The Myanmar Navy (MN) has commissioned its first-ever landing platform dock (LPD) amphibious assault ship. Named UMS Mottama (with pennant number 1501), entered service in a high-profile ceremony held on 24 December at a Yangon naval wharf to mark the 72nd anniversary of the Myanmar Navy. Presided over by Myanmar Armed Forces’ (Tatmadaw’s) commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, and MN commander Admiral Tin Aung San, the ceremony also involved the induction of a new coastal transport ship, UMS Myitkyina , along with two 27 m-long fast patrol boats, two seagoing tugs, and two 20 m-long riverine patrol vessels, according to the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.
The UMS Mottama was built in South Korea by DAE SUN Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Ltd. The ships were designed by Daesun Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. based on their earlier design of Tanjung Dalpele class that was sold to the Indonesian Navy. The vessel has a length of about 122 meters, a width of 22 meters for a total displacement of 11,300 tons. The vessel has an endurance of 30 days at sea and a range of 8,600 nautical miles. The UMS Mottama design is based on the South Korean-built Makassar-class of the Indonesian Navy but is visually closer to the Tarlak-class of the Philippine Navy. A total 10 ships of this type have been built so far for the navies of Indonesia, Peru, the Philippines, and now Myanmar.
A contract for the Moattama was likely signed in early 2018, but the construction of the vessel for Myanmar became publicly known only after it was launched in Busan in July 2019. It was delivered in September of this year. It is making this port-of-call in Russia on its maiden voyage from South Korea, before reaching Myamar. The visit of a Myanmar Navy vessel to Vladivostok is a first. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen the cooperation and friendship between the sailors of both countries, as well as the exchange of experience and discussion of further cooperation.
