Malvar-class corvette

Last updated
BRP Cebu (PS-28), Tabawan 2009-06-27.jpg
Class overview
NameMalvar class
Builders Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Co.; Albina Engine and Machine Works; Willamette Iron and Steel Corp.; Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding; US
OperatorsFlag of the Philippine Navy.svg  Philippine Navy
Succeeded by Rizal class
Active1
Lost1
Retired9
General characteristics
Type
  • Patrol corvette (as originally transferred)
  • Gun corvette (later, upon removal of all ASW ability)
Displacement
  • 914 tons (full load)
  • 640 tons (standard)
Length184.5 ft (56.2 m)
Beam33 ft (10 m)
Draft
Installed power
  • 3 gens [1]
  • 2 × GM6-71 diesel engines with 100KW gen
  • 1 × GM3-268A diesel engine with 60KW gen
Propulsion
  • 2 × GM12-278A diesel engines [1] with a combined 2,200 hp (1,600 kW)
  • (previous) 2 × GM12-567ATL diesel engines
  • (original) 2 × Cooper Bessemer GSB-8 diesel engines
Speed
Range6,600 nmi at 11 knots (20 km/h)
Complement85
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Raytheon AN/SPS-64(V)11 nav & surface-search radar (1990-1992 refits: PS-19, PS-22, PS-31, & PS-32) (1992-1993 refits: PS-23 & PS-28) [2]
  • SPS-50 Surface Search Radar (on PS-23)
  • SPS-21D Surface Search Radar (on PS-19 and PS-28)
  • CRM-NIA-75 Surface Search Radar (on PS-29, PS-31, and PS-32)
  • SPS-53A Surface Search Radar (on PS-20)
  • RCA SPN-18 I/J-band Navigation Radar
  • [3]
  • Sonar (either removed during 1990-1993 overhaul & refits [3] or 1980s; [2] if not in the 1960s for the 5 ships that arrived in 1975)
Armament
  • SuW-AAW [1] [2]
  • 1 × 76mm/50L (3-inch 50-calibresLong) dual-purpose cannon on a Mk.22 mount
  • Bofors 40mm AA rapid-fire cannons (in 1 of ff config):
    • 3 × twin-barrel [1]
    • 2 × single-barrel [1]
    • 3 × single-barrel (claimed from some photo sources)
    • none at all (transferred to PhMC for their ground-based AA weapons) [2]
  • Oerlikon 20 mm AA rapid-fire cannons: 3 [2] or 4 units [1] )
  • 4 × M2 Browning 50cal (12.7 mm) heavy machine guns
  • A number of 30cal medium machine guns
  • Removed Armaments
  • 4 of 1st 6 ships transferred in 1948: Either during the 1990-1993 overhaul & refits [3] Or the 1980's [2] )
  • Last 5 ships arrived in 1975: Either during 1960's before their transfer to RVNN Or (except maybe PS-18) along with 4 of the 1st 6 ships
  • ASW
  • 1 × Hedgehog antisubmarine mortar projector
  • 4 × K-gun depth charge projectors
  • 2 × depth charge rails
  • SuW-AAW
  • Bofors 40mm twin-barrel AA rapid-fire cannons (either only certain ships [1] or all the remaining ships [2] )
  • MCM gears (from the 3 minesweeper-variant hulls Admirable-class)

The Malvar class is a ship class of patrol corvettes of the Philippine Navy and are currently its oldest class of corvettes. These ships were formerly used by the US Navy as Admirable-class minesweepers, and PCE-842-class and PCE(R)-848 class patrol craft, which were both based on the Admirable-class hull. In the Philippine Navy, the vessels have undergone upgrades and modifications, and have been re-categorized as corvettes. One ship, the ex-USN USS Quest was supposedly a member of this class but was converted into a non-combatant Presidential Yacht by the Philippine Navy in 1948 as RPS Pag-asa (APO-21) (later on renamed as RPS Santa Maria, and as RPS/BRP Mount Samat) [4]

Contents

In 2021 December 10, the remaining 2 ships of this class were finally decommissioned, and so the remaining WW2-era vessels are only the 5 armed transport-types (3 LCUs & 2 LSTs) during that time. That event was supposed to mark the end of the era of using WW2 combatants but supertyphoon Odette hit the Philippines just 6 days after their decommissioning, and so BRP Magat Salamat (PS-20) was forced "to set sail again with a volunteer force composed mainly of its last crew as a temporary command post for the duration of the relief operations in Dinagat Islands which was severely devastated", as reported by Philippine News Agency. [5]

But to begin with, the replacements for all the WW2-era vessels was originally planned for the 2000s under the 1995-2010 Philippine Military Modernization Law, however this law was largely ignored for various reasons, including overdependence on the US via their 1951 MDT and 1998 VFA, among others. Some Filipinos blamed the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis as the core reason but in actuality the Philippine economy grew by 5.2% in 1997, only contracted -0.6% in 1998, and then quickly rebounded 3.1% in 1999, and onwards; it even weathered the Global Financial crisis of 2007-2008 where, by 2009, most countries were on the negative while the Philippines managed at 1.1%, while 7.15% and 4.15% in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The modernization law expired in 2010 February 23 without even a single hint of reviving it during that time. The Philippines only thought of reviving it when the Scarborough Shoal standoff erupted in 2012 April 8.

