Opus224's Unofficial Philippine Defense Page

PHILIPPINE NAVAL FORCES RECOGNITION GUIDE

FRIGATES

1 Cannon Class

Rajah Humabon (PF-11)

Displacement: 1390 tons standard
Length: 306 ft (93.6 m)
Speed: 18 knots
Range: 10,800 mi. at 12 knots
Crew: 165
Armament:
3-US 76mm/50 Mk22
3-twin Bofors 40mm/56
2-Oerlikon 20mm
1-Hedgehog Mk10 A/S mortar
Depth charge rack

Notes:
Ex-USS Atherton, DE169, launched 1943. Transferred to Japan in 1955, commissioned in JMSDF as Hatsushi, DE 263. Retired in 1975 and reverted to US Navy. Transferred to Philippines in 1978. Commissioned in PN service 1980 after refit in South Korea. Plans call for arming with anti-ship missiles. Lately on active duty in Spratly Islands, West Philippine Sea.

CORVETTES

3 Jacinto (ex-British Peacock) Class

Emilio Jacinto (PS-35)
Apolinario Mabini (PS-36)
Artemio Ricarte (PS-37)

Displacement: 763 tons full load
Length: 204.1 ft (62.6 m)
Speed: 25 knots
Range: 2,500 mi. at 17 knots
Crew: 6 officers + 25 enlisted
Armament:
1-76mm OTO Melara Compact DP
4-FN 7.62mm machine guns

Notes:
Commisioned in Royal Navy service in 1984 and formed the RN's Hong Kong squadron. These ships were constructed by the British with instructions to "sell by 1997". During trials the lead ship rolled badly in high seas. The design was revised and deeper keels were incorporated. Turned over to Philippines in 1997 after Hong Kong reverted back to China. Purchase price was US $20 million for all three. Two others operated by the Irish Republic Navy. All plans for the Peacock-class, along with intellectual property rights given to the Philippine government. Carry 2- 40 knot fast pursuit craft. Anti-ship missiles to be fitted in due course.

2 Auk Class

Rizal (PS-74)
Quezon (PS-70)

Displacement: 1090 tons standard, 1250 tons full load
Length: 221.2 ft (67.4 m)
Speed: 18 knots
Range: 5,700 mi. at 15 knots
Crew: 5 officers + 75 enlisted
Armament:
2-US 76mm/50 Mk26
2-twin Bofors 40mm/56
4-Oerlikon 20mm
US Mk 32 torpedo tubes (triple) - Mk 44 A/S torpedoes
1-Hedgehog Mk10 A/S mortar
Depth charge rack

Notes:
Designed as minesweepers in US Navy service. Originally launched 1943-44. Minesweeping gear was deleted and additional weapons fitted prior to transfer to Philippine Navy in 1965 (PS-74) and 1967 (PS-70).

8 PCE Class

Miguel Malvar (PS-19)
Magat Salamat (PS-20)
Sultan Kudarat (PS-22)
Datu Marikudo (PS-23)
Cebu (PS-28)
Negros Occidental (PS-29)
Pangasinan (PS-31)
Iloilo (PS-32)

Displacement: 640 tons standard, 914 tons full load
Length: 184.5 ft (56.3 m)
Speed: 15 knots
Range: 6,600 mi. at 11 knots
Crew: 8 officers + 77 enlisted
Armament:
1-US 76mm/50
2 to 6-Bofors 40mm/56 (single or 1-3 twin)
2-Oerlikon 20mm
1-Hedgehog Mk10 AS/mortar
Depth charge rack

Notes:

68 PCEs were built for the US Navy during World War 2, designed as anti-submarine convoy escorts. Ships in Philippine Navy built 1942-43. Classified as corvettes in PN service. PS-19, 20, 22 and 23 were part of the South Vietnamese fleet that escaped during the fall of the Saigon government and were subsequently sold to the Philippines. PS 20 was built as an Admirable-class minesweeper. All refitted and rehabilitated 1990-97.

PATROL CRAFT

2 Aguinaldo Class

Emilio Aguinaldo (PG-140)
Antonio Luna (PG-141)

Displacement: 279 tons full load
Length: 144.4 ft (44 m)
Speed: 18 knots
Range: 1,100 mi. at 18 knots
Crew: 6 officers + 52 enlisted
Armament:
2-Bofors 40mm/60
2-Oerlikon 20mm

Notes:

Steel hull based on that of Tirad Pass large patrol craft built for Philippine Coast Guard by Japan in 1974. Superstructure based on that of Kagitingan class. One more laid down at Sangley Point in Cavite. Original plan called for 6 to be built but this number may not be reached.

3 Kagitingan Class

Kagitingan (PG-101)
Bagong Lakas (PG-102)
Bagong Silang (PG-104)

Displacement: 149 tons full load
Length: 121.4 ft (37 m)
Speed: 16 knots
Crew: 4 officers + 26 enlisted
Armament:
1-twin 30mm Emerson Electric gun mount
4-.50 cal machine guns
2-7.62 mm machine guns

Notes:

4 built at Hamelin shipyards in Germany. An unsuccessful design, being underpowered and not able to reach planned top speed of 28 knots. P-103 paid off and used for spares.

6 Tomas Batillo (SK Sea Dolphin) Class

PG 110-112, 114-116

Displacement: 170 tons full load
Length: 121.4 ft (37 m)
Speed: 38 knots
Range: 500 mi. at 32 knots, 1,000 mi. at 20 knots
Crew: 5 officers + 26 enlisted
Armament:
1-twin 30mm Emerson Electric gun mount
plus:
1 Bofors 40mm/60 and 2 Oerlikon 20mm (twin mount)
or
2 20mm GE Sea Vulcan Gatlings

Notes:

Transferred from South Korea in 1995. South Korea has 85 of this class in service, built from 1978 onwards. SK also had a missile boat variant mounting 2 Exocet SSMs which have since been removed. These, along with the Conrado Yap/Sea Killer class, are the fastest ships in PN service.

