The BRP ''Dagupan City'' (LS-551) is the second and last ship of two
''Bacolod City'' class logistics support vessel, and is based on a helicopter capable variant of the US Army ''Frank S. Besson'' class. She is also considered one of the most modern transport ships in the
Philippine Navy, having been commissioned during the early 1990s. She was previously known as BRP ''Dagupan City'' (LC-551) prior to a classification change implemented by the Philippine Navy starting April 2016
History
The BRP ''Dagupan City'' was built by Halter/Moss Point Marine of
Escatawpa, Mississippi
Escatawpa is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Pascagoula Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,254 at the 2020 census.
History
The commun ...
in the United States and was commissioned into
Philippine Navy in 1994. Both ships of its class were purchased brand-new by the Philippine government through the FMS program of the United States. Since its commissioning, both ships of its class were rigorously used in military and peacetime operations, and has been joining joint military exercises with foreign navies as well.
Presently it is assigned with the Service Force of the Philippine Fleet.
Renaming Issues
Originally named as the BRP ''Cagayan de Oro City'', she was commissioned with the Philippine Navy as BRP ''Dagupan City''. Recent photos show the words "BRP Cagayan de Oro City" still embossed at the rear end of the ship's steel surface. Details of the renaming were not made public.
Technical details
The ship is powered by two
General Motors-
EMD 16-645EZ6
diesel engine
The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-ca ...
s with a combined power of around 5,800 hp driving two
propellers. The main engines can propel the 1,400 ton (4,265 tons full load) ship at a maximum speed of around . At a sustained speed of , it range is at around .
As an amphibious transport, it is fairly armed for defensive purposes, and carries four 7.62mm general purpose machine guns at the front side decks, and two
Oerlikon 20 mm cannons near its two
LCVPs.
The prime mission of the ship is the direct transport and discharge of liquid and dry cargo to shallow terminal areas, remote under-developed coastlines and on inland waterways.
The ship does not require external cranes or port facilities, and even in only four feet of water under full load, the ship is still able to land. This capability expands the choice of landing locations, and at the same time reduces the potential enemy impact on the logistics support operations.
The ships have a capacity to transport up to 48 TEU or 2,280 tons vehicles/general cargo, or up to 900 tons on Logistics Over The Shore (LOTS) / amphibious operations. Its ramps and the main deck are able to withstand
roll-on/roll-off
Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) ships are cargo ships designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, buses, trailers, and railroad cars, that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels or using ...
operations of even heavy
main battle tank
A main battle tank (MBT), also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the role of armor-protected direct fire and maneuver in many modern armies. Cold War-era development of more powerful engines, better suspension sys ...
s.
Notable Operations
Exercises
The ''Dagupan City'', together with BRP ''Leopoldo Regis'' (PG-847),
BRP ''Rajah Humabon'' (PF-11),
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 (BK09) bi-lateral exercises held in April 2009.
Again ''Dagupan City'', together with
BRP ''Rajah Humabon'' (PF-11), and
BRP ''Apolinario Mabini'' (PS-36),
USS ''Essex'' (LHD-2), and
USS ''Denver'' (LPD-9) were part of the naval phase of the US-RP Balikatan 2010 (BK10) bi-lateral exercises held in March 2010.
Deployments
BRP ''Dagupan City'' together with
BRP ''Quezon'' (PS-70) were sent to
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...
and
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
from November to December 2009 for an overseas training cruise for students from the Naval Education and Training Command and the Fleet Training Center, and as part of the Philippine contingent at
Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in Malaysia.
[''Navyspeak @ Blogspot']
Navy Honors Contingent to Malaysian Exhibit
/ref>
Gallery
File:US Navy 090421-N-0120A-206 The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), center, steams in formation.jpg, BRP Dagupan City together with other Philippine and U.S. Navy ships during Balikatan 2009 held on April, 2009.
File:Balikatan 2009-057.jpg, The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) leads ships formation during photo exercise (PHOTOEX) with Philippines Navy ships during Balikatan 2009 (BK09).
File:US Navy 100314-N-0120A-659 U.S. Navy ships and The Republic of Philippines navy ships cruise in formation while taking part in exercise Balikatan 2010 (BK 10).jpg, BRP Dagupan City lead formation of Philippine and US Navy ships during Balikatan 2010 exercises (BK10).
File:Philippine Navy LC-551 at Balikatan 2010-1.jpg, BRP Dagupan City (LC-551) during Balikatan 2010 exercises (BK10).
File:Philippine Navy LC-551 at Balikatan 2010-2.jpg, BRP Dagupan City leading US Ships during Balikatan 2010 sea-phase exercises (BK10).
References
External links
Philippine Navy Official website
BRP Bacolod City threads @ Philippine Defense Forum
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dagupan City (LC-551)
Bacolod City-class support vessels
Ships built in Moss Point, Mississippi
1994 ships