During the leadup to the independence of Papua New Guinea in 1975, two of the vessels (Salamaua and Buna) were transferred to the new Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).
Dalam masa-masa menuju kemerdekaan Papua Nugini tahun 1975, dua unit kapal kelas Balikpapan (Salamaua dan Buna) diberikan pada Tentara Papua Nugini atau Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).