The BRP Simeon Castro (PC-374) is the fourth ship of the Jose Andrada class coastal patrol boats of the Philippine Navy. It is part of the first batch of its class ordered through US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) in 1989, and was commissioned with the Philippine Navy on 24 June 1991.[3][4] It was initially designated as Fast Patrol Craft, and was numbered "DF-374", but later on was re-designated as a Patrol Gunboat, and was re-numbered as "PG-374",[3] until another round of reclassification changed its designation as a Patrol Craft with hull number "PC-374" from April 2016.
History
Philippines
Name
Simeon Castro
Namesake
Simeon Castro was an officer of the Offshore Patrol.
Simeon Castro conducted relief operations sorties to economically displaced families of Cagraray Island, Bacacay, Albay starting 11 January 2011 as part of the local government of Albay's "Food for Work" program.[6]
The Simeon Castro rescued 58 passengers of Ro-Ro vessel MV Vanessa P2 off Sayao Bay, Marinduque on 13 May 2011 after responding to a distress call from Coast Guard Station Marinduque.[7]
In April 2018, the BRP Simeon Castro along with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) responded to a distress call and rescued the passengers of the motor boat M/B Kidd Dodong after it broke an outrigger due to big waves. The boat was found after a brief search in the vicinity of Guintunguan Island in El Nido, and the BRP Castro took half of the boat's fourteen passengers (the other half were taken by the PCG) to the Liminangcong Pier in Palawan.[8]
In July 2018, the BRP Simeon Castro participated in a Maritime Security Activity (MSA) with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in the waters around Palawan along with the BRP Ramon Alcaraz(FF-16)frigate. The RAN sent the patrol vessels HMAS Ararat and HMAS Wollongong for the activity which consists of Ship Training Activities, Maritime Patrols, Maritime Security Threat discussions, among others.[9]
Technical detailsedit
The ship was built to US Coast Guard standards with aluminum hull and superstructure.[5] She is powered by two Detroit Diesel 16V-92TA Diesel Engines with a combined power of around 2,800 hp driving two propellers for a maximum speed of 28 knots (52 km/h). Maximum range is 1,200 nmi (2,200 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h), or alternatively 600 nmi (1,100 km) at 24 knots (44 km/h).[2]
The ship originally designed to carry one bow Mk.3 40 mm gun, one 81 mm mortar aft, and four 12.7 mm/50 caliber machine guns.[2][10] Instead, she is armed with only four M2HB Browning 12.7 mm/50 caliber machine guns on Mk.26 mounts, with two positioned forward and two aft; and two M60 7.62 mm/30 caliber machine guns, both mounted amidships. The ship can carry 4,000 rounds of 12.7 mm and 2,000 rounds of 7.62 mm A large "Big Eyes" binocular is also carried on tripod mounts, one on the forecastle and one just above the mast.[2]
As part of the first batch (PG-370 to PG-378), it is not equipped with Mk.38 Mod.0 Bushmaster 25mm chain gun.[2][5][10][N 2] It was planned to install either a stabilized or unstabilized M242 25 mm Bushmaster chain gun on her bow after some minor modifications,[5] but as of to date has not materialized.
She is equipped with a Raytheon AN/SPS-64(V)11 surface search and navigation radar but with a smaller antenna as those used in bigger Philippine Navy ships.[2][4]
A 4-meter rigid inflatable boat powered by a 40-hp outboard motor is stowed amidships.[2]
Footnotesedit
^All sources refer to the same engine, although with different horsepower rating.[2][5] But official specs from manufacturer indicates a 1,400 hp rating for each engine. [1]
^Sources vary on weapons mount of this ship, with most indicating the presence of a Bushmaster 25mm chain gun on a Mk.38 mount.[2][5] Recent photos [2] does not show said weapon or mount, so are other ships from the first batch (PG-370 to PG-378)[10]
Referencesedit
^Shipbuildinghistory.com Equitable Shipyards, New Orleans LA
^ abcdefghijWertheim, Eric: The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 15th Edition, page 553. Naval Institute Press, 2007.
