page_title: BRP Batak
section_title: Decommissioning
hierarchical_section_title: BRP Batak / Decommissioning
caption_attribution_description: English: CDTPO Bishop visiting the HMAS Brunei
context_page_description: BRP Batak is a Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft operated by the Philippine Navy. One of eight vessels built by Walkers Limited for the Royal Australian Navy, the ship was commissioned into Australian service in 1973 as HMAS Tarakan. During her RAN career, Tarakan was deployed post-Cyclone Tracy as part of Operation Navy Help Darwin, undertook various surveying operations, was placed in reserve between 1985 and 1988, relocated an overpopulation of Tridacna gigas clams, was part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce, and participated in a Pacific Partnership humanitarian deployment.
  Tarakan was decommissioned from Australian service in 2014. The ship was refurbished and donated to the Philippine Navy, commissioning as BRP Batak in 2015.
context_section_description: Tarakan, along with Labuan and Brunei, were decommissioned on 20 November 2014.
  Tarakan and sister ship Brunei were selected for donation to the Philippine Navy in January 2015. The intention was to improve the Philippines' sealift capability, which was found lacking following Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. The two landing craft were refurbished and fitted with new navigation and safety equipment, at a total cost of A$4 million. Hand-over of the vessel was originally planned for 17 May 2015, but this did not occur. Instead, the Philippine Navy took possession of the vessels at HMAS Cairns on 23 July, with Tarakan commissioning into the Philippine Navy as BRP Batak. The two landing craft sailed that day for the Philippines, with a formal christening ceremony to be held following their arrival in early August.
caption: Australian Navy Cadets visiting the Tarakan's sister ship HMAS Brunei prior to her donation to the Philippine Navy
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