Merged: Strategic Sail Plan 2020 / The navy charts a new course

[oyster b]

An interesting article came out today in the Philippine Star

AFP/DND: Time to think out of the box!
SHOOTING STRAIGHT By Bobit S. Avila (The Philippine Star) Updated June 24, 2011

Mr. Avila received the following email. I am not posting the whole article in compliance with the guidelines. The source is at the bottom of the page.

“Hi Bobit, Some years back, I presented an idea of the top officers of the Philippine Navy — that they should stop thinking about acquiring brand new Frigates and Corvettes and instead get second hand commercial vessels and convert these for naval use. At that time, the PN was intent on getting big Offshore Patrol vessels (OPV) supposedly to protect our territorial waters. The bidding parameters would have brought these OPVs in the $100 million range for each vessel.

The major shipbuilders in the world all came and went through the bidding process. I told them that $100 M could buy a fleet of good, fast, second hand vessels that could be converted for patrol duties and armed with the latest weaponry, radar, communications and missile systems. All looked at me as though I was insane. They rattled off a list of negatives against commercial vessels including lack of redundancy systems, the need for separate and independent engine rooms, etc. I urged them to think out of the box and just focus on getting vessels that would upgrade the PN fleet and perform the required naval tasks. I did not get anywhere.

A few years ago, thinking that with a new DND Chief (Gilbert Teodoro), the AFP hierarchy would have a more receptive mind, I renewed my initiatives and offered to acquire the SuperFerry 19 for the PN. The reception was better — at least initially. The PN put up several study groups. We had several meetings. They inspected the SuperFerry 19. They conducted inspections and interviews. AFP Chief Esperon and DND Chief Teodoro liked the idea. But it was studied to death and died a natural death.

The same arguments from years back, were brought up again. A major factor supposedly was the age of the ship. The detractors conveniently ignored the fact that the hull may have been considered old, but the vessel has recently been renovated and engines replace with brand new ones. The PN would have gotten a fast and reliable vessel capable of transporting up to 3,000 troops in one go together with their heavy trucks, tanks and weaponry. The ship could stay a few miles offshore and wounded soldiers could be airlifted and treated in minutes through a helideck.

The upper deck cabins could be converted into a hospital and some of the dinning rooms could be converted into surgical rooms. The loading RORO Ramps could accommodate tanks but could also bring out small, fast, armed rubber boats to support marine deployments. It would have been a really nice, if not perfect multi-role naval ship.

Of course the SuperFerry 19 has since been sold, but there are many other commercial vessels out there that could be bought fairly cheaply, renovated in-country to benefit local shipyards and perform naval duties. If only the PN and the AFP removed their mendicant attitude and instead focused themselves on self-reliance through innovative ideas. Thanks Bai, may I ask you to withhold my name . . . for my sake. More power”

I fully concur with this thought so we could put a fleet of workable naval vessels. Sure navy designed ships are stronger or even last longer, but one torpedo will still sink it. So why not use commercial ships for a lower cost? It can be done only if the AFP and the DND think out of the box!


http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=64&articleId=699349

[pearl21]

Leasing to achieve Strategic Sail Plan 2020? its one good option to be considered....

U.S. Says It Will Provide Hardware to Philippines
By LACHLAN CARMICHAEL and SHAUN TANDON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 23 Jun 2011 18:33

WASHINGTON - The United States on June 23 said it was ready to provide hardware to modernize the military of the Philippines, which vowed to "stand up to aggressive action" amid rising tension at sea with China.

Filipino Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, on a visit to Washington, said the Philippines hoped to lease equipment to upgrade its aged fleet and called for the allies to revamp their relationship in light of the friction with China.

[ManilaBoy40]

   http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/06/166868.htm

[40niner_com]

[note to mods:] kindly merge this thread. thanks.

REPHASING :

The acquisition of the BRP Gregorio del Pilar may not have just happened in a spur when the USCGC Hamilton is on the verge of being decommissioned,
Is the acquisition really a part of Strategic Sail Plan 2020.


