Between July, 1993, and December, 1994, the Philippine Navy conducted major
overhauls of forty-six mothballed warships at the Cavite Naval Base. The
breakdown was as follows: July 1993 - August 1994: Thirty-four(34) vessels,
including fifteen(15) patrol boats. August - December 1994: Eight(8) larger
vessels. 1993 - 1994 (months unknown): Four(4) large patrol craft, PG 101, PG
102, PG 104, and PG 140 underwent an overhaul which included the modernization
of their twin 30mm EMERLEC guns.
In 1995, five more ships were scheduled for overhaul: Cannon-class (destroyer
escort) PF 11, Barnegat-class (frigate) PF 7, Two(2) Auk-class (corvettes): PS
70 and PS 74,and a Balsam-class (tender) AG-89
The 2,800 ton Barnegat
class frigate. The Philippine Navy version, the BRP Andres Bonifacio(PF 7)
carries a 127mm/38 dual-purpose rapid-fire cannon, four(4) 40mm anti-aircraft
guns, two(2) 20mm anti-aircraft guns, four(4) 12.7mm heavy machineguns and a
helicopter platform in the stern for one(1) German
Messerchmitt-Bolkow-Blohm(MBB) BO-105 helicopter.
The Barnegat-, Auk-,and Balsam-class vessels have been modified to include
helicopter decks. The overhaul work on all of these ships was carried out with
assistance from Hatch & Kirk and involved tearing down the ships' engines to
measure parts that needed replacement. After their overhauls, the ships were
reportedly running like "new".
A side view of a 2,800 ton Barnegat class frigate firing its 127mm/38
rapid-fire cannon.
The BRP Andres Bonifacio(PF 7), a Barnegat-class frigate of the
Philippine Navy.
The 127mm/38 rapid-fire cannon installed on the Barnegat class frigate
pointing skyward.
An example of the 1,750 ton Cannon class Destroyer Escort. The
Philippine Navy version, the BRP Rajah Humabon carries three(3) 76mm rapid-fire
cannons, six(6) 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns, two(2) 20mm Oerlikon
anti-aircraft guns, one(1) Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar with twenty four(24)
rockets and eight(8) K-gun anti-submarine depth charge projectors.
Old photo of a Cannon class Destroyer Escort conducting sea
trials.
A Cannon class Destroyer Escort on sea patrol.
The Philippine Navy also has a joint hovercraft research project(see picture)
with the Philippine Air Force(PAF) and the Department of Science and
Technology(DOST).
This 36 footer amphibious hovercraft can carry 20 troops at a maximum
speed of 55 knots.Endurance or fuel capacity for this amphibious vessel is 5
hours
Hovercraft Photo courtesy of DOST.
Barnegat class photo copyright of PhotoLab97 Coast Guard web page. Barnegat ship
with gun firing and close-up of the 127mm/38 gun copyright of Coast Guard
Warriors web page. BRP Andres Bonifacio photo from RVN web page. Front color
view of Cannon class ship copyright of USS Slater(DE-766) home page. 1940s photo
of Cannon class ship copyright of U.S.S. Slater page. Sea patrol cannon ship
copyright of Royal Thai Navy.
