BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5)

The "RPS Datu Sikatuna" (PF-5) was the one of the three ex-USN sclass|Cannon|destroyer escort that served with the Philippine Navy, the others being BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76) and "BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)".

History

Commissioned in the US Navy as the USS|Amick|DE-168 in 1943, she was mostly assigned at the Atlantic theatre doing escort duties for transatlantic convoys. She served in the Pacific theatre in the middle of 1945, and received the unconditional surrender of all Japanese forces in the northern Palaus, which was received by the Americans in the wardroom on board "Amick" on September 1945. "Amick" was reassigned back to the Atlantic Fleet on December 1945 and remained in semi-active status until her decommissioning on May 1947.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

She was transferred to the Japanese government as JDS "Asahi" (DE-262) on 14 June 1955. Together with her sistership JDS "Hatsuhi" (DE-263), they became one of the first warships of the newly organized Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. As newer ships became available to the JMSDF, both ships were decommissioned and returned to the US Navy on June 1975."Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships". [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a13/amick.htm "Amick" page] .] ["Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a13/atherton.htm "Atherton" page] .]

Philippine Navy

Remained laid-up in Japan, she was transferred to the Philippine government in September 1976 and was sold as Excess Defense Article on 23 December 1978. As a Philippine Navy ship, she was named RPS "Datu Sikatuna" (PS-77), and was towed to South Korea for an extensive refit in 1979. During this period South Korea also turned over 2 of their own ex-USN "Cannon" class ships to the US Navy in 1977, namely the "Kyong Ki" (DE-71) /USS Muir (DE-770) and "Kang Won" (DE-72) / USS Sutton (DE-771). These were also turned-over by the US to the Philippine government, which were later on cannibalized for use as parts hulk to upgrade and repair the "Datu Sikatuna" and her sistership "Rajah Humabon", and provide both ships with additional guns and improve her machinery. ["Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships". [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de770.txt "Muir" page] .] ["Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships". [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de771.txt "Sutton" page] .]

With these upgrades, she was formally commissioned to the Philippine Navy in 1980, and formed the backbone of the Philippine Fleet together with 2 of her sister ships and other ex-US Navy destroyer escorts. She was reclassified as BRP "Datu Sikatuna" (PF-5), now using the "BRP" ship naming standard and carrying a "Frigate" classification, and served until 1989 when she was decommissioned and scrapped.Wertheim, Eric: "The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 15th Edition", page 550. Naval Institute Press, 2007.] She became a parts hulk for the remaining ship of her class, the BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11).

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.navy.mil.ph Philippine Navy Official website]
* [http://philfleet.mil.ph/ships.htm Philippine Fleet Official Website]
* [http://timawa.net/forum Philippine Defense Forum]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/168.htm NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/asiapac/philip.htm Hazegray World Navies Today: Philippines]
* [http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/offices/sps/rotc/pdf/ms2/namingPNships.pdf Naming and Code Designation of PN Ships]