BRP Pangasinan (PS-31)

The BRP "Pangasinan" (PS-31) 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 is now classified as a corvette protecting the vast waters of the Philippines. 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). Along with other ex-World War II veteran ships of the Philippine Navy, she is considered as one of the oldest active fighting ships in the world today. ["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 "PCE-891" in 1944, 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 (now BRP) "Pangasinan" (PS-31) in 1948. She is currently assigned with the Patrol Force of the Philippine Fleet. ["Philippine Fleet Official Website. [http://philfleet.mil.ph/ships.htm Commissioned ships and crafts] .]

Notable Operations

On 16 July 1973, "Pangasinan" under the command of Lt.Cdr. Arturo Y. Capada (PN), dispatched a motor whale boat operated by ET3 Celso Rosario (PN) and rescued a Philippine Constabulary detachment of 9 troopers from Tandu Batu, Luuk, Sulu. ET3 Rosario died in the said rescue operation, which earned him the Philippine Medal of Valor. [ [http://socomteamcavite.proboards91.com/index.cgi?board=brain&action=print&thread=119 Medal of Valor] .]

In August 2002, she was also one of the Philippine Navy ships which rescued Filipino refugees from Sabah beating the 24 August 2002 deadline imposed by the Malaysians for undocumented workers to leave. ["eBalita News. [http://www.ebalita.net/go/news/news.php?id=260 Filipino Refugees from Sabah are today's Boat People] .]

On 14 October 2003 while conducting patrol operations along the Philippine-Malaysian border, "Pangasinan" apprehended a motor launch carrying some R3.5 million worth of smuggled goods off Tawi-Tawi. ["Manila Bulletin. [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-108842671.html P3.5 M worth of 'hot' goods seized] .]

Last 20 May 2008, as part of a composite team from the Philippine Army 53rd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Navy - Naval Forces Western Mindanao, and the Philippine National Police, she joined a raid on the island of Ticala, San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur, in order to put an end to sea robberies and extortion in the waters of Illana Bay. ["News and More... [http://www.unsapa.com/police-files/navy-army-and-pnp-composite-team-raid-pirates-lair.html Navy, Army, and PNP Composite Team Raid Pirates’ Lair] .]

Technical details

Originally the ship was armed with one 3"/50 caliber dual purpose gun, three twin Bofors 40 mm guns, four 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/12/02891.htm PCE-891] .]

The same configuration applies up until the late 1980s when the Philippine Navy removed most of her old anti-submarine weapons and systems, and added four 12.7 mm general purpose machine guns, making her lighter and ideal for surface patrols, but losing her limited anti-submarine warfare capability.

The ship is powered by two GM 12-278A diesel engines with a combined rating of around 2,200 bhp driving two propellers. The main engines can propel the 914 tons (full load) ship to a maximum speed of around convert|16|kn|km/h|0. ["DLSU N-ROTC Office. [http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/offices/sps/rotc/pdf/ms2/namingPNships.pdf Naming and Code Designation of PN Vessels] .]

There are slight difference between the BRP "Pangasinan" 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/12/02891.htm NavSource Online: Patrol Craft Escort Photo Archive]

ee also

* Philippine Navy