(Feature) Great Plebeian's namesake ship BRP Andres Bonifacio arrived in Guam on 153rd birthday anniversary of Filipino patriot

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 30): (Feature) Great Plebeian's namesake ship BRP Andres Bonifacio arrived in Guam on 153rd birthday anniversary of Filipino patriot

While her namesake patriot might not have visited Guam in his lifetime, the BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17), the third Hamilton-class cutter of the Philippine Navy, did better as she arrived at the above-mentioned island at around 8 a.m. Wednesday, or on the hero's 153rd birth anniversary.

This was disclosed by PN spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

He said the ship will be staying in Guam for three days for reprovisioning and refuelling before making her voyage to the Philippines where she is expected to arrive at Manila's South Harbor on Dec. 8.

With her arrival, BRP Andres Bonifacio is expected to boost the Navy's capability to conduct "territorial patrols" within the nation's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

"FF-17 is a significant addition to the Navy's inventory of ships in order to boost the conduct of territorial patrol missions within our EEZ," Lincuna said.

Hamilton-class cutters have a gross tonnage of 3,250 tons, a length of 378 feet, beam of 43 feet, and draft of 15 feet.

Its propulsion systems consist of two diesel engines and two gas turbine engines, giving it a top speed of 29 knots and a crew of 80 officers and enlisted personnel.

The ship has cruising range of 14,000 miles and has a sea and loiter time of 45 days.

The BRP Andres Bonifacio is formerly the USCGC Boutwell which was retired from US Coast Guard service last March 16 and handed to the PN last July 21.

She is the second ship to bear the name of the Katipunan founder who was born on Nov. 30, 1863 and was executed on May 10, 1897 by pro-Aguinaldo factions in Maragondon, Cavite for the alleged crime of sedition and treason.

Bonifacio is also well noted in Philippine history for having lead the "Cry of Pugad Lawin" on Aug. 23, 1896 which officially started the Filipino Revolution in Luzon.

The first BRP Andres Bonifacio (PF-7) was commissioned by the PN on July 27, 1976 and decommissioned on Sept. 30, 1993.

The first BRP Andres Bonifacio was the lead ship of the Andres Bonifacio class frigates of the PN which consist of the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-8), BRP Diego Silang (PF-9) and BRP Francisco Dagohoy (PF-10).

These ships, during their time, were the largest and most heavily-armed frigates of the PN.

The above-mentioned vessels weigh 2,800 tons with a full war load, have a length of 311 feet, a cruising speed of 18.2 knots and armed with one five-inch automatic cannon.

The latter weapon is the largest weapon ever mounted in a PN ship even with the arrival of the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar class frigates.

These ships were formerly used by the US Navy as Barnegat-class small seaplane tenders.
These vessels were former naval vessels of the South Vietnamese Navy.

When South Vietnam collapsed in 1975, these four vessels fled to Subic Bay in the Philippines where they reverted to the control of their former operator, the United States, which then sold them to the PN at friendship prices.

These four ships formed the backbone of the Philippine Fleet and served loyally for 17 years until lack of spares and obsolescence prompted their decommissioning in 1993.
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