History

The PCE class of naval ships served with the United States Navy during the Second World War.

Out of the reserved US Navy units, six were transferred to the Philippines as part of the US Military Assistance Program (PS-28 to PS-33), while five were former South Vietnamese Navy units that escaped to the Philippines in 1975.

With 40 years of active duty with the Philippine Navy, ships of this class have been involved in local and international crisis, exercises, and incidents.

Technical details

Originally the ship was armed with one 3"/50 caliber dual purpose gun, two to six Bofors 40 mm guns, 1 Hedgehog depth charge projector, four depth charge projectiles (K-guns) and two depth charge tracks. [6]

The same configuration applied up until the late 1980s when the Philippine Navy removed most of its old anti-submarine weapons and systems, and three 20 mm Oerlikon guns and four 12.7 mm general purpose machine guns were installed, making it lighter and more suited for surface patrols, but losing its limited anti-submarine warfare capability. [2]

The ship was originally powered by two Cooper Bessemer GSB-8 diesel engines, but these were replaced by two GM 12-567ATL diesel engines similar to her sister ships, with a combined rating of around 1,710 bhp (1,280 kW). These were then again replaced in the mid 1990s with two GM 12-278A diesels with a combined rating of around 2,200 bhp (1,600 kW) driving two propellers. The main engines can propel the 914-ton (full load) ship to a maximum speed of around 16 knots (30 km/h). [1]


Ships in class

Bow numberShip nameLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedServiceStatus
PS-18 [7] BRP Datu Tupas 14 November 19435 April 19761977Patrol ForceUsed as parts hulk for sisterships.
PS-19 BRP Miguel Malvar 1 March 19447 February 197710 December 2021Offshore Combat ForceDecommissioned
PS-20 [6] BRP Magat Salamat 19 March 19447 February 197710 December 2021Offshore Combat ForceUsed as temporary command post in Dinagat Islands as reported in 2021 Dec 28 [5]
PS-22 BRP Sultan Kudarat 18 May 194322 July 19765 July 2019 [8] Offshore Combat ForceCapsized at Sangley Point, Cavite
PS-23 BRP Datu Marikudo 18 March 19445 April 19769 December 2010 [9] Patrol ForceSold for scrap; equipment stripped as spare parts
PS-28 BRP Cebu 10 November 19432 July 19481 October 2019Offshore Combat ForceCapsized at Sangley Point, Cavite.
PS-29 BRP Negros Occidental 24 February 19442 July 19489 December 2010 [9] Patrol ForceSold for scrap; equipment stripped as spare parts
PS-30 RPS Leyte 20 June 19442 July 19481979Patrol ForceGrounded and lost in 1978.
PS-31 BRP Pangasinan 24 April 19432 July 19481 March 2021Offshore Combat ForceSunk as target for SINKEX phase of Exercise Balikatan 2023 on 26 April 2023. [10]
PS-32 BRP Iloilo 3 August 19432 July 1948September 2016 [11] Offshore Combat ForceWeapons, machinery & electronics stripped for spare parts; hull awaiting disposal
PS-33 [12] RPS Samar 20 November 194324 May 19481960Patrol Force

Related Research Articles

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BRP <i>Rajah Humabon</i> (PS-11)

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BRP <i>Quezon</i> (PS-70)

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BRP <i>Rizal</i> Philippine Navy ship

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 <i>Magat Salamat</i>

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.

<i>Jacinto</i>-class patrol vessel

The Jacinto-class patrol 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. These increased their capabilities compared to the original Peacock-class vessels.

BRP <i>Miguel Malvar</i>

BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) is the lead ship of the Miguel Malvar class of corvettes of the Philippine Navy. She was originally built as USS Brattleboro PCE(R)-852, a PCE(R)-848-class rescue patrol craft escort for the United States Navy during World War II. In 1966 she was transferred to South Vietnam for service in the Republic of Vietnam Navy as RVNS Ngọc Hồi (HQ-12). She was acquired by the Philippine Navy in April 1976 and later on commissioned as Miguel Malvar after Miguel Malvar y Carpio. The ship is in active service. Along with other World War II-era ships of the Philippine Navy, Miguel Malvar is one of the oldest active fighting ships in the world today.

