Philippines commissions two ex-US Cyclone-class patrol vessels

 

Two newly commissioned ships BRP Valentin Diaz (PS-177) and BRP Ladislao Diwa (PS-178). Photo c/o GMA News.

The Philippine Navy (PN) commissioned two Cyclone-class patrol vessels that were provided by the US Government as part of its Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Program.

The ships, which were named BRP Valentin Diaz (PS-177) and BRP Ladislao Diwa (PS-178), are formerly the USS Monsoon (PC-4) and USS Chinook (PC-9) of the US Navy, respectively, were commissioned during ceremonies held on 11 September 2023 at the Philippine Navy’s Headquarters in Manila.

Both ships were named after co-founders of the Katipunan revolutionary organization that fought in the war of independence against Spain in 1898.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. was present as guest of honor together with US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, as well as Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. and other officials from the Philippine Navy and Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Sec. Teodoro said the donation of these vessels to the Philippines was timely to improve the country’s littoral defenses and pursue a more robust position in defending its sovereign rights within its 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The ships join a sistership that was commissioned back in 2004, the BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS-38) which was the former USS Cyclone (PC-1). Collectively, the 3 ships will now be called the Alvarez-class patrol vessels and are currently the largest assets of the Philippine Navy’s Littoral Combat Force.

The newly-commissioned ships are 55 meters long and displaces at around 335 tons, with a crew of 28 personnel plus accommodation for a squad of special forces operators for shipboarding or insertion missions.

They are armed with two Mk. 38 Mod.2 remote-controlled weapon systems equipped with an M242 Bushmaster 25mm chain gun, three manually-operated 12.7mm M2 heavy machine guns, and two M240 7.62mm general purpose machine guns that can be interchanged with 40mm automatic grenade launchers.

[1] Inquirer.net

[2] GMA News

[3] Naval News