PH Navy wins ASEAN-China maritime exercise comms drill challenge

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 28): PH Navy wins ASEAN-China maritime exercise comms drill challenge

The Philippine Navy (PN), through its Naval Task Force 88, was hailed as the champion in the communications drill spearheaded by the People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN-N) during the last day of sea-sub phase of the first-ever ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise (ACMEX) last Oct. 26.

NTF head Capt. Sherwin Respeto said the results were revealed during the after-action assessment at the Ma Xie Naval Base, Zhanjiang, China on Saturday.

This was followed by the closing ceremony with Vice Admiral Wang Hai, Commander of the Naval Forces Southern Theatre Command, as the speaker.

"The Naval Task Group 88, with the efforts of the command team and the support of both of the BRP Dagupan City (LS-551) personnel and task group crew, were able to easily respond to the communications challenges sent over the radio network, besting other participants, as part of testing the integrity of the communications established during the series of exercise briefings," Respeto said in a statement Saturday.

He added that ACMEX 2018 has proven the PN's capabilities to inter-operate with its partners as it modernizes. Moreover, the PN’s participation in a multi-lateral exercise is aimed at evaluating its inter-operability and readiness in cooperating with other navies.

"The confidence brought about by the said exercise will enable the PN to better perform its mandate," Respeto added.

BRP Dagupan City and the 200-man contingent aboard her left Sangley Point, Cavite last Oct. 17, and arrived in Zhanjiang, China on Oct. 20 to participate in the ACMEX.

It is hosted the People's Republic of China and Republic of Singapore Navy.

BRP Dagupan City has a displacement of 4,265 tons at full load, are 273 feet long, has a draft of 12 feet and has a top speed of 12 knots.

It was commissioned in PN service during the 1990s.

Earlier, Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the proposal for a joint ASEAN and Chinese naval exercise was submitted during the ASEAN Defense Minister Meeting in Singapore last February.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1052328