2nd Hamilton Class Turnover to the PN

[ManilaBoy45]

Former USCGC Dallas WHEC-716 was formally turn over to the PN today in a ceremony held at the old Charleston Navy base in S. Carolina and was renamed BRP Ramon Alcaraz PF-16 which is the 2nd Hamilton class cutter acquired by the Philippines from the US ...

Coast Guard cutter heading to Philippines | WCBD-TV 2

Coast Guard Cutter Dallas changeover to Philippines completed | The Post and Courier | Charleston SC, News, Sports, Entertainment

Cutter Dallas officially turned over to Philippines - Charleston, SC | Breaking News, Sports, Weather

 

[Rod of God]

Good luck and enjoy !!

 

[oct605032048]

Which is older, the ship or Aquino III?

 

[kalayaan]

Our president, by 2 years.

I'd still trust US-made ships even if they are old than those made by a certain mainland asian country whose various exported products have been known to be either substandard, prone to breaking, or has dangerous contaminants.

 

[ManilaBoy45]

Both patrol ships will be armed with the upgraded MK 38 MOD 2 gun systems ...

Defense.gov: Contracts for Tuesday, September 04, 2012

BAE Systems Land and Armaments Inc., U.S. Combat Systems Division, Louisville, Ky., is being awarded a $24,257,531 firm-fixed-price contract for 21 MK38 Mod 2 machine gun systems and associated spare parts in support of the U.S. Navy and the Philippines.

 

[ManilaBoy45]

BRP RAMON ALCARAZ TO CROSS PANAMA CANAL

Home Voyage Begins 1st Week of June

Created on Monday, 20 May 2013 10:50

The Philippines' second Hamilton cutter, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), will sail through the Panama Canal during its voyage home in the first week of June.
This was confirmed by Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Lt. Cmdr Gregory Fabic."She will cross the Panama Canal before making port calls in the US West Coast. After those stops, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (ex-USGC Dallas) will then proceed to Guam before resuming her journey to the Philippines," he said.All in all, he said the voyage will take between 45 to 60 days.The ship is presently docked at North Charleston, South Carolina.

Fabic said that BRP Ramon Alcaraz is the first ship of the PN to cross the historic waterway.South Carolina is located on the US Atlantic seaboard making it practical for BRP Ramon Alcaraz to transit through the Panama Canal to get to the Pacific on her home to the Philippines.The 82-kilometer Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean.It cuts across the isthmus of Panama and is a key conduit for international maritime trade.Fabic also said that the ship is "fully mission capable" on her arrival."She will be fully capable of carrying out all functions assigned to her upon her arrival," the PN spokesperson added.He declined to comment on what other weaponry, communications and navigation systems were fitted to BRP Ramon Alcaraz but stated that the latter is "more formidable than BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15)."

BRP Ramon Alcaraz PF-16 Getting Underway for Her 3 Days Sea Trials in Charleston S.Carolina on 05/19/13 ...

 

[ManilaBoy45]

After Successful Test Fire, BRP Ramon Alcaraz Warship Heads for Panama Canal

PF-16 Long Voyage Home Continues | News | GMA News Online

June 12, 2013 12:43pm

After a successful test firing of its main weapons system, the Philippine Navy's newest warship is heading for its next stop, the Panama Canal.Philippine embassy to Washington defense and naval attache Capt. Elson Aguilar said the BRP Ramon Alcaraz will have an almost two-month journey to the Philippines. "The Alcaraz left Charleston, South Carolina, on Monday, more than a year after it was acquired from the US Coast Guard. Aside from Mayport and Panama, the Alcaraz will also stop in San Diego, Honolulu and Guam enroute to Manila," the Philippine Embassy said in an article posted on its website Wednesday, Philippine time.

Earlier Wednesday, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz successfully test fired its main weapons system off the coast of Florida. Capt. Ernesto Baldovino, the vessel's commanding officer, described the weapons system as "very reliable,” and having a "high degree of accuracy."Baldovino, in his report to Aguilar, said the BRP Ramon Alcaraz’s Italian-made Oto Melara rapid-fire cannon fired 15 rounds, including three for calibration and 12 at floating targets two to three miles away.

PF-16 Leaving the FLETC in S. Carolina on June 10th for it's 8 Weeks Journey Home ...

 

[ManilaBoy45]

Philippines Schedules Cutter Upgrade

Philippines schedules cutter upgrade - IHS Jane's 360

The Philippine Navy will upgrade the second of its ex-US Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutters, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz , with a pair of BAE Systems Mk 38 Mod 2 25 mm Machine Gun Systems by March 2014, state media reported on 6 January 2014.The guns will be installed on the BRP Ramon Alcaraz at its homeport in Subic Bay. BAE Systems was awarded a USD24 million contract in 2012 to deliver 21 Mk 38 Mod 2 systems and spare parts to the Philippines and US Navy.

 

[Penguin]

They look good in grey!

Just to compare the hull

 

[Penguin]

We know they can take Harpoon on racks forward of the bridge and triple ASW tubes at the waist. To add a self defence SAM, she could take one or two Mk48 mod 1 VLS units mounted on the side of each stack. That way she could easily accommodate 8 Sea Sparrow or ESSM (2x2 on each side, on either 2 or 4 bulkhead mountings, given ESSM can be duopacked). The WM28 / CAS she already carries should be ablt to provide 1 illumination channel, out to almost 40 km. The aforementioned MK38 Mod 2 remotely controlled naval gun system (that mounts the M242 25mm Bushmaster Chain Gun machine cannon) could also be platform-mounted at the rear corner of the stack, providing a good firing arc, while leaving the waist positions free for ASW tubes. These gun mounts employ an integral Rafael Toplite electro-optical fire control system. A single stand alone version of that over the bridge could provide a backup channel for the main gun, freeing up the CAS for missile control.

Mk-48 vertical launching system VLS RIM-7 Sea Sparrow RIM-162 ESSMmissile

HMNLS' VAN SPEIJK & WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN

Defense Update:Update: MATRIX Tactical Laser Weapon Demonstrates Counter-Swarm Techniques - Defense Update:

http://www.rafael.co.il/Marketing/399-918-en/Marketing.aspx

Signaal’s WM-20 FCS Radar Housings (from Military Technology Magazine, 1982) | The Serendipity Project

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/mk92-fcs.pdf

 

[ManilaBoy45]

In connection with the Goodwill Visit of Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Escort Division Two (JMSDF ED2), JS Harusame (DD-102) and JS Amigiri (DD-154) held a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with PN ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) at vicinity of Manila Bay and Corregidor .

(Photo: PN)

 

[Penguin]

Which is older, the ship or Aquino III?

Make fun of it all you like but anything that is replacing the WW2 era ex-US Cannon class destroyer escort, Datu Kalantiaw, is an improvement. A mid-1960s ship is better than a mid-1940s ship, esp if the former was refitted as modern frigate in the 1980s (76mm Melara, 2x4 Harpoon, Phalanx, 2x3 ASW torp.tubes). Even if she doesn't have them anymore, it is something that could be ... again.