The Jacinto-classpatrol vessels currently in service with the Philippine Navy are three ships formerly belonging to the Royal Navy's Hong Kong Squadron as Peacock-class corvettes until 1997. The ships have undergone combat, electronics, weapon, propulsion and hull upgrades, with the most recent upgrade completed in August 2019.[4] These increased their capabilities compared to the original Peacock-class vessels.
Launched as a series of five patrol vessels, the Peacock class were originally part of the Hong Kong Squadron of the Royal Navy. The ships were built by Hall Russell in the United Kingdom and were commissioned into Royal Navy service from 1983 to 1984. The class was designed specifically for patrol duties in Hong Kong waters. As well as "flying the flag" and providing a constant British naval presence in the region, they could also undertake a number of different roles including seamanship, navigation and gunnery training. In addition, they performed search-and-rescue duties for which they had facilities to carry divers (including a decompression chamber) and equipment to recover vessels and aircraft. They also worked with the Marine Department of the Hong Kong Police and with Customs & Excise in order to prevent the constant flow of illegal immigrants, narcotics and electronic equipment into the Colony.[5]
Three of these ships – HMS Peacock (P239), HMS Plover (P240), and HMS Starling (P241) – were sold to the Philippines as a sign of goodwill, and were officially turned over to the Philippine Navy on 1 August 1997 when sovereignty over Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China.[3]
For the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35), the ship has the Saab 9LV Mk4 Compact Combat Management System (CMS), which allows the integration of the ship's navigation, surveillance and combat systems.[6] Meanwhile the BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) and BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) do not have a CMS although both ships use a Fire Control System from Ultra Electronics.
The Oto Melara 76 mm Compact DP (Dual Purpose) gun is the primary weapon and is mounted in a turret forward of the bridge. It has a range of up to 10 nautical miles (20km) and can be used against ships, aircraft or ground targets. It is remotely controlled from within the Combat Information Center by the gunnery officer and has no crew within the turret itself. The gun can fire 80 rounds in 60 seconds from its ready magazine, and the ships can carry a total of 450 rounds.
The secondary weapon (located at the stern) is a M242 Bushmaster 25mm cannon in an MSI Defense System DS-25 Seahawk A1 mount.
Both guns are automated and are integrated with the Saab 9LV CMS and Saab EOS-500 Electro-optical tracking system (EOTS) on PS-35, or the Ultra Electronics C2 and FCS, and Series 1700 EOTS on PS-36 and PS-37.
The Saab EOS-500 and Ultra Electronics Series 1700 EOTS replaced the Radamec 1500 Series 2500 installed by the PN in 2005, which in turn replaced the older GSA7 Sea Archer Mk 1 electro-optical director with a GEC V3800 thermal imager added in 1987.[3][7]
In addition to the abovementioned guns, these ships also carry two 12.7mm 50 caliber heavy machine guns at the bridgewings, two 20mm Mark 16 guns on Mk.68 mounts at midships, and two 50mm rocket flare projectors.[3]
The ships are powered by two APE-CrossleySEMT-Pielstick diesels (14,188bhp combined) driving two three-bladed propellers. It has a drop down loiter engine with a shrouded prop of 181bhp (135kW) used to keep station and save fuel. The main engines can propel the 664 ton (712 tons full load) ship at over 28 knots (52km/h), with a sustained speed of 25 knots (46km/h). Its range is 2,500 nautical miles (4,630km) at 17 knots (31km/h).[1]
These patrol vessels were specifically designed for Asian service, having air-conditioned crew spaces and have been designed to stay at sea during typhoons and other strong weather anomalies common to Asian seas. The ships were modified soon after entering the Royal Navy service with deeper bilge keels to alleviate a propensity to roll during moderate and heavy seas.[8]
Each ship carries two Avon Searaider 5.4-metre (18ft), 30-knot (56km/h; 35mph), 10-man RHIB.[3]
Upgrades
Upon entry with the Philippine Navy, additional refits were made to replace the four (4) 7.62mm machine guns with two (2) .50 caliber heavy machine guns and two 20mm Mk.16 cannons.[9] There are plans to add anti-ship missiles to the ships, but due to top-weight problems, it would have to be a lightweight system such as Sea Skua, although no missiles have been ordered to date.[3]
Phase 1 involves the upgrade of the ship's command & control, surveillance, and fire control systems, and was awarded to British defense contractor QinetiQ. It involved the installation of a new MSI Defence DS-25 Seahawk A1 AUTSIG mount with M242 Bushmaster 25mm naval gun, a new Fire Control System and Radamec's 1500 Series electro-optical tracking system (EOTS), Raytheon gyro compass, Sperry Marine Naval BridgeMaster E Series Surface Search Radar, GPS, anemometer, and EM logs. All these were integrated with the ship's existing systems. The Phase 1 upgrade was completed in 2005.[10][11]