RA.7898- AFP Modernization Act approved in Feb 1995, provides for the modernization of the AFP and a transition from pure ISO force to that which can handle external threat and uphold our sovereign rights.  P331B for a 15-year program was approved.

The first 5-year (1997-2002) Rolling Plan was the basis for yearly appropriation from Congress.  

In 1998 congressional hearing, the Navy requested the following detailed equipment for acquisition :

Type	Sub-program I	Sub-program II
Corvette	3	3
Patrol Craft	18	6
Patrol Boat	10	6
Offshore Patrol Vessel	7	5
Mine Warfare Vessel	1	2
Frigate	-	3

In 1999, the Offshore Patrol Vessel program was put on hold.

The Asian financial crisis in the late 1990's put a damper the Modernization Law.  Moreover, the all-out war in 2000 reverted the funding back to ISO concerns.

[40niner_com]

In retrospect, these were PN's force structure :

Type	1979	1998/1999	2006
Frigates	8	1	1
	1 Edsall 1,590tons: Rajah Lakandula PS4	1 Canon 1750tons: Rajah Humabon PF11	1 Canon 1750tons: Rajah Humabon PF11
	4 Barnegat/Casco 2,800tons: Andres Bonifacio PS7, Gregorio del Pilar PS8, Diego Silang PS9, Franciso Dagohoy PS10
	3 Canon 1,750tons : Datu Kalantiaw PS76, Datu Sikatuna PF5, Rajah Humabon PF11 (ex-PF78)
Corvettes	11	13	13
	2 Auk 1,250tons : Rizal PS74(ex-PS69), Quezon PS70	2 Auk 1,250tons : Rizal PS74, Quezon PS70	2 Auk 1,250tons : Rizal PS74, Quezon PS70
	8 PCE827 914tons : Miguel Malvar PS19, Magat Salamat PS20, Sultan Kudarat PS22, Datu Marikudo PS23, Cebu PS28, Negros Oriental PS29, Pangasinan PS31, Iloilo PS32	8 PCE827 914tons : Miguel Malvar PS19, Magat Salamat PS20, Sultan Kudarat PS22, Datu Marikudo PS23, Cebu PS28, Negros Oriental PS29, Pangasinan PS31, Iloilo PS32	8 PCE827 914tons : Miguel Malvar PS19, Magat Salamat PS20, Sultan Kudarat PS22, Datu Marikudo PS23, Cebu PS28, Negros Oriental PS29, Pangasinan PS31, Iloilo PS32
	1 (Admirable)	3 Peacock 763tons : Emilio Jacinto PS35, Apolinario Mabini PS36, Artemio Ricarte PS37	3 Peacock 763tons : Emilio Jacinto PS35, Apolinario Mabini PS36, Artemio Ricarte PS37
			1 Cyclone 315tons : Mariano Alvarez PS38
Patrol Boats	4 PC461 450tons : Batangas PS24, Negros Oriental PS26, Capiz PS27, Nueva Viscaya PS80	2 Aguinaldo 279tons : Emilio Aguinaldo PG140, Juan Luna PG141	2 Aguinaldo 279tons : Emilio Aguinaldo PG140, Juan Luna PG141
	5 PGM 122tons : Basilan PG60, Agusan PG61, Catanduanes PG62, Romblon PG63, Palawan PG64	2 Kagitingan 132tons : Bagong Lakas PG102, Bagong Silang PG104	2 Kagitingan 132tons : Bagong Lakas PG102, Bagong Silang PG104
		5 Batillo 170tons : Tomas Batillo PG110, Bonny Serrano PG111, Bienvenido Salting PG112, Salvador Abcede PG114, Ramon Aguirre PG115	6 Batillo 170tons : Tomas Batillo PG110, Bonny Serrano PG111, Bienvenido Salting PG112, Salvador Abcede PG114, Ramon Aguirre PG115, Nicolas Mahusay PG116
Patrol Craft	6 (+14?) x Hamelin-type PC	10+2 Condrado Yap 74.5tons	10 Condrado Yap 74.5tons
		22+2 Jose Andrada 56tons	22 Jose Andrada 56tons
	15 Swift Mark 1 & 2 coastal PC		2 USCG Point WPB 66tons
	13 Improved Swift coastal PC	15 Swift Mark 1 & 2 (PN:10 / PCG:5)	15 Swift Mark 1 & 2 (PN:10 / PCG:5)
	31 de Havilland-type coastal PC	10 Improved Swift coastal [PN-2 / PCG:8]	10 Improved Swift coastal [PN:2 / PCG:8]
	2 coastal PC	PCG was transferred to DOTC
Large Amphibious Vessels	27 LST	2 Frank Besson 4,265tons LSV : Bacolod City LC550, Dagupan City LC551	2 Frank Besson 4,265tons LSV : Bacolod City LC550, Dagupan City LC551
		7 LST1/512 4,080tons : Zamboanga del Sur LT86, South Cotabato LT87, Laguna LT501, Lanao del Norte LT504, Benguet LT507, Sierra Madre LT57, Kalinga Apayao LT516	6 LST1/512
-

