BRP Bacolod City (LC-550)

The BRP Bacolod City (LC-550) is the lead ship of two "Bacolod City" class of Logistics Support Vessels, and is based on a helicopter capable variant of the US Army's Frank S. Besson class. She is also considered as one of the most modern transport ships in the Philippine Navy, having been commissioned during the early 1990s.

History

The BRP "Bacolod City" was built by Halter/Moss Point Marine of Escatawpa, Mississippi in the United States and was commissioned into Philippine Navy in 1993. Both ships of its class were purchased brand-new by the Philippine government through the FMS program of the United States. Since its commissioning, both ships of its class were rigorously used in military and peacetime operations, and has been joining joint military exercises with foreign navies as well.

Presently it is assigned with the Service Force of the Philippine Fleet. ["Philippine Fleet Official Website. [http://philfleet.mil.ph/ships.htm Commissioned ships and crafts] .]

Technical details

The ship is powered by two General Motors-EMD 16-645EZ6 diesel engines with a combined power of around 5,800 hp driving two propellers. The main engines can propel the 1,400 ton (4,265 tons full load) ship at a maximum speed of around convert|12|kn|km/h|0. At a sustained speed of convert|10|kn|km/h|0, it range is at around convert|8300|nmi|km|-1. ["DLSU N-ROTC Office. [http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/offices/sps/rotc/pdf/ms2/namingPNships.pdf Naming and Code Designation of PN Vessels] .]

As a amphibious transport, it is fairly armed for defensive purposes, and carries four 7.62mm general purpose machine guns at the front side decks, and two Oerlikon 20 mm cannons near its two LCVPs.

The prime mission of the ship is the direct transport and discharge of liquid and dry cargo to shallow terminal areas, remote under-developed coastlines and on inland waterways.

The ship does not require external cranes or port facilities, and even in only four feet of water under full load, the ship is still able to land. This capability expands the choice of landing locations, and at the same time reduces the potential enemy impact on the logistics support operations.

The ships have a capacity to transport up to 48 TEU or 2,280 tons vehicles/general cargo, or up to 900 tons on Logistics Over The Shore (LOTS) / amphibious operations. Its ramps and the main deck are able to withstand roll-on/roll-off operations of even heavy main battle tanks. ["Naval Technology [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/lsv Frank S Besson Class LSV Logistic Support Vessel] ]

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 BRP Bacolod City threads @ Philippine Defense Forum]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/asiapac/philip.htm World Navies Today: Philippines]
* [http://timawa.net/pn.htm Opus224's Unofficial Philippine Defense Page]