12 Conrado Yap (SK Sea Hawk/Sea Killer) Class

PCF 840, 842-849, 851-853

Displacement: 74.5 tons full load
Length: 83.7 ft (25.5 m)
Speed: 38 knots
Range: 500 mi. at 20 knots
Crew: 3 officer + 12 enlisted
Armament:
1-Bofors 40mm/60
2-20mm Oerlikon (twin) Mk 16

Notes:

12 sold to the Philippines by South Korea at "friendship price" of US $100 each, in appreciation of Philippine soldiers who fought during the Korean War against China and North Korea. These vessels were built between 1975-78 and were transferred to the Philippine Navy in 1993. Armament fits may vary. Owing to its high speed, a naval interceptor task force is currently being formed utilizing 3 of this class to combat high-speed raiders, smugglers and pirates in the southern Philippines.

24 Jose Andrada (Halter 78) Class

PCF 370-372, 374-395

Displacement: 56 tons full load
Length: 78 ft (23.8 m)
Speed: 28 knots
Range: 1,200 mi. at 12 knots
Crew: 1 officer + 7 enlisted
Armament:
1-25mm Bushmaster automatic cannon
plus:
4-.50 cal machine guns

Notes:

First 4 ordered from Halter Marine in 1989 under FMS and built in New Orleans. Additional 4 ordered in 1990, and 16 more built via co-production agreement with Halter in Cavite. Cost was around $2.25 million each. Original plan called for 35 to be built but puchase of South Korean Sea Killer patrol boats may have made requirement for the last 11 vessels superfluous. Trial launches of the Aerospatiale AS15TT light anti-ship missile were conducted by Halter in 1995 in US waters but the Philippines has no plans of acquiring the missile.

US Swift Class Patrol Boats

Swift Mk. 3

Swift Mk. 1

Swift Mk 3 (14)

Displacement: 37 tons full load
Length: 65 ft (19.8 m)
Speed: 25 knots
Crew: 8

Swift Mk 1 (15)

Displacement: 22.5 tons full load
Length: 50 ft (15.2 m)
Speed: 28 knots
Range: 685 mi. at 16 knots
Crew: 6

Notes:

Built late 1960s to mid 1970s. Aluminum construction. Most, if not all, have been turned over to the Coast Guard. Several have been discarded and number in active service may be less. Armed with .50 caliber and 7.62mm machine guns. The US Navy test fired Penguin anti-ship missiles from a Swift Mk 3 but did not adopt the configuration.

TRANSPORTS

Ang Pangulo

Ang Pangulo (AT-25)

Displacement: 2,239 tons
Length: 257.6 ft (78.5 m)
Speed: 18 knots
Range: 6,900 mi. at 15 knots
Crew: 8 officer + 73 enlisted
Armament:
3-20mm Oerlikon/70 Mk4
8-7.62mm MGs

Notes:

Presidential yacht and command ship built by Japan as war reparations. In service 1959. After Marcos' fall, designated attack transport. During ex-president Estrada's administration, it was again designated the presidential yacht and work was initiated to restore its former luxury using "donations" from Estrada's cronies. Its status is uncertain with the current Arroyo administration. It may be eventually sold.

2 Modified Frank S. Besson Class Amphibious Transports

Bacolod City (LC-550)
Dagupan City (LC-551)

Displacement: 1,678 tons light 4,265 tons fully loaded
Length: 272.8 ft (83.1 m)
Speed: 11.6 knots
Range: 6,000 mi. at 11 knots
Crew: 6 officer + 24 enlisted

Notes:

Ordered in 1992. The design is a modified Frank S. Besson-class Logistics Support Vessel in service with the US Army Transportation Corps which operates 6 vessels (one in reserve). Original design had bow and stern ramps. Philippine ships have only bow ramps, the stern section being used for accommodations for 150 troops. PN ships also have a platform for a light helicopter. US ships use removable accommodations modules. Can transport 2,280 tons of vehicles, containers or cargo, 900 tons for amphibious operations.

6 LST 512-1152 Class Landing Ships

Zamboanga Del Sur (LT-86)
South Cotabato (LT-87)
Laguna (LT-501)
Lanao Del Norte (LT-504)
Benguet (LT-507)
Kalinga Apayao (LT-516)

Displacement: 1,620 tons standard 4,080 tons fully loaded
Length: 328 ft (100 m)
Speed: 10 knots
Range:
Crew: 60 - 110 depending on role
Armament: 6 Bofors 40mm (2 twin, 2 single) or 4 Oerlikon 20mm

Notes:

Used for general cargo work. Have been used as patrol vessels, ferries and helicopter platforms (in the Spratlys esp.). Several have undergone major refits including replacement of frames, plating, engines and electronics. Can lift 2,100 tons of cargo. 16 were deleted in the late 1980s and early 90s. All date back from 1944-45. BRP South Cotabato (LT-87, ex-USS Cayuga County LST 529) actually participated in the landings at Normandy. Replacements are long overdue.

Tankers/Supply Ships/Misc. Transports

YOG-type Fuel Tankers (2)
YW-type Water Tankers (2)
Alamosa Class Supply Ship (1)
LCM/LCU (47)

(YOG-type Tanker illustrated)

Notes:

The Philippine Navy operates several auxiliary vessels and minor transports, mostly of US origin. Most of the larger auxiliaries date from World War 2 and are in need of replacements.

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in no way reflect the official views and policies of the government of the Republic
of the Philippines or of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
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