RAN planners are aiming to change over Australia's heavy landing craft in East Timor every four to five weeks.

Australia is providing two of the 316 tonne craft to the ongoing UNTAET mission on the island.

Among the tasks given the craft is the resupply of the Jordanian contingent.

At the end of March and first days of April HMAS BRUNEI (LEUT R Stevenson) and HMAS LABUAN (LEUT A Dobb) were allowed to return home for a rest.

They were replaced by HMAS BETANO (LEUT N Zillman) and HMAS TARAKAN (LEUT G List).

HMAS WEWAK, (LEUT S Martinsen) the landing craft which stood in reserve on a hardstand in Cairns for more than eight years, was refurbished and recommissioned, is set to do her turn in East Timor from late April.

The RAN has six of the Australian made heavy landing craft.

They were commissioned in 1973 and 1974.

The ships, with their two officers and 11 sailors have already done yeoman service in East Timor.

In the earliest days they transferred men and equipment from major ships to the Dili shore.

When the wet season arrived they took stores and personnel to places where vehicles could not reach because of muddy roads.

The craft can carry a load of up to 180 tonnes.

This can include three battle tanks or 13 armoured personnel carriers.