Ground Report

Coast Guard Island, Alameda, California: In ceremonies at the US Coast Guard Station in Alameda, California Friday. The Philippine Government took over what is believed to be the first of three former US Coast Guard patrol vessels. It is hoped that as part of  the Philippine Fleet will allow the Navy to be more capable in defense and safety of Philippine seas.

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose L Cuisa Jr and Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown, U.S. Coastguard Pacific Area and Defense Force West Commander signing the Certificate of Transfer at Coast Guard Island, Alameda, California.

Present during the signing were Consul General to the U.S. Marciano A Paynor Jr., Philippine Defense Armed Forces Attaché to the U.S. Capt Antonio Habulan Jr. of the Philippine Navy (PN) and PN Capt. Alberto A Cruz, Commanding Officer of the Ex-Hamilton Ship which is expected to arrive sometime September this year.

In US Coast Guard service, Hamilton’s missions included national and maritime safety and security, maritime law enforcement, fisheries enforcement, drug and migrant interdiction, and search and rescue. The Hamilton was the first U.S. military vessel to employ the now common shipboard application of aircraft gas turbine jet engines with the use of controllable pitch propellers.  Hamilton’s two 1800 horsepower gas turbines can propel Hamilton at speeds up to 28 knots.

In Philippine Navy service, three candidate names namely Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Lapu-Lapu, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, and BRP Jose Torres Bugallon. have been put forward as candidate names for the now Ex-Hamilton. This Philippine Navy’s tradition, Surface Combatant Ships are named after Philippine national heroes, historical figures, and past heads of State this time following the PN’s Organizational and Manpower Management Committee which deliberated on the possible names for the vessel.

Ex-Hamilton General characteristics (US Coast Guard service)

 

PF15 in USCG service Lead ship of her class Ex-Hamilton a high endurance cutter, modifications are still to be made before transfer to PN service USCG Photo

Displacement: 3,250 metric tons

Length: 378 ft (115 m)

Beam: 43 ft (13 m)

Draft: 15 ft (4.6 m)

Propulsion: CODOG system featuring 2 x Pratt & Whittney FT4A-6 gas turbines producing 36,000 horsepower (27,000 kW) or 2 x Fairbanks-Morse 38TD8-1/8-12 12-cylinder diesel engines generating 7,000 hp (5,200 kW)

Speed: 29 knots

Range: 14,000 nautical miles

Endurance: 45 days

Complement: 167

Armament: 76 mm cannon, 2x 25 mm Mk38, 20 mm Phalanx CIWS (Close In Weapons System)

In a press statement, issued by the Chief, Public Affairs Office of the Philippine Armed Forces. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr. PA, says that the vessel will serve as a Patrol Frigate in the Philippine Navy. “ PF 15 was identified as the bow number of the vessel with its classification as a Surface Combatant Ship – Frigate and the fifteenth PF type vessel in the PN inventory. This vessel is classified as a Surface Combatant Ship with a Type Code of “P” and is further classified as a Frigate with a Type Code of “F”, hence the designation of PF.”

Transfer cost is pegged at Php 450M, while operational cost for two years is estimated at Php 120M. Funding will come from the Department of Energy (DOE) considering that the vessel is projected to be employed for the security of oil platforms and oil explorations activities in Palawan and Sulu Sea. The Crew of Ex-Hamilton has by far been on training since February this year in the U.S which will last until June 30 prior to installation of a Coast Watch System equipment in July.

“We will continue to modernize your Armed Forces. The addition of the vessel to the Navy’s inventory will definitely boost our capability to protect our Exclusive Economic Zone and improve our border patrol capability”, said Gen. Eduardo SL Oban Jr, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff.

In a news release prior to the handover ceremony on friday Philippine Marine LT. COL Omar Tonsay, Director, Naval Public Affairs Office.

The vessel will be one of the largest in the inventory of the Philippine Navy and will be deployed to patrol Philippine territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Cutter is armed with a 76mm gun mount controlled by an MK92 Fire Control System. She was designed to undertake long range search and rescue operations, oceanographic research and law enforcement – defense operations. It has a hangar and a flight deck capable of handling helicopter operations.

She will be manned by her maiden crew composed of the Skipper, Captain Alberto Cruz, Executive Officer Commander Reynaldo Lopez, Lieutenants Marvin Cornejo, Randy Blantucas, Dennis Donga, Robert Baylon, Lieutenant Junior Grade Lotis Gonzales, Ensign Andrelee Mojica, Engineman Chief Francisco Sombrero, Engineman First Gerry Somberano, Engineman Second, Victor Evangelista, Machinist Mate Second Class Ricardo Ulamino, Electricians Mate Second Ferdinand Alvarez, John Nebre, Joselito Peji, Damage Control Second Class Neil Flotildes, Aviation Machinist Third Class Gilproscano Camposo, Electricians Mate Third Class Geovanie Baylon, Electician Mate Third Class Isagani Zacarias, Fireman First Engineman Thomas Aguillana and Fireman First Electricians Mate Erwin Malabanan.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY PRESS RELEASE: PH accepts EX-US Hamilton for Philippine Navy

Washington DC. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr. formally accepted the transfer today of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Hamilton Cutter during formal ceremonies held in Alameda, California.  Ambassador Cuisia was accompanied at the ceremony by Consul General Marciano A. Paynor Jr., Captain Antonio A. Habulan of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, and Colonel Edwin Erni of the Philippine National Police Office in San Francisco.  Vice Admiral Manson Brown, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area and Defense Force West, signed the transfer documents for the U.S. government.

In his remarks during the transfer ceremony, Ambassador Cuisia noted that the success of the project is an indication of the robust Philippine-U.S. partnership and serves as an expression of the U.S.’ commitment to help the Philippines protect its maritime domain.

The cutter will officially become the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, with Captain Alberto Cruz at the helm.  He is part of a group of eight officers and thirteen enlisted personnel from the Philippine Navy, who are currently undergoing training with the U.S. Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guard is an important component in Philippine-U.S. defense and security cooperation.  The Philippine Navy has acquired other vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard in the past, including two 82-foot patrol boats, the USCG Point Evans and USCG Point Doran, whose transfers were effected in December 1999 and March 2001, respectively.  Moreover, the U.S. international cadet program benefits students from the Philippines who train and interact with other students at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy located in New London, Connecticut.