(Yearender) PN ends 2015 with LCHs, brand-new attack helicopters

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 15): (Yearender) PN ends 2015 with LCHs, brand-new attack helicopters

The Philippine Navy (PN) ended the year with two Australian LCHs (landing craft heavies) and two attack AgustaWestland AW-109E "Power" helicopters in its growing inventory.

These naval assets were commissioned last Aug. 10 in a brief ceremony last Aug. 10 at PN headquarters in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

These ships were donated by the Australian government last January.

They arrived in Sangley Point, Cavite last August 7.

The two LCHs vessels were christened as BRP Ivatan (AT-298) and BRP Batak (AT-299) in honor and to consequently preserve the distinctiveness of the two ethnic groups of Palawan and Batanes.

The addition of these vessels translates into the boosting of the capability of the PN to transport personnel, equipment and aid during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

They will also be useful in transporting troops from one operational area to another.

These acquisitions as part of the Navy’s better service of protecting its maritime nation and responding to the needs of the people during calamities.

As this developed, three more "Balikpapan" class LCHs are scheduled to arrive and be commissioned by the PN service by first quarter of 2016.

These ships are the HMAS Balikpapan, HMAS Wewak and HMAS Betano.

The Royal Australian Navy decommissioned these LCHs in November 2014.

The three are sisters to BRP Ivatan (formerly HMAS Tarakan) and BRP Batak (ex-HMAS Brunei) which were commissioned into PN service last Aug. 10.

LCHs are extremely versatile vessel, capable of moving large amounts of cargo, personnel and equipment from larger ships to shore.

A very shallow draft (two meters) allows these ships to deliver personnel and equipment to areas otherwise unreachable especially during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.

It is an all-welded twin-screw vessel, able to trans-ship cargo and supplies from ships lying offshore to water terminals or across the beach.

Maximum cargo load is governed by the load-fuel balance and varies between 140 and 180 tons.

A typical load of 175 ton gives the LCHs a range of 1,300 nautical miles, increasing to 2,280 nautical miles for a load of 150 tons.

Up to five shipping containers with HADR supplies and equipment can also be embarked.

LCHs have a draft of two meters, length of 44.5 meters, beam of 10.1 meters and displacement of 364 tons.

It has a speed to 10 to 13 knots and a range of 3,000 nautical miles and a crew of 15.

Sources said that the three ships were acquired at their respective "salvage value" which is 10 to 15 percent of the actual value of the LCHs.

While the two attack AW-109 helicopters, the last two of out of a five-order contract with AgustaWestland worth Php1.33 billion signed in 2013, was also commissioned last Aug. 10.

Acquisition of the armed AW-109Es are part of the PN's efforts in developing a robust island defense force and becoming an effective instrument of national development.

Three of earlier AW-109s were delivered and commissioned in Dec. 22, 2013.

And come this 2016, the PN will be operating another Hamilton-class cutter as pledged by President Barack Obama during his visit to the country during the APEC Economic Leaders' Summit last Nov. 17.

The ship the American president is referring to is the recently-retired United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Boutwell.

She is the sister ship of the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (ex-USCGC Hamilton) and the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (former USCGS Dallas).

"This will provide the Philippines the ability to maintain greater maritime presence and patrols throughout its EEZ. We are also in the process of transferring the research vessel R/V Melville to support naval research and law enforcement capabilities," the White House said in a statement.

The soon-to-arrive third Hamilton-class cutter will greatly aid the country in its ongoing military modernization efforts, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.

He added that the transfer of the US Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell will entail minimal cost as the PN will only pay for crew training and the fuel needed to transfer the ship to the country.

The Philippines remains the largest recipient of maritime security assistance, and will receive a record USD79 million in bilateral assistance of the FY 2015 funds allocated for developing Southeast Asian maritime capabilities.

This assistance is largely focused on building the training and logistical base for expanding the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Forces’ ability to conduct operations within waters off the Philippines’ coasts.

"We are assisting with naval maintenance capacity building as well as providing interdiction vessels, naval fleet upgrades, communications equipment, and aircraft procurement," the White House said.

The US also vowed to continue to support the National Coast Watch System and assist the Philippines through the Global Security Contingency Fund (GSCF), building capacity in Philippine maritime vessel maintenance, training, law enforcement support, and intelligence assistance to expand the country’s ability to detect, track, and interdict where necessary criminal and terrorist elements involved in the smuggling of sensitive items and illicit goods.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=838115