BRP Rizal (PS-74)

The BRP ''Rizal'' (PS-74) was the lead ship and first of two ''Rizal'' class ships in service with the Philippine Navy. She was an ex-USN ''Auk'' class minesweeper that was produced during World War II, and was classified as a patrol corvette protecting the vast waters of the Philippines. Along with other ex-World War II veteran ships of the Philippine Navy, she was considered one of the oldest active fighting ships in the world, until 2020.

History

US Navy (1945-1965)

was commissioned with the US Navy in 1945, her duty was to sweep mines along the Japanese and Korean waters from January to April 1946. She was decommissioned in 1948 and was placed with the Pacific Reserve Fleet.NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archiv
USS Murrelet (MSF 372)
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She was again recommissioned in 1950. She arrived Yokosuka, Japan, in August 1951 to aid United Nations forces opposing Communist aggression. Departing Yokosuka 21 August, she sailed to Korea, participating in operations north of Wonsan, in the Hungnam, Songjin, and Chongjin areas. She continued sweeping and patrol duties off Korea in 1952, capturing and destroying several enemy sampans, until July, when she returned to the west coast. ''Murrelet'' started a second tour of duty off Korea in April 1953, returning to Long Beach in December. ''Murrelet'' received five battle stars for Korean service.

Redesignated MSF-372, 7 February 1955, she continued to operate off the west coast. She decommissioned 14 March 1957, and was assigned to the Pacific Reserve fleet. Struck from the Naval Register 1 December 1964, she was transferred 18 June 1965 to the Philippine Republic under the Military Assistance Program.''Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships''
Murrelet page
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Philippine Navy (1965-present)

She was commissioned with the Philippine Navy on 18 June 1965 and was renamed RPS ''Rizal'' (E-69), but was later on re-classified as a corvette and renamed to RPS ''Rizal'' (PS-69) under a new ship classification scheme implemented between 1965 and 1966. Again in June 1980 she was renamed BRP ''Rizal'' (PS-69) using a new localized prefix.''Philippine Navy Information Manual 1995'' - Adoption of Pilipino Translation of "Bapor ng Republika ng Pilipinas"

She was stricken from the navy in 1994, but was overhauled and returned to service in 1995. Some of her weapons were also removed, mainly its anti-submarine equipment due to lack of spare parts. This includes the five Mk6 depth charge projectors and two depth charge racks. This move totally removed her anti-submarine warfare capabilities, which is in fact outdated at present conditions. ''Rizal'' completed restoration works in January 1996, wherein she was renumbered and recommissioned as BRP ''Rizal'' (PS-74), which is used to this day. Recent upgrades includes a satellite radio dish for communications.''Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003''.

Her last classification is Patrol Corvette. She was assigned to the Patrol Force of the Philippine Fleet, now known as the Offshore Combat Force until she was decommissioned from service on 29 January 2020.

Notable deployments

Naval exercises

The ''Rizal'' is included in the Philippine Navy's representatives at CARAT 2005, with BRP ''Emilio Jacinto'' (PS-35), BRP ''Bacolod City'' (LC-550), BRP ''Hilario Ruiz'' (PG-378), and BRP ''Timoteo Figoracion'' (PG-389).

''Rizal'' was also part of the Philippine Navy contingent that joined Exercise SEAGULL 03–07, which was held in Brunei from September 2 to 10, 2007. With BRP ''Federico Martir'' (PG-385), and Royal Brunei Navy participating ships KDB ''Pejuang'' P03, KDB ''Seteria'' P04, KDB ''Perwira'' P14 and KDB ''Penyerang'' P16, they conducted series of drills, including Mine Clearance, Under Water Operations, Replenishment at Sea, Night Encounter Exercise, Boarding Exercise and Other Naval Tactical Exercises.

''Rizal'', Malaysian ships KD ''Ganas'' and KD ''Sri Perlis'', and Philippine Navy ships BRP ''Nicolas Mahusay'' and BRP ''Bonny Serrano'', participated in joint border patrol exercises from June to July 2008.