CREDITS :
1979 - World Navies by Chris Chant
1989/99 - Janes Fighting Ship
2006 - Manokski's Huey Bravo

[40niner_com]

.

[Adroth]

The PN has Strategic Sail Plan 2020

http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=7879.0

[40niner_com]

I'm trying to flesh out the details of PN's SSP2020.  So far, I could not.  Anybody can help out?

Current financial constraints tie us down way below our minimum. I would supposed that baselines are made for planned doctrines?   It's just that gaps are NEEDED to be identified, so that needs may be filled when better / funding is available.


Although, its unfair to compare ourselves with 1st or 2nd rate navies, they detailed their (previous/current) deployment, bases, fleet, and unit requirements -- declassified.  As far as shipbuilding / acquisition is concern -- THEY usually do it one-for-one, except when there is a strategic shift.  Concrete example is the multiple draw down of Royal Navy forces from 34 surface escort combatants in 1999 down to the current 19;  or the current building of Australia's AAW-DDG to replace units decommissioned in 2001, a gap of about 12-13 years.

[Adroth]

From: http://www.scribd.com/doc/66914023/The-Naval-Leader-August-2011-Issue

[Adroth]

Baby steps . . . incremental progress . . .

PH Navy chief eyes 2nd US warship

by Rodney Jaleco, ABS-CBN News North America Bureau
Posted at 10/19/2011 2:13 PM | Updated as of 10/19/2011 2:13 PM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/10/19/11/ph-navy-chief-eyes-2nd-us-warship
 
< Edited >
  
But Vice Adm. Alexander Pama, Navy Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC), said the bigger challenge is not in getting the new weapons the Philippine Navy needs but in improving its “absorptive capacity” to operate and maintain them.
  
“We have to consider everything,” he told ABS-CBN News. “Buying equipment is the easiest thing to do. The more difficult part is the capability of people because for so long we were concentrated on helping in the counter-insurgency effort. Now we’re shifting to external defense and a conventional navy. That needs a re-adjustment of the skills of our people and that doesn’t happen overnight.”
  
< Edited >
  
Pama also revealed that they are now preparing to acquire some missile technology. The Philippine military is the only one in Southeast Asia that still does not have missiles.  “It’s in the drawing board. I can’t say when but if things turn out as planned, it will be more sooner than later,” he told ABS-CBN News.

< Edited >

[Adroth]

From: http://www.scribd.com/doc/69095640/The-Naval-Leader-September-2011-Issue

[phichanad]

I'm just wondering, if the Budget will become based on the overall strategy of the Navy, will the government be able to keep up with the Navy's requirements in providing funds and support? From an outside point of view, it appears the all the changes that the Navy wants to implement will all be based on availability of budget.

[Adroth]

New FOIC vows to stay the course

http://youtu.be/qnkdm-psLhA