BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)

The BRP "Rajah Humabon" (PF-11) is the current flagship, and the largest warship of the Philippine Navy. It is also the last Destroyer Escort / Frigate active in its fleet, and is considered as one of its oldest active ships, and in the world. She is one of three ex-USN sclass|Cannon|destroyer escorts that served the Philippine Navy, the others being BRP "Datu Sikatuna" (PF-5/PS-77) and BRP "Datu Kalantiaw" (PS-76).

History

United States Navy

Commissioned in the US Navy as the USS|Atherton|DE-169 in 1943, she was mostly assigned at the Atlantic theatre doing patrols and anti-submarine missions. She was credited of having destroyed a German U-boat, the "U-853", in 9 May 1945. She served in the Pacific theatre in the middle of 1945 until she was decommissioned and put on reserves on 10 December 1945. With her service during World War II, she was awarded with one battle star.

For a more detailed history of this ship while in service with the United States Navy, please refer to USS Atherton (DE-169).

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

She was transferred to the Japanese government as JDS "Hatsuhi" (DE-263) on 14 June 1955. Together with her sistership JDS "Asahi" (DE-262), they became one of the first warships of the newly organized Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. As newer ships became available to the JMSDF, both ships were decommissioned and returned to the US Navy on June 1975."Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships". [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a13/atherton.htm "Atherton" page] .] ["Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships". [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a13/amick.htm "Amick" page] .]

Philippine Navy

Remained laid-up in Japan, she was transferred to the Philippine government in September 1976 and was sold as Excess Defense Article on 23 December 1978. As a Philippine Navy ship, she was named RPS "Rajah Humabon" (PS-78), and was towed to South Korea for an extensive refit and modernization in 1979. During this period South Korea also turned over 2 of their own ex-USN "Cannon" class ships to the US Navy in 1977, namely the "Kyong Ki" (DE-71) /USS Muir (DE-770) and "Kang Won" (DE-72) / USS Sutton (DE-771). These were also turned-over by the US to the Philippine government, which were later on cannibalized for use as parts hulk to upgrade and repair the "Rajah Humabon" and her sistership "Datu Sikatuna", and provide both ships with additional guns and improve her machinery. ["Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships". [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de770.txt "Muir" page] .] ["Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships". [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de771.txt "Sutton" page] .]

With these upgrades, she was formally commissioned to the Philippine Navy on 27 February 1980, and formed the backbone of the Philippine Fleet together with 2 of her sister ships and other ex-US Navy destroyer escorts. She was reclassified as BRP "Rajah Humabon" (PF-11), now using the "BRP" ship naming standard and carrying a "Frigate" classification, and served until 1993 when she was retired. But due to pressing needs, she was later called back into service in 1995 after being overhauled at the Cavite Naval Dockyard, and was formally recommissioned in January 1996.

Further minor refits were made between 1995 and 1996. Some of her weapons were also removed, mainly its anti-submarine equipments due to lack of spare parts. This includes the EDO SQS-17B hull-mounted sonar, a Mk9 depth charge rack, six Mk6 depth charge projects aft and a Hedgehog Mk10 anti-submarine projectors forward, as well as Mk38 anti-submarine torpedoes in two triple tube amidships. This totally removed her anti-submarine warfare capabilities, which is in fact outdated at present conditions. It was reported in 2004 that her fore Hedgehog ASW is still operational, together with her 8 K-gun Mk6 depth charge projectors and SQS-17B sonar.Saunders, Stephen: "Jane's Fighting Ships 107th Edition 2004-2005". Jane's Information Group Ltd, 2004.]

She had been experiencing hull problems but was repaired with the assistance of the US Navy crew of USS|Salvor during CARAT 2002 dive training operations held in Manila Bay. ["Manokski's ORBAT @ Hueybravo. [http://www.hueybravo.net/NavyPages/PF11.htm BRP Rajah Humabon page] .] . ["Faceplate" Vol.7 No.1, April 2003 [http://www.supsalv.org/pdf/facePlateApril2003.pdf "USS "Salvor" (ARS 52)" page] .]

Additional electronic upgrades were made, including the installation of a Furuno SatCom and a mast-mounted FLIR package."Jane's Fighting Ships 105th Edition 2002-2003.]

Present Status

Her current classification is Patrol Frigate. As recent as 2008 she was still spotted and confirmed to operate from the Philippine Navy's main naval base in Cavite and visits the Navy Headquarters in Manila. She is currently assigned to the Patrol Force of the Philippine Fleet, and is assigned as the current flagship of the Philippine Navy. [Philippine Fleet Official Website. [http://philfleet.mil.ph/ships.htm Commissioned ships and crafts] .]

Technical details

Although fairly armed, most of her weapon systems are manually operated and are of World War II origin.

The three Mk22 3"/50 caliber guns, the ships' primary weapons, have a range of up to convert|14600|yd|m yards and are also capable of anti-aircraft warfare.

In addition to the abovementioned guns, she also carry a total of three twin Mk1 Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, six Mk4 20 mm Oerlikon cannons, and four 50 caliber machine guns. [Manokski's ORBAT @ Hueybravo. [http://www.hueybravo.net/NavyPages/PF11.htm "BRP "Rajah Humabon" page] .] Wertheim, Eric: "The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 15th Edition", page 550. Naval Institute Press, 2007.]

The ship is powered by two EMD 16-645E3 turbo-blown diesel engines with a combined power of around 6,000 bhp driving two propellers. The main engines can propel the 1,620 ton (full load) ship at a maximum speed of around convert|21|kn|km/h|0. It has a maximum range of convert|10800|nmi|km|-1 at a speed of convert|12|kn|km/h|0. [NavSource Online. [http://www.hueybravo.net/NavyPages/PF11.htm USS Atherton (DE-169)] .]

Notable Operations

International

On 2 February 2000, the "Rajah Humabon" fired warning shots at two Chinese fishing boats near Scarborough Shoal. According to Navy chief Vice Admiral Luisito Fernandez, the "Rajah Humabon" was forced to fire warning shots to avert a collision with two Chinese fishing boats and only after the Chinese boats refused to respond to radio contact, loudspeaker, sirens, and flashing lights. [South China Sea.org. [http://www.southchinasea.org/docs/Comparative%20Connections,%20Thayer,%20China-ASEAN%20Relations%20Tensions%20Promote%20Discussions%20on%20a%20Code%20of%20Conduct.htm "Tensions Promote Discussions on a Code of Conduct"] .]

On 22 June 2002, "Rajah Humabon" together with BRP "Rizal" visited Shanghai, China for a goodwill visit. ["Seawaves Magazine", June 2002. [http://www.seawaves.com/navcall-old/2002/2002_june.htm Warships Port Visit] .]

Notable Popular Culture

* BRP "Rajah Humabon" was among the Philippine Navy ships who battled invading People's Liberation Army - Navy ships in Dale Brown's 1991 novel "Sky Masters". In this novel, she was classified as a "PF" class frigate, and was equipped with a four-shot Mk141 Harpoon missile launcher. [Brown, Dale: "Sky Masters" ISBN-13 9781558009158]

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.navy.mil.ph Philippine Navy Official website]
* [http://philfleet.mil.ph/ships.htm Philippine Fleet Official Website]
* [http://timawa.net/forum Philippine Defense Forum]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/169.htm NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/asiapac/philip.htm Hazegray World Navies Today: Philippines]
* [http://www.ussathertonde169.com/index.htm USS Atherton DE-169 Official Website]
* [http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/offices/sps/rotc/pdf/ms2/namingPNships.pdf Naming and Code Designation of PN Ships]