In July 2011, ''Rizal'', BRP ''Pangasinan'' (PS-31) and US Navy ships USS ''Howard'' (DDG-83) and USS ''Chung-Hoon'' (DDG-93), took part in the sea phase bilateral exercises Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2011.

Other incidents

''Rizal'' was involved in a collision with a Chinese fishing boat off Scarborough Shoal on 23 May 1999. This incident sparked a diplomatic protest by the Chinese government since they are claiming that the PN ship collided with the fishing boat "on-purpose". The shoal is claimed by the Chinese government as part of its territory.

On 19 June 2009 ''Rizal'' took part in the rescue of Indonesian-registered tugboat MT ''Benoa'' with 10 people on board, and towed the distressed boat to San Fernando City pier.

On 18 October 2011 ''Rizal'' was involved in a minor accidental collision with a Chinese boat towing 25 smaller boats. The incident happened in the Recto Bank area, which is within the Philippine EEZ. The Chinese boat retreated and left behind the 25 sampans, which the ''Rizal'' towed back to Ulugan Bay in Palawan.

Technical details

Armaments

As a minesweeper, the ship was armed with one forward Mk.26 3"/50 caliber dual purpose gun, two single Bofors 40 mm guns, 1 Hedgehog depth charge projector, four depth charge projectiles (K-guns) and two depth charge tracks. Upon transfer to the Philippine Navy, her mine sweeping equipment were removed, and refitted her armaments. An additional Mk.26 3"/50 caliber dual purpose gun was fitted aft, and her two single Bofors 40 mm guns were replaced by two twin Mk.1 Bofors 40 mm guns. She was also refitted with two twin Mk.24 Oerlikon 20 mm cannons and six 324mm Torpedo Tubes on two triple-mounts.''GlobalSecurity.org'
PS Rizal Class

A small helicopter flight deck was later added, requiring the removal of the aft Mk.26 3"/50 caliber gun.

During its overhaul and refit between 1995 and 1996, the Philippine Navy removed her old anti-submarine weapons and systems, and made some changes in the armament set-up. Her flight deck was also removed. Final armaments fitted to the ship are two Mk.26 3"/50-caliber gun (one forward and one aft), two twin Mk.1 Bofors 40 mm cannons (aft), one twin Mk.24 Oerlikon 20 mm cannons (forward), and four M2 Browning 12.7 mm/50 caliber machine guns. This made the ship lighter and ideal for surface patrols, but losing her limited anti-submarine warfare capability.

Machinery

She underwent completed a rehabilitation overhaul in 1995, by Hatch & Kirk, wherein she was fitted with two remanufactured GM EMD 16V-645C diesel engines with a combined power of around driving two propellers. The main engines can propel the ship at a maximum speed of around . It has a maximum range of at a speed of . The ship was also equipped with state-of-the-art safety equipment on deck and engine room with all digital control panels.''Philippine Panorama - 26 November 1995 Repowering Old Ships To Make Them Good As New by Randy V. Urlanda''

Electronics

Also during the refit the ship's Raytheon SPS-5C surface search radar and DAS-3 navigation radar was replaced by a Raytheon AN/SPS-64(V)11 surface search and navigation radar system. Later modifications included the installation of an additional Furuno navigation radar, long range and satellite communications systems, and GPS system standard to all Philippine Navy ships.Wertheim, Eric: ''The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 15th Edition'', page 552. Naval Institute Press, 2007.

Gallery

See also

* Philippine Navy
* Auk class minesweeper
* List of decommissioned ships of the Philippine Navy

References

External links

Philippine Navy Official website



Philippine Defense Forum



Naming and Code Designation of PN Ships

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rizal (PS-74)
Rizal-class corvettes
Ships built in Savannah, Georgia
1944 ships
Corvettes of the Philippines
Ships of the Philippine Navy