Andres Bonifacio class frigate

The "Andres Bonifacio" class is a ship class of four frigates that served with the Philippine Navy from 1976 to the mid 1990's. These ships were formerly used by the US Navy as "Barnegat" class small sea plane tenders and by the US Coast Guard as "Casco" class weather heavy endurance cutters. Under the Philippine Navy, the four vessels have undergone upgrades and modification, and were categorized as frigates. During their time, they were considered as the largest Philippine Navy combat ships of her time.

History

The "Barnegat" class small seaplane tenders also served in the US Coast Guard as the "Casco" class cutters. These were actually quite interesting little ships, but they get overlooked. The first and only class of purpose-built small seaplane tenders in the US Navy, they were designed to operate out of small harbors and atolls and had a shallow draft. The fact that the class was very seaworthy, had good habitability, and long range made them well suited to ocean-station duty. Fast, heavily armed and exceptionally versatile, they served in a wide variety of roles during and after WWII. ["GlobalSecurity.org. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/avp-10.htm AVP-10 Barnegat] ]

Seven units were provided by the US Government to the South Vietnamese Navy between 1970 and 1972. On 29 April 1975, with the South Vietnamese government collapsing and North Vietnamese troops entering Saigon; six of the seven ships set sail and later made a rendezvous at Son Island, the last remaining morsel of free South Vietnam. They remained at anchor until 2 May, when they set sail for Subic Bay, still flying the South Vietnamese flag.

Once they arrived in the Philippines, they presented a slight legal dilemma to the USN as in theory they should have reverted to the new “provisional government” in the former South Vietnam. Eventually it was decided that since the United States did not recognize that government, they were nobody’s property, and were sold to the Philippine navy in 1976 to spare the US government from the expense of having to move them out of Subic Bay for disposal. All were in poor condition, the last pair so much that they were beyond economic restoration. In 1979, the entire aft deck on the remaining four was replaced by a helipad for one Bo-105 helicopter, and a 3’3” tub for a displaced aft 40mm mount was added. Final radar fit was AN/SPS-53, AN/SPS-29, and Mk26. ["Harpoon Database Encyclopedia [http://www.harpoondatabases.com/Encyclopedia/Entry1757.aspx AVP-10 Barnegat class] ]

hips in Class

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/09/43/4324.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship 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]