Balikatan 2024: PH, US forces sink ‘made in China’ ship off Ilocos Norte

From ABS-CBN (May 8, 2024): Balikatan 2024: PH, US forces sink ‘made in China’ ship off Ilocos Norte (Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News)

Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Marine Corps conduct a live-fire exercise against an imaginary enemy target facing the West Philippine Sea at the Laoag Sand Dunes on May 6, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Armed Forces declared as successful the conduct of the Balikatan maritime strike exercise in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on Wednesday, when they achieved their objective to sink a mock enemy ship.

The "made in China" ship BRP Lake Caliraya sank at 10:49 a.m., over two hours after the exercise started.

Formerly known as M/T Lapu-Lapu, the BRP Lake Caliraya was donated by the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) to the Philippine Navy in 2014. It was decommissioned in 2020.

During the maritime strike, the vessel represented an enemy force approaching Philippine territory.

"The mission is to try to prevent an aggressor from landing in Philippine soil," Lt. Col. Omar Abdullah Al Assaf, Balikatan 2024 maritime strike lead planner, told reporters in Laoag City.

READ: PH, US troops blast targets off Palawan in Balikatan drill

Various naval, aerial and ground assets of the Philippines and the US were utilized to target the mock enemy vessel, which was located 8.5 nautical miles (approximately 15 kilometers) off the coast of the city.

Using its Spike missile, the first to shoot the target was the fast attack interdiction craft of the Philippine Navy.

This was followed by the BRP Jose Rizal, which was equipped with the SSM-700K C-Star anti-ship missile. This struck a major blow at the target.

The Philippine Air Force's FA-50 lead-in trainer fighter aircraft then dropped air-to-ground missiles on BRP Lake Caliraya, causing it to tilt on its stern.

The United States' F-16 aircraft, meanwhile, released its guided bomb unit, directly hitting the target.

The US' Lockheed AC-130 aircraft also fired 105 mm cannons at the mock enemy ship.

On land, the Philippine Army's ATMOS 155 mm howitzer was likewise fired.

"It was already sinking and with a few rounds from the Army artillery, the ship really sank to the bottom of the sea," Al Assaf said.

The official also mentioned that there was an interloper—a Filipino fisherman—monitored near the operational area, which delayed the exercise.

"There was an interloper but very far away. We made a very big operational box to make sure it's safe," Al Assaf explained. "We have the PCG watching at the north and south of the op box together with the PNP Maritime Group and the FAIC also went to the south to make sure that interlopers do not come… He wasn't really apprehended, just made sure to go out of the op box."

He then continued: "There were a few minutes of delays. We had to make sure it was safe for everyone… Overall, the objective was achieved."

READ: AFP: All systems go for ship-sinking exercise in Balikatan

The sinking exercise was witnessed by observers from fourteen countries.

For Philippine and US military officials, the drills allow troops from both countries to enhance their interoperability in maritime security and territorial defense operations.

"This is more on being ready… With or without war, we prepare for it. It's our job," Al Assaf said.

"We are confident we can do our mandate to protect the country and that we can work well with each other. In actuality, this is a slower version of cooperation among us, but during actual events… the actual thing, it will be fast," he added.

Lt. Col. Matt Cahill, commander of the US Army's 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, for his part, noted: "For us, it's all about partnership—working shoulder-to-shoulder with our Filipino counterparts. I think that's the biggest thing that we got… just training alongside one another. This is xtremely important… You need to practice and work alongside one another so we can leanr how each other operates in various scenarios."

"We'll continue to prepare… The goal is to continue training and our partnership," he further said.

This year's edition of the Balikatan, said to be the largest since its first staging in 1991, will officially end on Friday.

READ: PH, US forces repel mock foreign invasion in Balikatan drills

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/8/balikatan-2024-ph-us-forces-sink-made-in-china-ship-off-ilocos-norte-1648