BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39)

The BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39) is a Pohang-class corvette currently commissioned with the Philippine Navy. She is the service' first modern corvette^[3] and one of its most heavily armed units.^[4] She was originally named ROKS Chungju (PCC-762) during her service with the ROK Navy.^[5][6]

BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39)
History
South Korea
Name	ROKS Chungju
Builder	Korea Tacoma Shipyard
Launched	24 January 1986
Commissioned	30 November 1986
Decommissioned	27 December 2016
Identification	PCC-762
Fate	Transferred to Philippine Navy
Philippines
Name	BRP Conrado Yap
Namesake	Capt. Conrado D. Yap
Acquired	5 August 2019
Commissioned	5 August 2019
Identification	PS-39 (2019-present)
Motto	Steady on
Status	Active
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Pohang-class corvette
Displacement	1,220 tons
Length	88.3 m (290 ft)
Beam	10 m (33 ft)
Draft	2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Installed power	2 × MTU 6V396 TC52 diesel generators
Propulsion	Combined diesel or gas (CODOG) arrangement:^[1] 2 × MTU 12V956 TB82 diesel engines producing combined total of 6,260 shp (4,670 kW) 1 × General Electric LM2500 PB gas turbines generating 27,820 shp (20,700 kW)
Speed	32 knots (59 km/h) maximum
Range	4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) using diesel engines
Endurance	20 Days^[2]
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × RHIB
Crew	118
Sensors and processing systems	X-band & S-band navigational radars Raytheon AN/SPS-64(V)5B surface search radar^[2] Signaal (Thales Nederland) WM-28 Fire Control System^[1] Signaal (Thales Nederland) LIOD optronic director Raytheon AN/SQS-58 hull mounted passive/active sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys	2 × Loral Hycor Mk 34 RBOC Chaff and Decoy Launching System^[2]
Armament	2 × Oto Melara 76mm/62 caliber Compact naval guns 2 × Otobreda 40mm L/70 twin naval guns 2 × Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes 2 × Mk 9 Depth Charge Racks 6 × M2HB Browning .50 caliber machine guns

Design

The ship has a length of 88.3 meters (290 ft), a beam of 10 meters (33 ft) and draft of 2.9 meters (9.5 ft). The ship has a displacement of 1,220 tons full load. It has a rated capacity for a crew consisting of 118 personnel and can operate non-stop for 20 days. The ship has a maximum speed of 30 knots and has a range of to 4,000 nautical miles. It is powered by a combined diesel or gas, and LM2500 gas turbines.

The ship was designed for coastal defense and anti-submarine operations. She is being utilized by the Philippine Navy for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training in preparation for transition to the new frigates being built in South Korea for the Philippine Navy.^[7] The Department of National Defense is trying to request for transfer of more units.

Armament

The ship's armament consists of:^[8]

• two (2) Oto Melara 76mm/62 caliber Compact naval guns,
• two (2) Otobreda 40mm L/70 twin naval guns,
• two (2) Mk. 32 triple torpedo tubes,
• two (2) Mk 9 depth charge racks, and
• six (6) M2HB Browning .50 caliber machine guns.

The vessel is also equipped with a mount for a Man-portable air-defense system that can accommodate either:^[8]

• MBDA Mistral SIMBAD-RC, or
• LIGNex1 Chiron VSHORAD missile system.

Service history

In 1987, she was commissioned into the ROK Navy as the ROKS Chungju (PCC-762). She was decommissioned in December 2016, after decades of service.

On 5 August 2019, she was officially transferred to the Philippine Navy and was commissioned into service the same day at the Jinhae Naval Base. She was named BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39), after Philippine Army Capt. Conrado Yap who fought in the Korean War.^[9]

The ship is optimized for anti-submarine warfare missions. She will be used to build anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities of the Philippine Navy, along with the newly acquired ASW helicopters. Prior to these, the Philippines lacked any ASW capability in a region where the number of submarines being operated by neighboring countries was reportedly set to grow.^[10]

On 17 February 2020, BRP Conrado Yap encountered the People's Liberation Army Navy Type 056A corvette Liupanshui on its patrol mission. Crews of the Conrado Yap visually observed Liupanshui's gun control director pointing at them.^[11]

On 26 November 2022, Conrado Yap conducted a Goodwill Exercise with JS Harusame in the vicinity of Subic.^[12][13][14]

See also

• List of ships of the Philippine Navy

References

1. Saunders, Stephen: Jane's Fighting Ships 107th Edition 2004–2005. Jane's Information Group Ltd, 2004.
2. Montero, Max (12 January 2019). "Finally, PN's Pohang-class Corvette Coming Home Before Mid-Year, to be named BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39)". MaxDefense Philippines. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
3. "PH Navy commissions first modern corvette into fleet". Philippine News Agency. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
4. "BRP Conrado Yap most heavily-armed PH Navy unit". Philippine News Agency. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
5. Orpiano, Pitz (31 August 2019). "The Pohang-class Corvette BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39)". Pitz Defense Analysis. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
6. Daehan, Lee (24 November 2021). "Philippine Navy To Acquire 2nd Pohang-Class Corvette From South Korea". Naval News. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
7. Nepomuceno, Priam (5 August 2019). "BRP Conrado Yap 'transition platform' for Rizal-class frigates". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
8. "Pohang (PCC Patrol Combat Corvette)". GlobalSecurity.org. 9 January 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
9. "PHL Navy receives, commissions newest warship from South Korea". GMA News. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
10. "BRP Conrado Yap to boost PH anti-submarine capability". Philippine News Agency. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
11. Mangosing, Frances (23 April 2020). "Wescom says Chinese warship readied guns vs PH Navy ship in PH territory". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
12. "Japan- Philippine Goodwill Exercise" (PDF). Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
13. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force [@jmsdf_pao_eng] (29 November 2022). "26 NOV, JS HARUSAME🇯🇵 conducted a Goodwill Exercise with @Philippine_Navy BRP CONRADO YAP🇵🇭 in order to promote mutual understanding to realize a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific. #FOIP t.co/afwuhus1BB" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via Twitter.
14. Philippine Navy [@Philippine_Navy] (29 November 2022). "STRONGER TOGETHER | PH #Navy forges ties w/ @jmsdf_pao_eng through Maritime Cooperative Activity 🇵🇭🤝🇯🇵 📝/📸: BRP Conrado Yap (PS39) #NavalDiplomacy 💪⚓️ #StrongerTogether #ProtectingtheSeasSecuringOurFuture #ModernandMultiCapablePHNavy #AFPyoucanTRUST t.co/eqttm75Nvz" (Tweet). from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via Twitter.