BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) - ex-USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716)

[40niner]

Auth:   LTCOL OMAR L TONSAY PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office
Tel Nrs:  523-34-38/524-57-85; HPN Optr: 524-20-61 to 69 loc 6475/6476
Cellphone Number: 0917-882-9545
E-mail: npao@navy.mil.ph  / Website: http://www.navy.mil.ph

Navy Capability Upgrade Team Inspects New Ship


South Carolina, USA – A Philippine Navy inspection team recently (October 31 – November 5, 2011) conducted a Joint Visual Inspection (JVI) of a US Coast Guard vessel in South Carolina, USA as part of the Navy’s continued capability upgrade efforts.

In a travel authority issued by the Department of National Defense, Navy Vice Commander, Rear Admiral Orwen Cortez AFP headed the six-man Navy JVI mission to Charleston, South Carolina for the five-day inspection of US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Dallas (WHEC-716) which is slated to be acquired through the US Excess Defense Articles (EDA) project.

Among the activities involved in the JVI are orientation tours, preliminary transfer discussions, and ship’s organization and mission briefings. An in-depth inspection of the entire ship, examination of the actual equipment on board, and checking of machinery records were also conducted to ensure the actual status of the ship.

The US Coast Guard Transfer Process Team assisted the PN JVI Team for the whole duration of the activity where an exchange of discussion pertaining to the results of inspection and the details of the transfer of the ship were discussed. These include the readiness status of the vessel where it was determined to be mission ready and is expected to be a “hot transfer”. This means that the ship is still very much in active service in the US and will be decommissioned only to effect its transfer to the Philippines. It is expected that the ship will be transferred either on the first or second quarter of 2012

USCGC Dallas (WHEC 716) is a whether high endurance cutter and has specifications similar to that of BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF15). It is largely used by the US Coast Guard for drug and migrant interdiction, law enforcement, search and rescue, living marine resources protection, and defense readiness. In the Philippines, it is classified as a Surface Combatant Ship with a “Type Code” of “P” for Patrol and is further classified as a Frigate with a “Type Code” of “F”, hence the designation of “PF”. It is powered by combined diesel engines and gas turbines and is re equipped with a helicopter flight deck, a retractable hangar, and facilities to support helicopter operations.  The following are the characteristics of the vessel:


Length:    378’
Beam:    42’
Draft:    15’ 7”
Displacement (Full Load)    3390 LT
Max Speed (Diesel / Turbine):    16 / 26 kts
Range:    14,000 nm
Endurance:    30 days
Crew (Officer/Enlisted):    162 (18/144)
Crew Capacity:    180

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From Zane Johnston's flicker photostream :
USCGC Dallas herded by two tugboats at Detyens Shipyard in Charleston, SC (Jan 11, 2011)


USCGC Dallas drydocked at Detyens Shipyard in Charleston, SC (photo taken last Feb 16, 2011).

[40niner]

Gazmin assures Navy of brand-new gear, assets showcased on Navy Day
By: Jaime Sinapit and Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com  / May 22, 2012

... Gazmin mentioned the transfer of the P450-million second Hamilton-class high-endurance cutter (USS Dallas) from the United States government to the Philippine government. But Gazmin admitted the vessel was stripped of its weapons, just like what the US did to the first Hamilton, now christened as the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, acquired last year by the Navy from the US Coast Guard. The second Hamilton, to be renamed BRP Ramon Alcaraz is expected to arrive in November for commissioning in the following month.
...

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GMANews : BRP Ramon Alcaraz sails for PHL
Jun 11, 2013

The newest warship of the Philippine Navy, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF 16) with 14 officers and 74 enlisted personnel lead by Capt. Ernesto Baldovino, departs on Monday, June 10 from Charleston, South Carolina bound for the Philippines. The ship is expected to arrive in August after making port visits to San Diego, Hawaii and Guam for reprovisioning. The BRP Alcaraz will test fire its main gun off the coast of Florida.

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GMANews: The BRP Ramon Alcaraz arrives in San Diego, California on Tuesday, July 2, before embarking on a three-week maiden voyage to the Philippines. The Alcaraz is the second Hamilton-class cutter that was acquired by the Philippine Navy under the Foreign Military Sales Program of the United States. The ship was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a World War II hero who commanded the Philippine Offshore Patrol’s Q-Boat Q-112 Abra which shot down three Japanese aircraft.

