BRP Cebu explained

BRP Cebu (PS-28) was a of the Philippine Navy. She was originally built as USS PCE-881, a for the United States Navy during World War II and patrolled the Alaskan coast during that war. She was decommissioned from the U.S. Navy and transferred to the Philippine Navy in July 1948 and renamed RPS Cebu (E-28) after the Philippine province of the same name. The ship was decommissioned on 1 October 2019. Along with other World War II-era ships of the Philippine Navy, Cebu was considered one of the world's oldest fighting ships during her active service.[1]

History

Commissioned in the US Navy as USS PCE-881 in 1944, and patrolled the coast of Alaska during World War II. The ship was decommissioned after World War II.

She was then transferred and commissioned into the Philippine Naval Patrol and was renamed RPS Cebu (E-28) in July 1948. She was carried on to the Philippine Navy in 1951, and in the 1960s she was renamed as RPS Cebu (PS-28) using a new ship naming and classification system. Again in June 1980 she was renamed BRP Cebu (PS-28) using a new localized prefix.[2]

In 1992 the ship underwent major overhaul, weapons and radar systems refit, and upgrade of communications gear.[3]

BRP Cebu won the Philippine Navy "Ship of the Year" award for the year 2009.[4]

She was assigned with the Patrol Force of the Philippine Fleet,[5] under the jurisdiction of Naval Forces Western Mindanao.

She was decommissioned in a ceremony on 1 October 2019.[6]

In October 2022, the Ship along with the BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-11) and BRP Sultan Kudarat (PS-22) was seen tilted over and submerged at the Naval Station Pascual Ledesma in Cavite after the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae.[7]

Notable operations

After the ship's construction and the crew's training was completed in Portland Oregon, it patrolled the coast of Alaska from the Aleutian Islands to the Bering Strait during World War II. The ship's commanding officer was Lieutenant Commander W.W. Adams.[8]

Between 19 and 22 March 1958, then RPS Cebu participated in the first bilateral exercise between the Philippine and US Navies dubbed Exercise "Bulwark One". It took part on the 3rd phase of the exercise off the waters of Corregidor and Caballo Islands.[9]

On 1968, during the height of the so-called 'Operation Merdeka', against the combined might of the Royal Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy ships, BRP Cebu stood her 'ground' to protect the maritime border of the Philippines and confronted the British-Malaysian warships raring to do a battle with her after learning that the Philippines is preparing to invade Sabah. The stand-off between the Philippine Navy and British-Malaysian Navy lasted for 10 tense hours giving the Philippine Navy patrol craft escort/corvette a victory for not yielding even an inch of the Philippine territory.[10]

As of 23 June 2008, she and her onboard medical team participated in the search and rescue of the MV Princess of the Stars of Sulpicio Lines, which capsized off the coast of San Fernando, Romblon at the height of Typhoon Fengshen on 22 June 2008.[11]

BRP Cebu and have alternately secured the Southern Sulu Sea where the Baduria Well is located. She also provides security for the West Aquarius Oil Rig.[12]

In middle of May 2018, the BRP Cebu participated in the Third Combined Maritime Security Activity with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) along with the BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS-38), BRP Anastacio Cacayorin (PS-381), BRP Dioscoro Papa (PG-381) and BRP Filipino Flojo (PG-386). The RAN sent the vessels HMAS Albany (ACPB 86) and HMAS Glenelg (ACPB 96) for the exercise.[13]

In the latter part of May 2018, the BRP Cebu held a meeting with the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) ship, the KD Sri Tiga at the maritime border between Malaysia and the Philippines to exchange intelligence information as part of the Trilateral Maritime Patrol Programme in the Eastern Security Zone (Esszone) of Sabah.[14]

Technical details

There are slight differences between the BRP Cebu as compared to some of her sister ships in the Philippine Navy, since her previous configuration was as an Escort-type ASW Patrol Craft (PCE, ie, equipment more on being a combatant), while the others are configured as Rescue-oriented ASW Escort Patrol Craft (PCER, ie, having more equipment to tend the wounded & such, like a small hospital ship), and as minesweepers (Admirable class) ships.

Armaments

Originally,[15] the ship was armed with:
SuW-AAW

ASW

This configuration applies before its overhaul in the early 1990s. That config is what made her as a patrol corvette - an ASW vessel lower than a corvette.

During its overhaul and refit in 1992,[3] the Philippine Navy removed her old anti-submarine weapons and systems, and made some changes in the armament set-up. Some sources claim the loss of its three Bofors 40mm cannons during the 1992-1993 overhaul and refit period, but photos http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=14874.0 on 2009 show the Bofors guns still present, although in singles instead of twins. Thus, armaments fitout to the ship are:

That above config made the ship lighter and ideal for surface patrols, but losing her limited anti-submarine warfare capability. She is then a gun-type corvette - an OPV more rugged, more heavily armed than the usual coastguard OPVs & other similar ones.

Electronics

Also during the refit the ship's SPS-21D surface search radar[3] and RCA SPN-18 navigation radar[3] was replaced by a Raytheon AN/SPS-64(V)11 surface search and navigation radar system. Later modifications included the installation of long range and satellite communications systems, and GPS system standard to all Philippine Navy ships.

Machinery

The ship is powered by two GM 12-278A diesel engines, with a combined rating of around 2200bhp driving two propellers. The main engines can propel the 914 tons (full load) ship to a maximum speed of around 16kn.[16]

In popular culture

References

  1. Manokski's Armed Forces of the Philippines Order of Battle. Philippine Navy .
  2. Philippine Navy Information Manual 1995 - Adoption of Pilipino Translation of "Bapor ng Republika ng Pilipinas"
  3. Saunders, Stephen: Jane's Fighting Ships 107th Edition 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group Ltd, 2004.
  4. Web site: Navy pays tribute to the Ideals of Excellence . Philippine Navy Naval Public Affairs Office . 2009 . 2011-11-23 .
  5. Philippine Fleet Official Website. Commissioned ships and crafts .
  6. Web site: Philippine Navy retires oldest war ship.
  7. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1187446 "3 ‘Submerged’ Warships retired, awaiting Disposal: PH Navy"
  8. Adams, W.W. "USS PCE 881 Thanksgiving Menu". November 1944.
  9. De Leon, Bernardo Jr. "Coast Defense Exercise Ends", Manila Times. 21 March 1958.
  10. DEFENDERS OF THE PHILIPPINE SOVEREIGNTY, http://defenders-philippine-sovereignty.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-1968-operation-merdeka-patrol.html
  11. Newsflash.org. Ferry Capsized in Romblon Stormy Sea: 929 Dead, Missing .
  12. Web site: NFWM secures Oil Rig in Southern Sulu Seas . Philippine Navy - Naval Forces Western Mindanao . 2010 . 2011-11-23 .
  13. Web site: "RP, Australia Up for Another Maritime Security Activity" . 16 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180616153851/https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/05/15/rp-australia-up-for-another-maritime-security-activity/ . 16 June 2018 . live.
  14. Web site: "M'sian, Filipino Naval Ships to Meet at Maritime Border to Exchange Intelligence" . 6 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180528102858/http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/05/24/msian-filipino-naval-ships-meet-maritime-border-exchange-intelligence . 28 May 2018 . live.
  15. NavSource Online: Patrol Craft Escort Photo Archive. PCE-881 .
  16. DLSU N-ROTC Office. Naming and Code Designation of PN Vessels .
  17. Hawksley, Humphrey; Holberton, Simon (1997). Dragon Strike - The Millennium War

External links