Territorial dispute with China, Philippines becomes venue to showcase US warship

MANILA, Philippines - "Amid its territorial dispute with China, the Philippines has become a venue to showcase the warships of the United States. This year alone, several US destroyers have visited Philippine shores.

On Thursday, the US Embassy in Manila said its navy submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758) will arrive in Subic Bay on June 7 and June 8, respectively.

This will be the second visit of the USS Frank Cable to the Philippines this year.

The US calls such visits "routine port calls", but they also notably come every time China presses its claims over the Spratly Islands.

China has also maintained its "presence" at the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Masinloc, Zambales, where Filipino fishermen could no longer go for fear of Chinese harassment or arrest.

Earlier, citing the nuclear threat of North Korea, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the US military may use the country as a military base in case of “extreme emergency.”

In fact, since January this year the following US warships have visited the country: USS Freedom (LCS1), USS Tortuga (LSD46), USS Ohio, USS Decatur, USS Emory S. Land (AS39), USS Blue Ridge USS Stockdale (DDG106), and the USS Cheyenne (SSN773). The USS Guardian (MCM5), was decommissioned after running aground on Tubbataha Reef.

"During their visit, the Frank Cable and Asheville will refuel and receive supplies, and the crew will be given opportunities for community service in nearby areas as well as rest and recreation," the US embassy said.

The L.Y. Spear-class USS Frank Cable (AS-40) was commissioned in 1980. It is nearly 200 meters long and has a crew of 1,500. The Frank Cable serves as the US 7th Fleet’s mobile repair and support platform. The ship is named after Frank Taylor Cable, one of the pioneers in the development of submarines for the US Navy. Its home port is in Guam.

Named for the city of Asheville, North Carolina, and commissioned in 1991, the USS Asheville is a Los Angeles-class submarine. It is 91 meters long, and has a top speed of 32 knots underwater. The Asheville is homeported in San Diego, California.

Meanwhile, US Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III arrived in Manila on Thursday for a meeting “with his counterparts.”

Locklear will stay in the country for two days.

It must also be noted that defense ministers from the Asia Pacific nations had just met for a security conference in Singapore where it a reported that the US reaffirmed its 62-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines."

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/...pines-turns-into-showcase-site-of-us-warships

Well yes. Maybe more that we know.

Refurbished PH warship set to arrive August

"As the newest Philippine warship makes its way to the Philippines from Charleston, South Carolina, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. told the officers and crew of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz that the Philippines will exert all efforts to ease the tension in the West Philippine Sea, but is also ready to defend it, if needed.

"To be able to make sure the BRP Alcaraz will be properly managed, I think you had a very extensive training, I'm sure the Filipino people are eagerly waiting," Cuisia said.

On the eve of its departure to the Philippines, Cuisia visited the vessel and congratulated its officers and crew for a job well done.

For about a year, the BRP Alcaraz underwent a $15.6 million retrofitting and extended refurbishment while its officers and crew underwent training with the US Navy.

Formerly known as USCGC Dallas, the BRP Alcaraz is the second Weather High-Endurance Cutter the Philippines has acquired from the US government."

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/06/11/13/refurbished-ph-warship-set-arrive-august

New Philippine warship test-fires main gun

"The Philippines' new naval warship, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, fired its main weapons system in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, the Philippine Embassy in the United States said.

Capt. Ernesto Baldovino, commanding officer of the Alcaraz, said the ship successfully fired its OTO Melara 76 mm naval artillery gun "with a high degree of accuracy."

"This weapons system is very reliable," he said, in an embassy statement.

Baldovino, in a report to Capt. Elson Aguilar, Defense and Naval Attache at the embassy, said the ship's rapid-fire cannon, which can shoot as many as 80 rounds per minute, fired 15 rounds.

Three shots were used to calibrate the gun and 12 were aimed at floating targets two to three miles away.

"Captain Baldovino was more than satisfied with how the Oto Melara performed," Aguilar said.

Countries in Asia that have warships armed with OTO Melara naval guns include Indonesia, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.

Defense sources said the cutter will also be fitted with anti-ship Harpoon missiles.

"Her weapons system is heavier and more sophisticated compared to her sister ship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar," one source said.

The Alcaraz is also armed with M242 Bushmaster guns and heavy machineguns."


"The ship is now proceeding to the Panama Canal, its next stop in its almost 2-month journey to the Philippines."


http://rp2.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/06/12/13/new-philippine-warship-test-fires-main-gun

What are they doing, rowing it across?