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GMANews: PNoy welcomes new warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz
Aug 06, 2013   
President Benigno Aquino III and Philippine Navy Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano inspect the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF16) during the arrival ceremony for the Hamilton-class cutter at Subic Freeport Zone in Zambales on Tuesday, August 6. The Philippines' second warship will serve as a laboratory for maritime security training in light of the country's territorial dispute with China.


Photo by Rappler.com
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Inquirer.Net : New PH navy ship sails into first mission in typhoon-hit Leyte
November 22nd, 2013

MANILA, Philippines–“I hope that you will not lose your resolve. I hope that you will not lose heart. You are the ones at the frontlines. You know what is true.”

These were the words Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin uttered as he addressed soldiers on Friday at South Harbor, as newly commissioned BRP Ramon Alcaraz sailed into her first mission in typhoon-struck Leyte.
...

The BRP Alcaraz, a decommissioned Hamilton-class cutter from the United States, arrived in August. It took three months of dry-docking and repainting before it got its first assignment.

On Friday, the warship had been christened, commissioned and sent off at simple rites with Gazmin as guest of honor and keynote speaker. The Alcaraz family also attended the event.

The ship was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a World War II hero. Although ill-equipped, he was able to fight the Japanese.

After the ceremonies, the ship sailed for Leyte to do humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations. It carried 200 tons of assorted relief goods and other equipment.

Navy personnel were also onboard to join relief operations.

GMANews photo.

[gemini1]

BRP Del Pilar meet and greet her new sister BRP Alcaraz.



http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/28/1481908/navy-flagship-be-equipped-missile-system

[adroth]

[Ayoshi]

BRP Ramon Alcaraz "Main Weapon" Test Fire


Image taken from adroth.ph

YouTube videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAPv0Oe4Bxg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ApLaTONX6I

[Ayoshi]

Alcaraz Arrives in Zamboanga for a “Show the Flag” Mission
By: Ensign John Windy G Abing PN via Philippine Navy FB Page

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Photos taken from BRP Ramon Alcaraz PF16 FB Page:

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BRP Ramon Alcaraz patrolling our territory in the face of a storm.
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Only a few days after its christening, one of the two armed Augusta Westland (AW109) helicopters landed on BRP Ramon Alcaraz for the first time. The helicopter landing was part of the ship's Operational Readiness Evaluation (ORE) 2015.

[dr demented]

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=1&rid=944394

BRP Ramon Alcaraz on 10-day goodwill visit to Vietnam

MANILA, Nov. 30 (PNA) -- As the nation celebrates its 40th year of diplomatic relations with Vietnam, the Philippine Navy (PN) will deploy one of its most modern ships, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16) for 10-day goodwill visit to Cam Ranh Bay on Dec. 2 to 12.

Major Wallie Sanaani, Naval Task Force 80 public affairs officer, said the ship and 300 personnel, consisting of surface warfare students, medical team, naval special operations team and other port visit directorate members and the AW-109E helicopter detachment, will depart for Vietnam on Dec. 2 at Pier 13, Manila South Harbor.

The BRP Ramon Alcaraz is the country's second Hamilton-class cutter in service and is the sister ship of the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF-15).

"The purpose of the visit is to celebrate the 40th year of diplomatic relationship between the two nations and maintain ties between and among the Philippine Navy and Vietnam People’s Navy," Sanaani said.

Both navies maintain strong partnership in the field of maritime security and law enforcement. (PNA)
JMC/PFN

[mayk]

From @PN_Speak PN's official twitter account:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10154251548157956&id=190479452955&_rdr

Looks like the official sendoff.

Can 300 really be accomodated?

Mods, still a tyro please merge with http://defenseph.net/drp/index.php?topic=117.msg1972#msg1972 if necessary.

[mayk]

As a reply to @jetmech's post here:

http://defenseph.net/drp/index.php?topic=94.msg1946#msg1946

    I wonder how is the training cycle of PN sailors with regards to crew rotation, especially PF-15 (it's been 4 years). From Red Justice posts from the old forum, there seems to be a lot of "homesteading" among ship's personnel. Also, I have not seen any press releases from NETC or type commands the establishment of inspection teams/ group that go around the force to inspect compliance with different programs (engineering, DC, safety, preventive maintenance, budget etc.). With newer assets and platforms (air component) coming in the horizon, culture has to change and adjust to ensure readiness. There should be ownership and accountability.   

