BRP Leyte (PS-30)

The BRP "Leyte" (PS-30) is one of several "Miguel Malvar" class Patrol Corvettes in service with the Philippine Navy. She is formerly an ex-USN Patrol Craft Escort based on the "Admirable" class minesweeper hull that were produced during World War II, and was reclassified as a corvette. She is actually one of the first of her class in service with the Philippine Navy (as other ships of her class were commissioned in 1975). ["Manokski's Armed Forces of the Philippines Order of Battle. [http://www.hueybravo.net/Philippine%20Navy%20Main.htm Philippine Navy] .]

History

Commissioned in the US Navy as the USS "PCER-885" in 1945, and was decommissioned after World War II.

She was then transferred and commissioned into the Philippine Naval Patrol (currently Philippine Navy) and was renamed RPS "Leyte" (PS-29) in 1948. She was stricken in 1978 after being grounded near Wallace Air Station in Poro Point, La Union. ["World Warships. [http://www.worldwarships.com/warships_philippines.htm Philippine Navy] .]

Grounding

After undergoing repairs at the Cavite Naval Dockyard in 1978, she was immediately assigned to escort RPS "Ang Pangulo", the presidential yacht, which is docked at San Fernando, La Union after being used by President Ferdinand Marcos in a trip to Baguio City. Wihtout undergoing sea trials and with an impending storm, "Leyte" proceeded to La Union. Caught in the storm and radar-less, one of her engines conked-out, but still proceeded to her destination. Upon nearing the area of the Wallace Air Station, she found herself parallel with the coastline, and was hit by a huge wave that threw the ship into the rocky coast off Walace Air Station. Grounded, her crew was secured from the waves and no fatalities were reported.

Unable to recover the ship, she was stricken from the Philippine Navy in the same year. [ Ferrer, Antonieto D. "Sea Disasters in the Philippines". ADF Publishing Services 2007 ]

Technical details

Originally the ship was armed with one 3"/50 caliber dual purpose gun, three twin Bofors 40 mm guns, five 20 mm Oerlikon guns, 1 Hedgehog depth charge projector, four depth charge projectiles (K-guns) and two depth charge tracks. ["NavSource Online: Patrol Craft Escort Photo Archive. [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/02881.htm PCE-885] .]

There were slight differences between the BRP "Leyte" as compared to some of her sister ships in the Philippine Navy, since her previous configuration was as a patrol craft escort, while the others are configured as minesweepers and patrol craft escort rescue ships.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://timawa.net/forum Philippine Defense Forum]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/asiapac/philip.htm Philippine Navy @ Hazegray.org]
* [http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/offices/sps/rotc/pdf/ms2/namingPNships.pdf DLSU ROTC]
* [http://timawa.net/pn.htm Opus224's Unofficial Philippine Defense Page]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/02885.htm NavSource Online: Patrol Craft Escort Photo Archive]

ee also

* Philippine Navy