The Great Circle distance between Panama and Manila is 8,932 nautical miles. Bearing in mind that the former Coastguard Cutter would normally cruise along at 25 knots, it would take 14 days and 21 hours to make the passage. Even if she ran at a reduced speed of 20 knots, she would still only take 18 days and 14 hours. So how do they calculate "almost 2 months"?

It says its next stop, so I suppose they are stopping off en route...

To give the oarsmen a break, I guess!

From memory, a Great Circle track from the Panama Canal towards the northern tip of the Philippines would pass to the north and east of the Hawaiian Islands and once you're passed them, there ain't much in the way of land!

On the other hand, they could be hugging the north American coastline all the way to the Bering Strait, cross that, then follow the Russian coast southwards and sneak up on the Chinese Navy from behind - what a dastardly plan!!

Yes, there must be a cunning plan in there somewhere.

Philippines to buy 2 frigates from Italy

"The Philippines is set to buy two Maestrale-class frigates from Italy, a defense official said Wednesday, as the Asian nation races to upgrade its military amid mounting territorial disputes with China.

The frigates, along with 12 FA-50 fighter aircraft, are the most significant items on the government's 75-billion-peso ($1.7-billion) military modernization budget over the next five years, Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said.

"We are modernizing not because we want to go to war with China," he told a news conference."

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/03/13/philippines-buy-2-frigates-italy

I suggest that they will be making economical speed trailing one prop, just as RN ships do when on longer passages, so 8-10 knots will be about it. There may be some refitting at Pearl Harbor involved, on the way.

The Korean aircraft are a good practical choice. But a lot more are needed.

For once, the Philippines isn't buying hand-me-downs and is to order two new ships from Fincantieri, the Italian yard, and that is very good news for both the Philippines and Italy.

As for the aircraft, surely they're not buying this - are they?!

Thing is, will China wait for another 5 years - the time it will take for the two new frigates and the aircraft to be bought and delivered - before enforcing its claim on the Spratleys. I suggest not; once its 'new' aircraft carrier has been refitted and equipped in a few months' time, she will undoubtedly be the mainstay of an enforcement fleet that will form a floating ring of steel around the archipelago. Game over.

To anyone involved in merchant shipping, the fuel range of a modern warship is completely pathetic.

The late lamented RN Type 42s could just about cross the Atlantic.

Actually they look like this:

http://defenseupdates.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/philippines-to-buy-12-fa-50-fighter.html

You're absolutely right, Jim, the Great Circle between the Panama Canal and the northern tip of Luzon actually goes well to the north of the Aleutians which are approximately 52 degrees North (the maximum latitude of that Great Circle is 57 degrees). In practice, however, they'd probably steam a Composite Great Circle with a limiting latitude of 51.5 degrees which adds less than 150 nautical miles to the trip (8,945 versus 8,796, assuming 300 nm between course alterations).

Ah, that's a relief!

The biggest problem I foresee with China is that it is pithin off more than just one neighbour. At the moment it is at loggerheads with India.

and Burma, and Thailand, and Malaysia, and Mongolia, and Russia, and North Korea, and Vietnam (in spades) and Japan (in spades, redoubled).

Which kind of leaves North Korea friendless.

With regard to the Spratleys though, the elephant in the room is Taiwan which I think will stay out of way should China stage a military land-grab. The US has already indicated that it will not get involved militarily but nevertheless I think she will do so by proxy - South Korea - which would mean that China really needs North Korea to keep its southern neighbour otherwise occupied by, say, a considerable build-up of forces along the DMZ with the threat of invasion. China will, I'm sure, use its substantial holding of US debt to keep American forces at bay.

Of the remaining claimants, only Vietnam has a naval force worth mentioning with 7 frigates and 11 corvettes currently in service and by the end of this year they will be joined by two Russian-built submarines. Brunei's navy consists of a few inshore patrol boats and little besides. She would have had three Scottish-built corvettes which, although completed and delivered, have never left UK shores and are currently up for sale (interested parties can view them at Barrow-in-Furness, guaranteed low-mileage, available in grey only, bring cheque for £600 million).

New PH ship to patrol West Philippine Sea

"New PH ship to patrol West Philippine Sea (ABS-CBNnews.com) — SAN DIEGO – The crown jewel of the Philippine Navy is on its way to the Philippines.
The BSR Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) was acquired from the US Coast Guard in 2012 and underwent renovations and testing for the past year.
The 378-foot long battle ship is equipped with twin diesel engines and a cannon. It also has the comforts of home — with Filipino cooking on board and balikbayan boxes full of gifts from the Filipino community in South Carolina where the ship departed from last month."

http://www.philippinenewsportal.com/new-ph-ship-to-patrol-west-philippine-sea