By: NAVAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - The Philippine Navy’s second “Gregorio Del Pilar” Class Frigate BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF 16) has finally reached its destination. For about two months of steaming from the coast of South Carolina going to the Philippines, BRP Ramon Alcaraz with Eighty Seven (87) Crew headed by the Captain Ernesto Baldovino was welcomed by His Excellency President Benigno Simeon C Aquino III in a traditional arrival ceremony on Tuesday (August 6, 2013) at Alava Wharf, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Olongapo City.
BRP Ramon Alcaraz is a former US Coast Guard Hamilton class cutter and first served as the US Coast Guard Cutter Dallas before it was transferred to the Philippines as an Excess Defense Article through the Foreign Assistance Act. PF 16 is a 3,250 ton frigate equipped with two 3,000 horsepower diesel engines that could attain longer sustainable speed of more than 15 knots and two 18,000 horsepower gas turbines that could propel the ship at a speed of more than 25 knots for urgent situations. It has also a retractable/rotatable bow propulsion unit that provides high level of maneuverability in rigid situations.
Significantly, it has a flight deck and an extendable hangar that could accommodate a helicopter for an extensive maritime patrol. At cruising speed, the ship is capable for 45 days endurance operation at sea. After the ship’s refurbishing and the training of its manning personnel, BRP Ramon Alcaraz is said to boost the Philippine Navy’s capability in maritime security operations.
Named in honor of the World War II Hero and Officer of the Philippine Navy Commodore Ramon Alcaraz who commanded one of the Philippine Offshore Patrol's Q-boat Q-112 Abra during World War II which shot down 3 Japanese aircraft, the ship is now in service to the Philippine Navy and to our maritime nation.