Indonesia decommissions two ex-US Navy Landing Ship Tanks

KRI Teluk Bone (511). Photo c/o Indomiliter forum.

The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) retired two of its few remaining World War II-era landing ship tanks, the KRI Teluk Ratai (509) and KRI Teluk Bone (511) during ceremonies held in Kommando Armada II base in Surabaya on 15 August 2019.

The two ships were formerly US Navy landing ship tanks built in the 1940s. The KRI Teluk Ratai (509) being formerly the LST-542-class landing ship tank USS LST-678, which was later on converted to the self-propelled barracks ship USS Presque Isle (APB-44) and jointed the TNI-AL in 1967. The KRI Teluk Bone (509) was formerly the LST-542-class landing ship tank USS Iredell County (LST-839), and was transferred to the TNI-AL in 1970.

Both ships were actively involved in almost every military operations of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), providing military sealift capability. It has also been used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations despite exceeding its maximum lift cycle.

It appears though that the TNI-AL still has one similar ship in service although plans have been made for its retirement together with several other ships soon.


[1] Komando Lintas Laut Militer
[2] Navsource Online