The BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) was handed over by the US Coast Guard to the Philippine Navy on May 2012, or almost a year ago. DND says our men need more time to train and to install modern radar. Its quite amusing but MaxDefense think its not the case. Its sistership BRP Gregorio del Pilar was handed over to the PN on May 2011, but how come it was already home by August 2011 or only 3 months after hand-over, including the almost 1 month travel from California to Philippines and stop overs at Hawaii and Guam?
This blog is for enlightening the public since the announcements made by the DND & PN seems to cover something. MaxDefense would only like to clarify for the truth, and not to discredit DND, the PN or the BRP Ramon Alcaraz crew members.
Whats the difference with Ramon Alcaraz and Gregorio del Pilar? The PF-16 already has an advantage since the men sent there were already previously exposed and trained and has experience in a similar ship which is the Gregorio del Pilar. Is there a need for more training? Let's concur with their other reasons, that the ship will be installed with a new modern radar system and new weapon gun mounts.
Radar system. Not really. As of May 2013 MaxDefense sources said that the only radar installed were the basic short range surface search & navigation surveillance radar, possibly a Furuno FAR series similar to those installed on BRP Gregorio del Pilar. It's not something new and is a widely-used radar system in the PN, and the Gregorio del Pilar also underwent the same new radar installation, but still it never stayed in the US for more than 2 months. Even the fire control radar was also retained.
They said they are installing additional modern weapons. So far the US has released a document stating that the PN is set to receive two (2) new Mark 38 Mod. 2 remote capable 25mm chain gun systems, which are actually "re-branded" Rafael Typhoon mounts from Israel. The document even states that these will be made mostly in Israel & completed in the US by May 2014 (that's 1 year from now!). So these guns may not be available yet for the ship.
The real reason for BRP Ramon Alcaraz's delay is because they've encountered major problems in the ship.
1. One of its Fairbanks Morse diesel engine was spoiled and needs replacement. Taking it out means tearing parts of the hull as the engines are large. Doing this will take some time, not just weeks but months. Retired Vice Admiral Pama also admitted the engine replacement issue but made it seem a minor problem.
2. Due to the old age of BRP Ramon Alcaraz (she was first commissioned on March 1968, or 45 years ago), it is expected that a lot of the ship's components and even the hull itself is reaching obsolescence. Ships usually have a 30 to 40 year lifespan, although refitting works can be made to extend it for a few more years. It might be the PN discovered the need to fix a lot of things inside the ship before it can ready to sail back home. Philippine laws require the purchase of used military hardware to have a minimum of 15 years of service life and in its current condition, the Ramon Alcaraz may need more dock work to meet that requirement. It is expected that she will only have minimal refitting and repainting works to navy grey before formal commissioning, as what BRP Greogorio del Pilar underwent from August to December 2011.
3. If the ships indeed get Mark 38 Mod. 2 gun mounts, there is a possibility that the US Navy will loan one or two units, and will be returned upon availability of the brand new items ordered recently. Thus the ship will indeed undergo refitting work to install them, and since this is a new item in the PN inventory the ship crew will undergo training to maintain & use them. Again, this is IF the US will temporarily loan the PN used gun mounts.
I'll be updating this posting should more evidence of delays surface, which I hope there's nothing more since the DND & PN recently announced that the ship will be in the Philippines by late June 2013. This means it needs to sail from Charleston to California via the Panama Canal by mid-May, and travel across the Pacific Ocean by late May or early June.
I wish the last public statement by the DND is the last regarding its arrival,and MaxDefense wishes the BRP Ramon Alcaraz good luck in its travel and Godspeed. Hoping for your safe arrival to serve your country.
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| The BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) docked at Charleston, North Carolina |
Whats the difference with Ramon Alcaraz and Gregorio del Pilar? The PF-16 already has an advantage since the men sent there were already previously exposed and trained and has experience in a similar ship which is the Gregorio del Pilar. Is there a need for more training? Let's concur with their other reasons, that the ship will be installed with a new modern radar system and new weapon gun mounts.
Radar system. Not really. As of May 2013 MaxDefense sources said that the only radar installed were the basic short range surface search & navigation surveillance radar, possibly a Furuno FAR series similar to those installed on BRP Gregorio del Pilar. It's not something new and is a widely-used radar system in the PN, and the Gregorio del Pilar also underwent the same new radar installation, but still it never stayed in the US for more than 2 months. Even the fire control radar was also retained.
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| An example of the Rafael Mark 38 Mod. 2 Typhoon gun mount purchased by the Philippines |
They said they are installing additional modern weapons. So far the US has released a document stating that the PN is set to receive two (2) new Mark 38 Mod. 2 remote capable 25mm chain gun systems, which are actually "re-branded" Rafael Typhoon mounts from Israel. The document even states that these will be made mostly in Israel & completed in the US by May 2014 (that's 1 year from now!). So these guns may not be available yet for the ship.
The real reason for BRP Ramon Alcaraz's delay is because they've encountered major problems in the ship.
1. One of its Fairbanks Morse diesel engine was spoiled and needs replacement. Taking it out means tearing parts of the hull as the engines are large. Doing this will take some time, not just weeks but months. Retired Vice Admiral Pama also admitted the engine replacement issue but made it seem a minor problem.
2. Due to the old age of BRP Ramon Alcaraz (she was first commissioned on March 1968, or 45 years ago), it is expected that a lot of the ship's components and even the hull itself is reaching obsolescence. Ships usually have a 30 to 40 year lifespan, although refitting works can be made to extend it for a few more years. It might be the PN discovered the need to fix a lot of things inside the ship before it can ready to sail back home. Philippine laws require the purchase of used military hardware to have a minimum of 15 years of service life and in its current condition, the Ramon Alcaraz may need more dock work to meet that requirement. It is expected that she will only have minimal refitting and repainting works to navy grey before formal commissioning, as what BRP Greogorio del Pilar underwent from August to December 2011.
3. If the ships indeed get Mark 38 Mod. 2 gun mounts, there is a possibility that the US Navy will loan one or two units, and will be returned upon availability of the brand new items ordered recently. Thus the ship will indeed undergo refitting work to install them, and since this is a new item in the PN inventory the ship crew will undergo training to maintain & use them. Again, this is IF the US will temporarily loan the PN used gun mounts.
I'll be updating this posting should more evidence of delays surface, which I hope there's nothing more since the DND & PN recently announced that the ship will be in the Philippines by late June 2013. This means it needs to sail from Charleston to California via the Panama Canal by mid-May, and travel across the Pacific Ocean by late May or early June.
I wish the last public statement by the DND is the last regarding its arrival,and MaxDefense wishes the BRP Ramon Alcaraz good luck in its travel and Godspeed. Hoping for your safe arrival to serve your country.
