. "Strategic Sealift Vessel Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy". Philippine Defense Resource. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
10. "DND rushing acquisition of Navy vessels". The Philippine Star. 16 May 2010. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
11. "Navy eyes own hospital ship". The Philippine Star. 4 June 2007. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
12. "Defense contract review for multi-role vehicle purchase done in 1 month". Philippine Navy in the News. 21 September 2010. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
13. Dhick, Mowby (15 May 2011). "WAR SHIP KASAL Review INDONESIA PHILIPPINES". Komenteryan Pertahan Ri Indonesian Ministry of Defense. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
14. "Navy revives plan to buy P5-b ship". Manila Standard Today. 5 December 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
15. "Philippine Navy needs P500B to upgrade war capability". The Philippine Star. 24 May 2012. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
16. Laude, Jaime (25 May 2013). "DND to procure 2 naval vessels". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
17. "DND Bidding for 2 Navy Vessels Still Open". The Philippine Star. 24 June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
18. "Indonesian firm bags P4-b Navy Supply Deal". Manilastandardtoday.com. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
19. "Portugal's EID to supply communications systems for Philippine sealift ships". IHS Jane's 360. 12 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
20. "A clearer picture on the Strategic Sealift Vessel of the Philippine Navy". MaxDefense. 28 August 2013. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
21. "Photographic image of Strategic Sealift Vessel statistics" (JPG). 4.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
22. Ridzwan Rahmat (13 July 2015). "PT PAL outlines weapons fit for Philippine Navy SSVs". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
23. "PT PAL Mulai Garap Kapal Perang untuk Filiphina". Suarasurbaya.net. 22 January 2015. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
24. "LOOK: PH Navy's first strategic sealift vessel". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 18 January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
25. "PAL sudah 25% garap kapal perang Filipina". Antara News. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
26. "ARRIVAL AND WELCOME CEREMONY New PN Landing Dock Vessel Davao Del Sur (LD602)". DWDD. 10 May 2017. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
27. PT PAL (22 January 2015). "First Steel Cutting Strategic Sealift Vessel (SSV-1)Philippines". Archived from the original on 28 January 2015.
28. Ridzwan Rahmat (3 June 2016). "Philippine Navy commissions first SSV, three landing craft on 118th anniversary". Jane's. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
29. Antara News (5 June 2015). "PAL sudah 25% garap kapal perang Filipina". Archived from the original on 6 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
30. Dela Cruz, Ace. "Duterte graces 119th founding anniversary of Navy". Update.ph. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.