BRP Lake Caliraya (AF-81) explained

The BRP Lake Caliraya (AF-81) was a Philippine Navy small replenishment tanker. The ship was formerly a double-hulled oil products tanker of the now defunct Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) Shipping and Transport Corporation, and was donated to the Philippine Navy in 2014[1] together with two other tankers of the company. The ship was the only Chinese-made naval asset of the Philippine Navy during its time in service.

The ship had a deadweight of 4,560 tons. It was a single product replenishment platform that has a depot-to-ship, ship-to-depot, and a ship-to-ship refueling capabilities. The ship was crewed by selected officers of the Sealift Amphibious Force.

On 16 December 2020, BRP Lake Caliraya was decommissioned alongside a naval helicopter and sixteen patrol boats.[2] [3] The ship has been identified as having numerous mechanical and electrical deficiencies, rendering repairs and additional work impractical.[3]

The ship, slated as a target for a sinking exercise on July 13 as part of Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA) 2023, ran aground in Bataan province. Philippine and US Marines intended to sink it off Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui but it ran aground en route to Subic, Zambales.[4] Inclement weather prompted the cancellation of the sinking exercise, however the Marine Aviation Support Activity still continued until July 21.[5]

On 8 May 2024, the ship was used as a target for the maritime strike exercise as part of the Balikatan military drills. Missiles and other ammunitions from Philippine and U.S. forces hit the target ship during the activity. It sank around 10:48 a.m. at about 15 kilometers off Laoag City, Ilocos Norte Province.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Philippine Navy adds first oil tanker to fleet . The Philippine Star . 2015-02-25 . 2015-05-30.
  2. News: ‘Made in China’ ship as mock target in Balikatan unintentional—PH Navy. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 23 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Philippine Navy Decommissions and Deactivates Legacy Ships and Aircraft. The Philippine Fleet FB Page. 18 December 2021.
  4. Web site: Target ship en route to PH-US military maneuvers runs aground in Bataan . 14 August 2023 . Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  5. Web site: US, PH Marines cancel military exercise due to monsoon rains . 13 August 2023 . Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  6. News: US, PH begin striking ‘Made in China’ mock target ship near Taiwan . 8 May 2024 . Philippine Daily Inquirer.