BRP Quezon (PS-70)

The BRP "Quezon" (PS-70) is one of two "Rizal" class ships in service with the Philippine Navy. She is formerly an ex-USN "Auk" class minesweeper that were produced during World War II, and is now classified as a patrol corvette protecting the vast waters of the Philippines. 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. ["Armed Forces of the Philippines Order of Battle. [http://www.hueybravo.net/Philippine%20Navy%20Main.htm Philippine Navy] .]

History

USS|Vigilance|AM-324 was originally laid down for the Royal Navy under the lend-lease program as HMS Exploit (BAM-24). However the United States Navy decided to keep the ship and renamed her Vigilance (AM-324) on 23 January 1943.

Commissioned in the US Navy in 1944, her first duties included screening of transport convoys between Pearl Harbor and the Marshall Islands and local escort duties between Guam, Peleliu, and Ulithiat. She also did minesweeping duties and anti-submarine patrols near Okinawa, was able to assist in anti-aircraft duties with other vessels, and assisting in firefighting and treatment of wounded from USS "Whitehurst" (DE-634) and USS "England" (DE-635). She was able to shoot a number of attacking Japanese aircraft during this period. She continued on minesweeping and patrol duties in Leyte, Philippine Islands, and in the Japanese home islands before and after Japan surrendered. With her service during World War II, she was awarded with three battle stars. ["Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/mine/am324.htm "Vigilance" page] .]

She was then transferred to the Philippines in 19 August 1967 and was commissioned to the Philippine Navy as the RPS (now BRP) "Quezon" (PS-70), and together with her sister ship, was one of the Navy's main warships during the 1960s up to the present.

She was stricken from the navy in late 1994, but was overhauled at the Cavite Naval Dockyard and returned to service in 1995. Some of her weapons were also removed, mainly its anti-submarine equipments due to lack of spare parts. This includes the five Mk6 depth charge projectors and two depth charge racks. This move totally removed her anti-submarine warfare capabilities, which is in fact outdated at present conditions. "Quezon" completed a rehabilitation overhaul in April 1996. Recent upgrades includes a satellite radio dish for communications. ["Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003.] ["The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 15th Edition - page 550]

Present Status

Her current classification is Patrol Corvette. She is currently assigned to the Patrol Force of the Philippine Fleet. ["Philippine Fleet Official Website. [http://philfleet.mil.ph/ships.htm Commissioned ships and crafts] .]

Notable Deployments and Operations

Exercises

On 10 April 2007, "Quezon", together with BRP "Artemio Ricarte" and BRP "Bienvenido Salting", took part in a 10-day naval exercises with the Malaysian Navy dubbed "MALPHI LAUT 2007". Malaysian vessels that took part include KD "Kedah", KD "Laksamana Tan Pusmah", and KD "Yu". ["Manila Standard Today (11 April 2007). [http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=regions1_april11_2007 RP, Malaysia Navies start war games] .]

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.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]
* [http://de635.ussengland.org/OtherShips/USS%20Vigilance.htm USS England DE-635 Official Website]
* [http://www.worldwarships.com/warships_philippines.htm World Warships: Philippines]
* [http://www.timawa.net/pn.htm Opus224's Unofficial Philippine Defense Page]