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BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-11)

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BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)
History
United States
NameUSS Atherton (DE-169)
Ordered1942
BuilderFederal Drydock & Shipbuilding Co.
Laid down14 January 1943
Launched27 May 1943
Commissioned29 August 1943
Decommissioned10 December 1945
Stricken15 June 1975
FateTransferred to JMSDF in 1955, reverted back to US Navy in 1975. Transferred to Philippine Navy in 1976.[1]
History
Japan
NameJDS Hatsuhi (DE-263)
OperatorJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Commissioned1955
Decommissioned1975
Fatereverted back to US Navy in 1975.
History
Philippines
NameRPS Rajah Humabon (PS-78) - original Philippine penant number.
NamesakeRajah Humabon was the native chieftain of Cebu in the Philippines at the time of Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in the archipelago in 1521.
OperatorPhilippine Navy
Acquired23 December 1978
Commissioned27 February 1980
RecommissionedJanuary 1996
Decommissioned1993
RenamedBRP Rajah Humabon (PF-6) / (PF-11) - current
HomeportNaval Base Cavite
FateIn service with the Philippine Navy
General characteristics
Class and typeDatu Kalantiaw class
TypeDestroyer Escort / Frigate
Displacement1,390 tons standard, 1,620 tons full load
Length306 ft (93 m)
Beam36.66 ft (11.17 m)
Draft8.75 ft (2.67 m)
Installed power5,800 hp (4,300 kW)
Propulsion
  • 2 x GM EMP 16-645E7 (Turbo) Main Diesel Engines
  • 2 x GM EMP 8-268A Auxiliary Diesel Engines with 200 kW Generator
  • 1 x GM EMP 3-268A Auxiliary Diesel Engine with 100 kW Generator
  • 2 shafts
Speed21 knots (39 km/h) maximum
Range10,800 nmi (20,000 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement165
Sensors and
processing systems		list error: mixed text and list (help)
[2][3]
  • Raytheon AN/SPS-64(V)11
  • Raytheon SPS-5 G/H-band Surface Search Radar
  • RCA/GE Mk26 I-band Navigation Radar
  • AN/SQS-17B Hull mounted Sonar
  • Mk52 GFCS with Mk41 Rangefinder for 3-inch (76 mm) guns
  • 3 Mk51 GFCS for 40 mm guns
Armament

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 Cannon-class 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

as USS Atherton circa 1945

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.[4]

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

as JMSDF Hatsuhi circa 1967

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.[4][5][2]

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[3][2]. 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[3]. 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.[6][7]

With these upgrades, she was formally commissioned to the Philippine Navy on 27 February 1980[3], 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.[2]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[8].[9]

Additional electronic upgrades were made, including the installation of a Furuno SatCom and a mast-mounted FLIR package.[10]

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.[11]

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 14,600 yards (13,400 m) 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.[12][2]

The ship is powered by two EMD 16-645E3 turbo-blown diesel engines with a combined power of around 6,000 bhp (4,500 kW) driving two propellers. The main engines can propel the 1,620 ton (full load) ship at a maximum speed of around 21 knots (39 km/h). It has a maximum range of 10,800 nautical miles (20,000 km) at a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h).[13]

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.[14]

On 22 June 2002, Rajah Humabon together with BRP Rizal visited Shanghai, China for a goodwill visit.[15]

Exercises

The Rajah Humabon, together with BRP Leopoldo Regis (PG-847), BRP Dagupan City (LC-551), BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37), USS Essex (LHD-2), and USS Tortuga (LSD-46) were part of the naval component of the US-RP Balikatan 2009 bi-lateral exercises held on April 2009.[16]

  • 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.[17]

References

  1. ^ NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive. USS Atherton (DE 169).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Wertheim, Eric: The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 15th Edition, page 550. Naval Institute Press, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e Saunders, Stephen: Jane's Fighting Ships 107th Edition 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group Ltd, 2004.
  4. ^ a b Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. "Atherton" page.
  5. ^ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. "Amick" page.
  6. ^ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. "Muir" page.
  7. ^ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. "Sutton" page.
  8. ^ Manokski's ORBAT @ Hueybravo. BRP Rajah Humabon page.
  9. ^ Faceplate Vol.7 No.1, April 2003 "USS Salvor (ARS 52)" page.
  10. ^ Jane's Fighting Ships 105th Edition 2002-2003.
  11. ^ Philippine Fleet Official Website. Commissioned ships and crafts.
  12. ^ Manokski's ORBAT @ Hueybravo. "BRP Rajah Humabon" page.
  13. ^ NavSource Online. USS Atherton (DE-169).
  14. ^ South China Sea.org. Tensions Promote Discussions on a Code of Conduct.
  15. ^ Seawaves Magazine, June 2002. Warships Port Visit.
  16. ^ US Navy News Balikatan 2009.
  17. ^ Brown, Dale: Sky Masters ISBN 9781558009158
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