BRP <i>Sultan Kudarat</i>

BRP Sultan Kudarat (PS-22) was a Miguel Malvar-class corvette of the Philippine Navy. She was originally built as USS PCE-881, a PCE-842-class patrol craft for the United States Navy during World War II. In 1961 she was transferred to South Vietnam for service in the Republic of Vietnam Navy as RVNS Đống Đa II (HQ-07). She was acquired by the Philippine Navy on April 1976, and was commissioned later on as RPS Sultan Kudarat (PS-22). Along with other World War II-era ships of the Philippine Navy, Sultan Kudarat was considered one of the oldest active fighting ships in the world, until her retirement in July 5, 2019.

BRP Datu Marikudo (PS-23) was a Malvar-class corvette of the Philippine Navy. She was originally built as USS PCE(R)-853, a PCE(R)-848-class patrol craft for the United States Navy during World War II. She was renamed USS Amherst on 15 February 1956. In February 1970, Amherst was decommissioned and transferred to South Vietnam for service in the Republic of Vietnam Navy as RVNS Vạn Kiếp II (HQ-14). She remained in South Vietnamese service until the collapse of that country in 1975. Vạn Kiếp II was one of several ships that fled from South Vietnam to the Philippines. She was then commissioned into the Philippine Navy on 5 April 1976 and named in honor of Datu Marikudo. Along with other World War II-era ships of the Philippine Navy, Datu Marikudo was considered one of the oldest active fighting ships in the world until her decommissioning.

BRP <i>Cebu</i>

BRP Cebu (PS-28) was a Miguel Malvar-class corvette of the Philippine Navy. She was originally built as USS PCE-881, a PCE-842-class patrol craft for the United States Navy during World War II and patrolled the Alaskan coast during that war. She was decommissioned from the U.S. Navy and transferred to the Philippine Navy in July 1948 and renamed RPS Cebu (E-28) after the Philippine province of the same name. The ship was decommissioned on 1 October 2019. Along with other World War II-era ships of the Philippine Navy, Cebu was considered one of the world's oldest fighting ships during her active service.

BRP <i>Negros Occidental</i>

BRP Negros Occidental (PS-29) was a Miguel Malvar-class corvette of the Philippine Navy. She was originally built as USS PCE-884, 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 Negros Occidental after the Philippine province of the same name. Along with other World War II-era ships of the Philippine Navy, Negros Occidental was considered one of the oldest active fighting ships in the world until its decommissioning.

RPS Leyte (PS-30) was a Miguel Malvar-class corvette of the Philippine Navy. She was originally built as USS PCE-885, 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 Leyte. The ship was decommissioned from the Philippine Navy in 1978 after she ran aground and was damaged beyond repair.

BRP <i>Pangasinan</i>

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).

BRP <i>Iloilo</i>

BRP Iloilo (PS-32) was a Miguel Malvar-class corvette of the Philippine Navy. She was originally built as USS PCE-897, 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 Iloilo (E-32) after the Philippine province of the same name. Along with other World War II-era ships of the Philippine Navy, Iloilo was considered one of the oldest active fighting ships in the world, being in continuous service for over seven decades.

<i>Rizal</i>-class corvette

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 <i>Rajah Lakandula</i>

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BRP <i>Andrés Bonifacio</i> (PF-7)

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BRP <i>Conrado Yap</i> (PS-39) Philippine Navy corvette

The BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39) 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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DLSU N-ROTC Office. Naming and Code Designation of PN Vessels Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine .
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 GlobalSecurity.org PS Miguel Malvar Class Archived 22 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  3. 1 2 3 Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005
  4. ↑ NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive Quest (AM-281) Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 "WW2 corvette to serve as command post in Dinagat relief ops: Navy". Philippine News Agency. 28 December 2021.
  6. 1 2 NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive. Gayety (MSF 239) ex-AM-239 Archived 2008-05-31 at the Wayback Machine .
  7. ↑ NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive. Shelter (MSF 301) Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine .
  8. ↑ "Work Boat World Maritime Security Vessel Orders and Deliveries Roundup – May 25, 2022". 25 May 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Philippine Navy in the News: 3 World War II barko ng Navy, pinagretiro na". 9 December 2010.
  10. ↑ Sadongdong, Martin (26 April 2023). "AFP, US counterpart's live fire drill a success as mock vessel sinks off Zambales". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  11. ↑ MaxDefense Philippines BRP GREGORIO DEL PILAR MISSES CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE AVAILABILITY, EMPHASIZES NEED OF PHILIPPINE NAVY FOR MORE WARSHIPS Archived 2018-03-24 at the Wayback Machine .
  12. ↑ NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive. Project (AM 278) Archived 2008-05-02 at the Wayback Machine .
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