Retitled: BRP Ramon A Alcaraz (PF-16) - ex USCGC Dallas [WHEC-716]

[40niner_com]

^ as usual, brain fade by the editor.


PHILSTAR : Philippines to get 2nd US coast guard ship
May 08, 2012 06:57 PM

Vice Admiral Alexander Pama, Navy chief, said that USS Dallas, a decommissioned US Coast Guard cutter, would be turned over to the Philippine government either on May 22 or May 23.

Pama said that the cutter would first undergo major repairs in the US before delivered to the Philippines in November for a scheduled commissioning by the end of this year. Among the major repairs needed is the replacement of the vessel’s fourth main engine.

Above is also a segment of this consolidated Philstar article :Chinese boats barring Pinoys from fishing in shoal


^^ Again, as @Chuck_Hill has already commented, this veteran reporter (JLaude) and the editor should have already know the difference between as USS and USCGC.  The other newer guy - ARomero -- seemed to do better.  I still think that he was a member here last year.  So we are going to have our first nuclear attack submarine turnover this month...

[40niner_com]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/92838326/Manila-Standard-Today-May-9-2012-Issue
PH gets weaponless cutter again from US

...Pama said the US Coast Guard removed all the weapons from the first ship before turning it over to the Philippines.  They will do the same to the second vessel, which is expected to arrive in the country before the end of the year.

Pama said he joined a group of Philippine officials led by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin that traveled to Washington recently and asked the Americans to restore the cannons, guns, and radar system on the two ships, but "up to now the request still hangs."

..."It is the same as the BRP Gregorio del Pilar unless they change their minds."

...
Pama said the Americans were expected to turn over the second ship to the Philippines on May 23, but the ship would undergo repairs for several weeks and could be commissioned by December.

"It needs repairs, and while we're doing this we will also train our men who will be assigned to the ship,"...

[miggye]

Contradicting na naman ang headline at ang detalye ng news...

Second Hamilton class cutter to arrive this month
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/35997/second-hamilton-class-cutter-to-arrive-soon

MANILA, Philippines—A second Hamilton class cutter will be turned over by the US Coast Guard to the Philippine Navy late this month, Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said Tuesday.

The 45-year-old retired seacraft will be turned over by May 22 or 23, Pama told reporters in a phone interview.

He said the ship could arrive in the Philippines by November after refurbishments, repairs and training of crew in the United States.

Sigh, maga media talaga! it's going to be turned over this month while still in Charleston>  then after its repair and training, its going to cross the atlantic, then the pacific to get here. with replenishment stops, it should get here way before then, but it all boils down to what the repair schedule would be like.

[phichanad]

The November arrival is a realistic estimate by the PN. But the most important issue now is, will it arrive complete with all the important items, or will it come bare again?

[grail]

The November arrival is a realistic estimate by the PN. But the most important issue now is, will it arrive complete with all the important items, or will it come bare again?

It's already in the news: BRP GDP II. haha

[phichanad]

It's already in the news: BRP GDP II. haha

Although its in the recent news, it is not yet final. Its just May right now, the ship is expected to arrive on November and it only takes more than a month to travel from East Coast to PH. The US might still change their mind and return the good stuff.

[miggye]

which got me into thinking, would it be simpler and cheaper to upgrade a bare ship as compared to removing something and then reinstalling an upgrade? something to ask the naval engineers......
it may be a blessing in disguise if that were the case......

[40niner_com]

IMHO -- I have always advocated for commonality of electronics (including sonar and radar) between our GdP class and the future DWPV.   Provided we have budgetary provisions for the upgrade, it is actually a better situation for us.  There was already a thread on possible radars (thread:EADS TRS-3D for the PF-15?) for the GdP.   Also, gives us better opportunity to integrate those with our Coast Watch / MRIC (and if possible with air domain awareness).

[Shorty_1972]

More Capable Hamilton Class Soon to Arrive

Excerpt:
"Sources said that "USS Dallas" could be coming in the Philippines with all her equipment and armaments, unlike the "BRP Gregorio Del Pilar" which arrived in the country minus her Phalanx close-in weapon systems, 25mm Bushmaster cannons, and sonar systems."

http://defense-studies.blogspot.com/2012/04/more-capable-hamilton-classsoon-to.html

Hope this is true. Pls. Delete if posted already, thanks.

[crazeepilot]

Why not just offer to buy those equipments and some more and perhaps the US govt will agree. Begging isnt going to get the Phils anywhere.

[Adroth]

which got me into thinking, would it be simpler and cheaper to upgrade a bare ship as compared to removing something and then reinstalling an upgrade? something to ask the naval engineers......
it may be a blessing in disguise if that were the case......

Adding equipment that wasn't originally meant to be the adds the following complexity:

- Structure. Can the projected mounting point accommodate/support the new equipment?

- Integration. Is the required wiring/cabling for this equipment already available? If not, what would be required to add that equipment

- Power. Can your existing generators support the equipment? If not, what would it take to replace them?

If your just putting back equipment that was removed. You know all rhe answers to the points above are "yes".

[redoctober]

its quiet clear that the philippinese is getting dallas . would it not be a good idea to increase the amount of filipino crew sent over to her . this extra large crew could work around the clock in the engine room getting these essential work carried out to the main engine done .
extra crew while over in america on dallas could start painting the ship the same as the one the philippinese already got . so that when it arrives in the philippinese it is ready for action .

this ship is needed now . the philippinese hour of need is at hand . the filipino army could free up manpower to speed up things getting done .
the filipino crew on the hamiliton , can they advise on any upgrades to be done to dallas . is there any information or recomendations that they would sudjest .

[40niner_com]

^ I believe that what's tying up the planning is the still UNANSWERED question on whether the previous Phalanx and Mk.38 mounts will be re-installed by the US.  If not, then replacement (20mm/Mk.38 as in GdP) will have to be done in locally.  Right now the evaporators are being worked on by the contractor, with contract completion by Jun 15, although they could finish it earlier.   

VADM Pama has said that the 'fourth' engine has to be replaced -- whichever -- would require additional work. He didn't specify if its the gas or the diesel.  A turbine change would be faster. I'm not sure when its the diesel block.

Plus -- its an East coast journey...  Work up can be done along the way.  As the news said -- it's November.

[gemini1]

More Capable Hamilton Class Soon to Arrive

Excerpt:
"Sources said that "USS Dallas" could be coming in the Philippines with all her equipment and armaments, unlike the "BRP Gregorio Del Pilar" which arrived in the country minus her Phalanx close-in weapon systems, 25mm Bushmaster cannons, and sonar systems."

http://defense-studies.blogspot.com/2012/04/more-capable-hamilton-classsoon-to.html

Hope this is true. Pls. Delete if posted already, thanks.

Unfortunately your link was dated end of April whereas the earlier post from 40niner was May 9.
Hopefully the US gets persuaded to leave the gears, and reinstalls those thats already been removed.   

[Shorty_1972]

Unfortunately your link was dated end of April whereas the earlier post from 40niner was May 9.
Hopefully the US gets persuaded to leave the gears, and reinstalls those thats already been removed.

Darn...EDA Dardos from italian perhaps?