BRP Ramon Alcaraz docks in Hawaii

From the Philippine  News Agency (Jul 13): BRP Ramon Alcaraz docks in Hawaii

The BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) arrived in Hawaii Saturday morning (Philippine time) with the Filipino community warmly greeting the crew and officers of the second Hamilton-class cutter of the Philippine navy.

Hawaii is the Philippines warship's second port call. After this stop, the frigate is scheduled to proceed to Guam for her third and final port stop before heading to the Philippines where she is expected to arrive by Aug. 3.

The BRP Ramon Alcaraz left San Diego, California for its Hawaii port call last July 6.

The Filipino frigate docked at San Diego, California for re-fueling and re-provisioning last June 28 after departing Charleston, South Carolina last June 10.

The distance between San Diego, California to Hawaii is around 2,400 miles.

The BRP Ramon Alcaraz also made a brief stopover at Mayport, Florida where it successfully test fired her 76-mm Oto Melara automatic cannon and speed trials of 25 knots without any difficulty.

The ship's top speed is placed between 29 to 31 knots.

On July 2, Concepcion D. Alcaraz, the widow of Filipino naval hero Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, visited the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the namesake ship of her husband, during its port call at San Diego, California.

During her visit, Mrs. Alcaraz signed copies of the book "Mrs. Alcaraz, A Biography" and "Commodore Alcaraz; First Victim of President Marcos".

She was accompanied by granddaughter Hailey Marshall and daughters Ramona and Efigenia in their short tour of the Filipino frigate.

Commodore Alcaraz gained distinction in World War II by shooting down three Japanese Zero fighters who tried to attack his ship, the Abra (Q-112), during the first months of the war.

Consul General Maria Helen de la Vega and the Filipino-American community in California also visited the BRP Alcaraz in July 1.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=543827