Indonesia commissions ninth Teluk Bintuni-class landing ship tank

 

The KRI Teluk Calang (524). Photo c/o PT Daya Radar Utama. 

The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) has formally commissioned its ninth Teluk Bintuni-class landing ship tank (LST) during ceremonies on 08 August 2022.

The ship, named KRI Teluk Calang (524), was inaugurated by the Chief of Naval Staff TNI-AL Admiral Yudo Margono at the Jakarta International Container Terminal 2 pier, with the ceremonies attended by officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and shipbuilder PT Daya Radar Utama.

The ship was named after Teluk Calang (Calang Bay) located in Aceh Jaya, with TNI-AL Lieutenant Colonel Bagus Waluya assigned as the ship’s first commanding officer.

The commissioning of the ship was declared by Admiral Margono as a manifestation of the commitment by the TNI to support and succeed in the Indonesian Government’s program of an independent domestic defense industry.

The ship is part of a third batch of ships contracted by the MOD to PT Daya Radar Utama, based on a 120-meter long variant with hangar design.

It has a displacement of around 4,500 tonnes, a cruising speed of 14.8 knots and a maximum speed of 16 knots, has a crew of 120 officers and sailors, and can accommodate a total of 361 fully equipped soldiers and other heavy equipment including up to 10 Leopard 2 main battle tanks of the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD).

It can also accommodate two helicopters in its helicopter deck and hangar.

The ship is armed with two 40mm Bofors L70 gun, and two 12.7mm heavy machine guns.

The MOD has not awarded any additional contracts as of yet for the construction of additional ships of the class although there is an existing plan by the TNI-AL to have a total of 12 ships of the class.

[1] Kompas

[2] Sindonews

[3] Navy Recognition