did you checked out the specs of the scout boats? and the MPAC as well?
why put "vs." in the title
...By US News Agency / Asian
The Philippine Army has equipped one of its elite units with highly maneuverable watercraft aimed to strengthen the government’s campaign against terrorist, kidnappings and piracy here in Mindanao particularly in the waterways of this city and Basilan province.
At the same time, Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz activated a battalion of elite troops known as the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion during his visit Thursday afternoon in Basilan province.
Equipped with highly maneuverable watercraft consisting of 12 scout boats and one support boats is the 4th Special Forces (Riverine) Battalion though based in this city but was given an extended task to secure Basilan province.
Ortiz led the inauguration and blessing Thursday morning of the newly-built 12 units of 23-footer scout boats and one unit of 55-footer support boat.
Lt. Col. Lincoln Tagle, 4th Special Forces Battalion commander, disclosed the scout and support boats were built by local boat makers under the Philippine Army Watercraft Project “Condor” through the initiative of Ortiz.
“This is in response to the requirements of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the prevailing security situation in Mindanao, particularly in Basilan province,” Tagle said.
Each of the scout boats is powered by a 115-horse power outboard motor engine which has a maximum speed of 39 knots while the support boat is powered with 240-horse power inboard engine that has a maximum speed of 24 knots.A scout boat can carry six personnel in full combat gear and two crews on board while the support boat can carry 50 personnel in full combat gear and manned by five crews.can you find an image of the scout boat and compare that to the MPACThe project condor has a total cost of P10.566 million which is just the equivalent of procuring one unit light support boat that can carry only 25 personnel, Tagle said.
Ortiz said he came up with the project because there is a need to secure the waterways between this city and Basilan as it cannot be denied that terrorism, kidnappings and piracy are among the biggest problem in this part of the country.
Ortiz added that he came up with the project “because we are facing the enemy that is highly mobile, fluid and efficient.”
He said that one solution in dealing with the problems on terrorism, kidnappings and piracy is to guard the waterways.
“Deny them (enemy) the use of these waterways and we shall deny them of mobility and support,” he added.
Ortiz activated the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion as the Philippine Army is taking over the security duties from the 1st Marine Brigade in Basilan province that comprises of one city and 12 municipalities.
The 4th Scout Ranger Battalion is deployed alongside with the troops from the Army’s Special Operations Command (Socom) forces that replaced the marine troops.
All of the Army troops deployed in Basilan are placed under the newly-created Special Operations Task Force-Basilan headed by Col. Nicanor Dolojan, the concurrent Socom deputy commander.
Dolojan said the task force was created last September to take command and control of all the Army units deployed in Basilan province.
The 1st Marine Brigade was deployed to Central Mindanao particularly in Cotabato.
The complete pullout of the 1st Marine Brigade is set to be completed within this month, Dolojan said.
http://www.usnewslasvegas.com/provincial/troops-equipped-with-maneuverable-watercraft-to-fight-terrorists-kidnappers-and-pirates/
