The Jacinto-class patrol vessels currently in service with the Philippine Navy are three ships formerly belonging to the Royal Navy's Hong Kong Squadron as Peacock-class corvettes until 1997. The ships have undergone combat, electronics, weapon, propulsion and hull upgrades, with the most recent upgrade completed in August 2019.[1] These increased their capabilities compared to the original Peacock-class vessels.
Launched as a series of five patrol vessels, the were originally part of the Hong Kong Squadron of the Royal Navy. The ships were built by Hall Russell in the United Kingdom and were commissioned into Royal Navy service from 1983 to 1984. The class was designed specifically for patrol duties in Hong Kong waters. As well as "flying the flag" and providing a constant British naval presence in the region, they could also undertake a number of different roles including seamanship, navigation and gunnery training. In addition, they performed search-and-rescue duties for which they had facilities to carry divers (including a decompression chamber) and equipment to recover vessels and aircraft. They also worked with the Marine Department of the Hong Kong Police and with Customs & Excise in order to prevent the constant flow of illegal immigrants, narcotics and electronic equipment into the Colony.[2]
Three of these ships – HMS Peacock (P239), HMS Plover (P240), and HMS Starling (P241) – were sold to the Philippines as a sign of goodwill, and were officially turned over to the Philippine Navy on 1 August 1997 when sovereignty over Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China.
The ships under this class are characterized by a low freeboard, an Oto Melara 76 mm gun turret located forward, a large single funnel stack amidships, and a crane and two rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) aft.
For the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35), the ship has the Saab 9LV Mk4 Compact Combat Management System (CMS), which allows the integration of the ship's navigation, surveillance and combat systems.[3] Meanwhile the BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) and BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) do not have a CMS although both ships use a Fire Control System from Ultra Electronics.
The Oto Melara 76 mm Compact DP (Dual Purpose) gun is the primary weapon and is mounted in a turret forward of the bridge. It has a range of up to 10nmi and can be used against ships, aircraft or ground targets. It is remotely controlled from within the Combat Information Center by the gunnery officer and has no crew within the turret itself. The gun can fire 80 rounds in 60 seconds from its ready magazine, and the ships can carry a total of 450 rounds.
The secondary weapon (located at the stern) is a M242 Bushmaster 25 mm cannon in an MSI Defense System DS-25 Seahawk A1 mount.
Both guns are automated and are integrated with the Saab 9LV CMS and Saab EOS-500 Electro-optical tracking system (EOTS) on PS-35, or the Ultra Electronics C2 and FCS, and Series 1700 EOTS on PS-36 and PS-37.
The Saab EOS-500 and Ultra Electronics Series 1700 EOTS replaced the Radamec 1500 Series 2500 installed by the PN in 2005, which in turn replaced the older GSA7 Sea Archer Mk 1 electro-optical director with a GEC V3800 thermal imager added in 1987.[4]
In addition to the abovementioned guns, these ships also carry two 12.7 mm 50 caliber heavy machine guns at the bridgewings, two 20 mm Mark 16 guns on Mk.68 mounts at midships, and two 50 mm rocket flare projectors.
The ships are powered by two APE-Crossley SEMT-Pielstick diesels (14,188 bhp combined) driving two three-bladed propellers. It has a drop down loiter engine with a shrouded prop of 181bhp used to keep station and save fuel. The main engines can propel the 664 ton (712 tons full load) ship at over 28kn, with a sustained speed of 25kn. Its range is 2500nmi at 17kn.
These patrol vessels were specifically designed for Asian service, having air-conditioned crew spaces and have been designed to stay at sea during typhoons and other strong weather anomalies common to Asian seas. The ships were modified soon after entering the Royal Navy service with deeper bilge keels to alleviate a propensity to roll during moderate and heavy seas.[5]
Each ship carries two Avon Searaider 5.4m (17.7feet), 30kn, 10-man RHIB.
Upon entry with the Philippine Navy, additional refits were made to replace the four (4) 7.62mm machine guns with two (2) .50 caliber heavy machine guns and two 20 mm Mk.16 cannons.[6] There are plans to add anti-ship missiles to the ships, but due to top-weight problems, it would have to be a lightweight system such as Sea Skua, although no missiles have been ordered to date.[7]
Phase 1 involves the upgrade of the ship's command & control, surveillance, and fire control systems, and was awarded to British defense contractor QinetiQ. It involved the installation of a new MSI Defence DS-25 Seahawk A1 AUTSIG mount with M242 Bushmaster 25mm naval gun, a new Fire Control System and Radamec's 1500 Series electro-optical tracking system (EOTS), Raytheon gyro compass, Sperry Marine Naval BridgeMaster E Series Surface Search Radar, GPS, anemometer, and EM logs. All these were integrated with the ship's existing systems. The Phase 1 upgrade was completed in 2005.[8] [9]
Phase 2 is the Marine Engineering Upgrade Program, which includes the repair and remediation of the hull, overhaul and improvement of the main propulsion including control and monitoring systems, electrical plant, auxiliary systems, outfitting and hull furnishings and training the crew in the operation and maintenance of the new plant.[5]
Phase 3 was originally a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).[8] But this was later changed to Combat System Alignment project to improve the combat capability of the patrol vessels.[10] It involves replacing the existing EO/IR and fire control system with a newer system and a Command and Control (C2) module, repairing the 76mm Oto Melara Compact and 25mm Bushmaster gun on MSI Defence Seahawk mount, and other relevant upgrades.[11] [12]
The project was divided to Phase 3A involving 2 ships (PS-35 and PS-36, later changed to PS-36 and PS-37) and the refurbishment of 3 MSI Seahawk gun mounts, while Phase 3B involves 1 ship (PS-37, later change to PS-35).[13] [14] [12]
The Phase 3A Combat Systems Alignment project was awarded to Ultra Electronics, which installed the Ultra Electronics Fire Control System and Series 1700 electro-optical targeting system, and the Kelvin Hughes Sharpeye X-band surface search surveillance radar.[15] [12] [16]
The Phase 3B Combat Systems Alignment Project was awarded to Propmech Corporation-Saab AB Joint Venture,[17] which installed the Saab 9LV Mk.4 Compact Combat Management System (CMS), Saab EOS-500 electro-optical targeting system and the GEM Elettronica Sea Eagle X-band surface search surveillance radar.[18] [12] [19] [15]
| Ship name | Hull number | Launched | Commissioned | Service | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS-35 | 1 December 1982 | 4 August 1997 | Offshore Combat Force | Active | |
| PS-36 | 12 April 1983 | 4 August 1997 | Offshore Combat Force | Active | |
| PS-37 | 7 September 1983 | 4 August 1997 | Offshore Combat Force | Active | |