BRP ''Iloilo'' (PS-32) was a of the
Philippine Navy. She was originally built as USS ''PCE-897'', a for the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. She was decommissioned from the U.S. Navy and transferred to the Philippine Navy in July 1948 and renamed RPS ''Iloilo'' (E-32) after the
Philippine province of the same name. Along with other World War II-era ships of the Philippine Navy, ''Iloilo'' was considered one of the oldest active fighting ships in the world, being in continuous service for over seven decades.
History
Commissioned in the US Navy as USS ''PCE-897'' in 1945, and was decommissioned after World War II.
She was then transferred and commissioned into the
Philippine Naval Patrol and was renamed RPS ''Iloilo'' (E-32) in July 1948. She was carried on to the
Philippine Navy in 1950, and between 1965 and 1966 she was renamed as RPS ''Iloilo'' (PS-32) using a new classification system. Again in June 1980 she was renamed BRP ''Iloilo'' (PS-32) using a new localized prefix.
[''Philippine Navy Information Manual 1995'' - Adoption of Pilipino Translation of "Bapor ng Republika ng Pilipinas"]
Between 1990 and 1991 the ''Iloilo'' underwent major overhaul, weapons and radar systems refit, and upgrade of communications gear.
[Saunders, Stephen: ''Jane's Fighting Ships 107th Edition 2004-2005''. Jane's Information Group Ltd, 2004.]
She was assigned with the Patrol Force of the Philippine Fleet and was decommissioned from the service in September 2016.
Notable Operations
In January 1973, RPS Iloilo gave naval gunfire support to Army and Scout Ranger teams at Sibalo Hill, Jolo when the rebel forces tried to retake this strategic place which had been captured by the Marines in 1972.
On July 7, 1973, ''Iloilo'', as part of Task Force 32 Naval Gunfire Support Group under the command of Cdr. Vicente Escala (PN), provided pre-assault bombardment in support of Landing Force 33 during Operation "Pamukpok" against the insurgent group in Tuburan, Basilan led by Huden Abubakar Aka Juden Salikala.
The next day, RPS Iloilo delivered sustained and accurate naval gunfire on Canas Island, Basilan and succeeded in extricating pinned down ground troops.
In November 1973, RPS Iloilo delivered gunfire support for groun troops and also conducted naval mopping-up operations in Tawi-Tawi. In assaulting rebel forces in Karungdong, the ship's 3"50, 40-MM, and 20MM guns destroyed the rebel's machinegun nest located at a schoolhouse and a mosque. The enemy's .50-caliber machinegun fire found their marks in several parts of the ship.
In December 2009, ''Iloilo'' and conducted sea surface search and rescue operations for any survivors on the sinking of MB ''Baleno 9''.
From 2 April to 17 April 2011, the ''Iloilo'', acting as an escort vessel for conducted a joint logistics run (LOG Run) and Southern Cruise for
PMA Batch 2014.
Technical details
There are slight difference between the BRP ''Pangasinan'' as compared to some of her sister ships in the Philippine Navy, since her previous configuration was as a patrol craft escort (
PCE), while the others are configured as rescue patrol craft escort (
PCER) and minesweepers (
''Admirable''-class) ships.
[
]
Armaments
Originally the ship was armed with one forward Mk.26 3"/50 caliber dual purpose gun, three aft twin Mk.1 Bofors 40 mm guns, four Mk.10 20 mm
20 mm caliber is a specific size of popular autocannon ammunition. It is typically used to distinguish smaller-caliber weapons, commonly called "guns", from larger-caliber "cannons" (e.g. machine gun vs. autocannon). All 20 mm cartridges h ...
Oerlikon guns, 1 Hedgehog
A hedgehog is a spiny mammal of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introductio ...
depth charge projector, four depth charge projectiles (K-guns) and two depth charge tracks. This configuration applies before its overhaul in the early 1990s.
During its overhaul and refit between 1990 and 1991,[ but photo]
from 2011 show the Bofors guns still present, although in singles instead of twins. Final armaments fitted to the ship are one Mk.26 3"/50 caliber gun, 3"/50-caliber gun (fore), three single Bofors 40 mm cannons (aft), four Mk.10 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original German Becker Type M2 20 mm cannon design that appeared very early in World War I. It was widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others, with various models em ...
s (2 each on bridge wings), and four M2 Browning .50 cal (12.7 mm) caliber machine guns (2 besides main bridge, 2 at near the lower Bofors gun tub). This made the ship lighter and ideal for surface patrols, but losing her limited anti-submarine warfare capability.
Electronics
Also during the refit the ship's RCA
The RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded as the Radio Corporation of America in 1919. It was initially a patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse, AT&T Corporation and United Fruit Comp ...
CRM-NIA-75 surface search radar[ and ]RCA
The RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded as the Radio Corporation of America in 1919. It was initially a patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse, AT&T Corporation and United Fruit Comp ...
SPN-18 navigation radar[ was replaced by a ]Raytheon
Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It is one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world by revenue and market capitali ...
AN/SPS-64(V)11 surface search and navigation radar system.[ Later modifications included the installation of long range and satellite communications systems, and GPS system standard to all Philippine Navy ships.
]
Machinery
The ship is powered by two GM 12-278A diesel engines, with a combined rating of around driving two propellers. The main engines can propel the 914 tons (full load) ship to a maximum speed of around .[''DLSU N-ROTC Office'']
Naming and Code Designation of PN Vessels
.
Gallery
File:120708-N-KB052-311.jpg, BRP ''Iloilo'' (PS-32), BRP ''Pampanga'' (SARV-003), BRP ''Miguel Malvar'' (PS-19), BRP ''Salvador Abcede'' (PG-114) and USCGC ''Waesche'' (WMSL-751) join USS ''Vandegrift'' (FFG-48) for a photo exercise (PHOTOEX) during CARAT 2012-Philippines
File:BRP Salvador Abcede (PG 114), BRP Miguel Malvar (PS 19), and BRP IloIlo (PS 32); PCG Pampanga (SARV 003); and USS Vandegrift (FFG 48).jpg, BRP ''Salvador Abcede'' (PG-114), BRP ''Miguel Malvar'' (PS-19), BRP ''Iloilo'' (PS-32), BRP ''Pampanga'' (SARV-003), and USS ''Vandegrift'' (FFG-48) for a photo exercise (PHOTOEX) during CARAT 2012-Philippines
References
External links
Philippine Defense Forum
DLSU ROTC
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iloilo (PS-32)
PCE-842-class patrol craft
Ships built in Portland, Oregon
1943 ships
PCE-842-class patrol craft of the Philippine Navy
Miguel Malvar-class corvettes
Corvettes of the Philippines
Korean War amphibious warfare vessels of the Philippines