Phase 2 is the Marine Engineering Upgrade Program, which includes the repair and remediation of the hull, overhaul and improvement of the main propulsion including control and monitoring systems, electrical plant, auxiliary systems, outfitting and hull furnishings and training the crew in the operation and maintenance of the new plant.[8]
Phase 3 was originally a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).[10] But this was later changed to Combat System Alignment project to improve the combat capability of the patrol vessels.[12] It involves replacing the existing EO/IR and fire control system with a newer system and a Command and Control (C2) module, repairing the 76mm Oto Melara Compact and 25mm Bushmaster gun on MSI Defence Seahawk mount, and other relevant upgrades.[13][14]
The project was divided to Phase 3A involving 2 ships (PS-35 and PS-36, later changed to PS-36 and PS-37) and the refurbishment of 3 MSI Seahawk gun mounts, while Phase 3B involves 1 ship (PS-37, later change to PS-35).[15][16][14]
The Phase 3A Combat Systems Alignment project was awarded to Ultra Electronics,[6] which installed the Ultra Electronics Fire Control System and Series 1700 electro-optical targeting system, and the Kelvin Hughes Sharpeye X-band surface search surveillance radar.[17][14][18]
The Phase 3B Combat Systems Alignment Project was awarded to Propmech Corporation-Saab AB Joint Venture,[19] which installed the Saab 9LV Mk.4 Compact Combat Management System (CMS),[6]Saab EOS-500 electro-optical targeting system and the GEM Elettronica Sea Eagle X-band surface search surveillance radar.[20][14][21][17]
BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) and BRP Rizal (PS-74) representing the Philippine Navy together at a CARAT exercise with the US Navy
BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) conducting SEAL delivery exercises
BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) at Balikatan 2009 exercises.
BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) on April 21, 2009
BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) at Balikatan 2010 exercises.
BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) at Balikatan 2010 exercises.
Related Research Articles
The Peacock class is a class of patrol corvette built for the Royal Navy. Five were constructed, and by 1997 all had been sold to the Irish Naval Service or the Philippine Navy.
BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) is third ship of the Jacinto-class corvettes currently assigned to the Offshore Combat Force of the Philippine Fleet. She is one of few ships in the Philippine Navy equipped with modern systems after the completion of combat, navigation and weapon systems upgrade of her class in August 2019. She was originally called HMS Starling (P241) during her service with the Royal Navy.
The BRP Dagupan City (LS-551) is the second and last ship of two Bacolod City class logistics support vessel, and is based on a helicopter capable variant of the US Army Frank S. Besson class. She is also considered one of the most modern transport ships in the Philippine Navy, having been commissioned during the early 1990s. She was previously known as BRP Dagupan City (LC-551) prior to a classification change implemented by the Philippine Navy starting April 2016
The BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-11) was a former destroyer escort of the United States Navy and a former frigate of the Philippine Navy. She was the last World War II-era destroyer escort/frigate active in her fleet, and one of the oldest active warships in the world, until 15 March 2018 when she was formally decommissioned after 75 years. She was one of three ex-USN Cannon-class destroyer escorts that served the Philippine Navy, the others being BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5/PS-77) and BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76).
The BRP Rizal (PS-74) was the lead ship and first of two Rizal class ships in service with the Philippine Navy. She was an ex-USN Auk class minesweeper that was produced during World War II, and was classified as a patrol corvette protecting the vast waters of the Philippines. Along with other ex-World War II veteran ships of the Philippine Navy, she was considered one of the oldest active fighting ships in the world, until 2020.
BRP Magat Salamat (PS-20) is one of several Miguel Malvar class of patrol corvettes in service with the Philippine Navy. She was originally built as USS Gayety (AM-239), an Admirable-class minesweeper with a similar hull to the PCE-842-class patrol craft produced during World War II. In 1962 she was transferred to South Vietnam for service in the Republic of Vietnam Navy as RVNS Chi Lang II (HQ-08). She was acquired by the Philippine Navy in April 1976 and later on commissioned as Magat Salamat. Along with other ex-World War II veteran ships of the Philippine Navy, she is considered one of the oldest active fighting ships in the world today.
BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS-38) is the lead ship of its class of three coastal patrol ships currently in service with the Philippine Navy. She was the lead ship of the US Navy's Cyclone-class patrol ship prior to being transferred to the Philippine Navy.
The BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) is the lead ship of the Jacinto-class corvettes currently assigned to the Offshore Combat Force of the Philippine Fleet. She is one of few ships in the Philippine Navy equipped with modern systems after the completion of combat, navigation and weapon systems upgrade of her class in August 2019. She was originally called HMS Peacock (P239) during her service with the Royal Navy.
The BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) is the second ship of the Jacinto-class corvettes currently assigned to the Offshore Combat Force of the Philippine Fleet. She is one of few ships in the Philippine Navy equipped with modern systems after the completion of combat, navigation and weapon systems upgrade of her class in August 2019. She is named after Apolinario Mabini, a hero of the Philippine revolution and a former prime minister. She was originally called HMS Plover (P240) during her service with the Royal Navy.
BRP Pangasinan (PS-31) was a Miguel Malvar-class corvette of the Philippine Navy. She was originally built as USS PCE-891, a PCE-842-class patrol craft for the United States Navy during World War II. She was decommissioned from the U.S. Navy and transferred to the Philippine Navy in July 1948 and renamed RPS Pangasinan (E-31).
The Rizal class was a ship class of two patrol corvettes formerly operated by the Philippine Navy. These ships were formerly used by the US Navy as Auk class minesweepers. Under the Philippine Navy, the two vessels have undergone upgrades and modification, and were categorized as corvettes.
BRP Heracleo Alano (PC-376) is the sixth ship of the Jose Andrada-class coastal patrol boats of the Philippine Navy. It is part of the first batch of its class ordered through U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) in 1990, and was commissioned with the Philippine Navy in January 1992. It was initially designated as Fast Patrol Craft, and was numbered "DF-376", but later on was re-designated as a Patrol Gunboat, and was finally re-numbered as "PG-376". Another round of reclassification was made in April 2016, which redesignated the patrol gunboat as the coastal patrol craft BRP Heracleo Alano (PC-376)
The Del Pilar-class are offshore patrol vessels currently in service with the Philippine Navy and previously in service with the US Coast Guard as Hamilton-class high endurance cutters. The Department of National Defense is currently in the process of upgrading their systems and capabilities under a modernization project awarded to Hanwha Systems of South Korea.
BRP Felix Apolinario (PC-395) is twenty-second and final ship of the Jose Andrada-class patrol craft of the Philippine Navy. She was commissioned in 2000 and is currently in active service with the Littoral Combat Force, Philippine Fleet.
BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15) is the lead ship of her class of offshore patrol vessel of the Philippine Navy. She is the second ship to be named after Gregorio del Pilar, a Filipino revolutionary general known for his role at the Battle of Tirad Pass. She was originally designated as "PF-15" from 2012 to mid-2016. Then the Navy adopted a new code designation system and she was redesignated as "FF-15". In February 2019, the Navy downgraded the status of the entire class from frigate to patrol ship and redesignated her to "PS-15".
BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) is the second ship of the Gregorio del Pilar-class patrol ships of the Philippine Navy. From 1968 to 2012, she was known as USCGC Dallas and served the United States Coast Guard as a high endurance cutter. She was decommissioned on 30 March 2012 and acquired by the Philippines under the Excess Defense Articles and the Foreign Assistance Act.
BRP Andrés Bonifacio (PS-17) is the third ship of the Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels of the Philippine Navy. She is the second ship of the Philippine Navy to be named after Andrés Bonifacio, a Filipino revolutionary leader, regarded as the "Father of the Philippine Revolution" and one of the most influential national heroes of the Philippines.
The BRP Conrado Yap (PS-30) is a Pohang-class corvette currently commissioned with the Philippine Navy. She is the service' first modern corvette and one of its most heavily armed units. She was originally named ROKS Chungju (PCC-762) during her service with the ROK Navy.
Apolinario is both a Portuguese and Spanish given name and a surname, derived from the Latin Apollinaris. Notable people with the name include:
References
1 2 3 4 5 Saunders, Stephen (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005 (107thed.). Jane's Information Group Ltd.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Wertheim, Eric: The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 15th Edition, page 552. Naval Institute Press, 2007.Archived 2018-04-21 at the Wayback Machine
↑ Department of National Defense Bids & Awards Committee – Invitation to Bid for JCPV Phase 3A Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy Archived 2015-01-15 at the Wayback Machine
↑ Department of National Defense Bids & Awards Committee – Invitation to Bid for JCPV Phase 3B Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy Archived 2015-01-15 at the Wayback Machine
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