The goodwill voyage includes surface warfare students. This should be some sort of training

[Sinagtala]

Photos during the sendoff ceremony of BRP Ramon Alcaraz on its way for a 10-day goodwill visit to Viet Nam







Photos c/o News5 : https://www.facebook.com/News5Everywhere/photos/pcb.779309715559118/779309582225798/?type=3&theater

[LionFlyer]

For historical record purposes. Mk38 Mod 2 stands at USD1.8 million or 900k per unit in 2012.

http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/news/2896/300/Pentagon-Awards-1-8M-Contract-for-Weapons-System-of-BRP-Ramon-Alcaraz/d,phildet/

27/10/2012: Pentagon Awards $1.8M Contract for Weapons System of BRP Ramon Alcaraz

PRESS RELEASE
WDC-158-2012
27 October 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Pentagon has awarded a $1.8 million contract for the purchase of modern weapons systems that would be installed in the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF16), the second high-endurance cutter that the Philippines recently acquired from the United States.

The Philippine Embassy said the purchase and installation of two Mk38 Mod 2 autocanon systems for the Alcaraz is part of a $24-million contract the Pentagon recently awarded to the Kentucky-based BAE Systems Land and Armaments Inc.

Capt. Elson Aguilar, Naval Attache at the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attache at the Philippine Embassy, said the BAE contract involves the purchase of 21 units of the remotely controlled naval gun systems and spare parts for both the US and Philippine navies.

He said the contract, which is covered under the Foreign Military Sales Program, does not include the weapons system for the sister ship of the Alcaraz, the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF15), which will be covered under a separate contract.

The Mk38 Mod 2, which was commissioned by the US Navy following the terrorist attack on the USS Cole in 2000, was designed to counter high-speed maneuvering surface targets and will be installed in almost all US surface ships by 2015.

The new weapon systems are upgraded versions of the Mk38 M242 Bushmasters that were removed from the vessel prior to its turnover to the Philippines. The remotely controlled chain gun system can fire as many as 180 25m rounds per minute at targets as far as two kilometers.

“The Mk38 Mod 2 will allow the Alcaraz and the Del Pilar to track and fire at targets automatically in both day and night using single shot, low speed or high-speed automatic fire,” Captain Aguilar said, adding that the autocanon can be fired manually if the sensors are damaged or if the vessels lose power.

He said the two Mk38 Mod 2 systems that will be mounted in the Alcaraz and the Del Pilar will complement the existing weapons systems that consist of the MK75 76mm Oto Melara main battery and four M2HB .50 caliber machine guns.

Captain Aguilar said the vessel is presently awaiting the general overhaul of her port main diesel engine and further installation of navigational and electronics equipment.

“The overhaul will take at least 11 weeks once it gets started,” Captain Aguilar said, adding that the vessel’s 14 officers and 74 enlisted personnel headed by Capt. Ernesto O. Baldovino continue to train under the US Coast Guard at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Charleston, South Carolina where the vessel is currently moored.

The 378-foot-long Alcaraz was commissioned in 1968 and served with the US Coast Guard as the USCGC Dallas until it was decommissioned and turned over to the Philippines in May. It is being refurbished and refitted at a cost of $15.15 million.

The Alcaraz is the second Hamilton-class cutter that was acquired by the Philippines under the Excess Defense Article and Military Assistance Program. The first, the Del Pilar, was turned over to the Philippine Navy in May 2011.

According to Captain Aguilar, both the Alcaraz and the Del Pilar are capable of conducting patrols for long periods of time and withstanding heavy weather and rough sea conditions.

The Alcaraz was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Philippine Navy officer, who distinguished himself during the Second World War when the patrol boat he commanded was credited for shooting down three Japanese aircraft.

[adroth]

[Ayoshi]

TV Patrol: BRP Ramon Alcaraz, ipinadala sa Benham Rise para magpatrolya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfEf3Ah8-dM

[mayk]

There seems to be no NAG AW109 component to both recent patrols of "Supremo" and "Monching"

[Juramentado]

I wonder if they're operating with Tarlac. Esp. the armed ones.