simeon, castro, fourth, ship, jose, andrada, class, coastal, patrol, boats, philippine, navy, part, first, batch, class, ordered, through, foreign, military, sales, 1989, commissioned, with, philippine, navy, june, 1991, initially, designated, fast, patrol, cr. The BRP Simeon Castro PC 374 is the fourth ship of the Jose Andrada class coastal patrol boats of the Philippine Navy It is part of the first batch of its class ordered through US Foreign Military Sales FMS in 1989 and was commissioned with the Philippine Navy on 24 June 1991 3 4 It was initially designated as Fast Patrol Craft and was numbered DF 374 but later on was re designated as a Patrol Gunboat and was re numbered as PG 374 3 until another round of reclassification changed its designation as a Patrol Craft with hull number PC 374 from April 2016 HistoryPhilippinesNameSimeon CastroNamesakeSimeon Castro was an officer of the Offshore Patrol OperatorPhilippine NavyOrderedAugust 1989 2 BuilderTrinity Equitable Shipyards New Orleans USAAcquired26 April 1991 1 Commissioned24 June 1991 3 ReclassifiedPC 374 as of April 2016Statusin active serviceGeneral characteristicsClass and typeJose Andrada classTypeCoastal Patrol CraftDisplacement56 4 tons full load 4 Length78 ft 24 m 5 Beam20 ft 6 1 m 5 Draft5 8 ft 1 8 m 5 Propulsion2 1 400 bhp Detroit 16V 92TA Diesel Engines 2 N 1 2 35 kW Diesel generators 2 shaftsSpeed28 knots 52 km h maximumRange1 200 nmi 2 200 km at 12 knots 22 km h Boats amp landing craft carried4 meter rigid inflatable boat at aftComplement12 5 Sensors and processing systemsRaytheon AN SPS 64 V 11 Navigation Surface Search RadarArmament4 Mk 26 M2HB Browning 12 7 mm 50 cal GP machine guns 2 M60 7 62 mm 30 cal GP machine guns Contents 1 Notable operations exercises 2 Technical details 3 Footnotes 4 References 5 External linksNotable operations exercises editSimeon Castro conducted relief operations sorties to economically displaced families of Cagraray Island Bacacay Albay starting 11 January 2011 as part of the local government of Albay s Food for Work program 6 The Simeon Castro rescued 58 passengers of Ro Ro vessel MV Vanessa P2 off Sayao Bay Marinduque on 13 May 2011 after responding to a distress call from Coast Guard Station Marinduque 7 In April 2018 the BRP Simeon Castro along with the Philippine Coast Guard PCG responded to a distress call and rescued the passengers of the motor boat M B Kidd Dodong after it broke an outrigger due to big waves The boat was found after a brief search in the vicinity of Guintunguan Island in El Nido and the BRP Castro took half of the boat s fourteen passengers the other half were taken by the PCG to the Liminangcong Pier in Palawan 8 In July 2018 the BRP Simeon Castro participated in a Maritime Security Activity MSA with the Royal Australian Navy RAN in the waters around Palawan along with the BRP Ramon Alcaraz FF 16 frigate The RAN sent the patrol vessels HMAS Ararat and HMAS Wollongong for the activity which consists of Ship Training Activities Maritime Patrols Maritime Security Threat discussions among others 9 Technical details editThe ship was built to US Coast Guard standards with aluminum hull and superstructure 5 She is powered by two Detroit Diesel 16V 92TA Diesel Engines with a combined power of around 2 800 hp driving two propellers for a maximum speed of 28 knots 52 km h Maximum range is 1 200 nmi 2 200 km at 12 knots 22 km h or alternatively 600 nmi 1 100 km at 24 knots 44 km h 2 The ship originally designed to carry one bow Mk 3 40 mm gun one 81 mm mortar aft and four 12 7 mm 50 caliber machine guns 2 10 Instead she is armed with only four M2HB Browning 12 7 mm 50 caliber machine guns on Mk 26 mounts with two positioned forward and two aft and two M60 7 62 mm 30 caliber machine guns both mounted amidships The ship can carry 4 000 rounds of 12 7 mm and 2 000 rounds of 7 62 mm A large Big Eyes binocular is also carried on tripod mounts one on the forecastle and one just above the mast 2 As part of the first batch PG 370 to PG 378 it is not equipped with Mk 38 Mod 0 Bushmaster 25mm chain gun 2 5 10 N 2 It was planned to install either a stabilized or unstabilized M242 25 mm Bushmaster chain gun on her bow after some minor modifications 5 but as of to date has not materialized She is equipped with a Raytheon AN SPS 64 V 11 surface search and navigation radar but with a smaller antenna as those used in bigger Philippine Navy ships 2 4 A 4 meter rigid inflatable boat powered by a 40 hp outboard motor is stowed amidships 2 Footnotes edit All sources refer to the same engine although with different horsepower rating 2 5 But official specs from manufacturer indicates a 1 400 hp rating for each engine 1 Sources vary on weapons mount of this ship with most indicating the presence of a Bushmaster 25mm chain gun on a Mk 38 mount 2 5 Recent photos 2 does not show said weapon or mount so are other ships from the first batch PG 370 to PG 378 10 References edit Shipbuildinghistory com Equitable Shipyards New Orleans LA a b c d e f g h i j Wertheim Eric The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 15th Edition page 553 Naval Institute Press 2007 a b c GlobalSecurity org PG Jose Andrada Class a b c Manokski s ORBAT Hueybravo Jose Andrada class page a b c d e f g h i Saunders Stephen Jane s Fighting Ships 107th Edition 2004 2005 Jane s Information Group Ltd 2004 Navy Relief Operations Benefited Economically Displaced Island Communities in Albay Legazpi City Philippine Navy Naval Public Affairs Office 2011 01 11 Archived from the original on 2011 12 18 Retrieved 2011 11 19 Navy Responds to a Seacraft in Distress Saves 58 Passengers on Board Philippine Navy Naval Public Affairs Office 2011 05 14 Archived from the original on 2011 12 18 Retrieved 2011 11 19 PN Vessel Rescued Distressed Motor Banca in El Nido Archived from the original on 2018 04 23 Retrieved 2018 04 23 PH Aussie Navies to Hold Maritime Security Activity in Palawan a b c AFP Materiel Technical Specification Archives PN Light Surface Warships Andrada Halter 78 class Coastal Patrol Craft 24 External links editPhilippine Navy Official website Philippine Fleet Official Website Philippine Defense Forum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BRP Simeon Castro PC 374 amp oldid 1072551150, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
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