With the arrival of BRP Ramon Alcaraz Friday, the number of platforms carrying the 76mm Oto Melara automatic cannon in the Philippine Navy has climbed up to five.
These ships are the three Jacinto-class patrol vessels (formerly the Peacock-class of the
Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic, PN spokesperson, said that this gun is one of the best weapon systems in service with the country today.
All three Jacinto-class patrol vessels are still active.
The Oto Melara 76 mm gun arming the five ships is the primary weapon and is mounted in a turret forward of the bridge.
It has a range of up to 20 kms.
It is remotely controlled from within the combat information center by the gunnery officer and has no crew within the turret itself.
The gun in Philippine service can fire 80 rounds in 60 seconds from its ready magazine, and the ships can carry a total 450 rounds.
The Oto Melara 76mm cannon is used 53 naval forces worldwide.
The gun's high rate of fire makes it suitable for short-range anti-missile point defense.
Specialized ammunition is available for armor piercing, incendiary and directed fragmentation effects and there is also a new guided round that is supposed to be able to destroy maneuvering anti-ship missiles.
Another advantage of this weapon is that it is light and compact enough to be installed in warship weighing 750 gross tons or even less, the configuration of most naval vessels in the PN.
The 76 mm gun is a naval artillery piece built by the Italian defense conglomerate Otobreda.
It is based on the Oto Melara 76mm/L62 Allargato, which was bigger and heavier.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=10&sid=&nid=10&rid=551155
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