By Priam Nepomuceno/Philippine News Agency
BUSAN, South Korea — The BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39), formerly the South Korean “Pohang” class corvette Chungju, will sail home to the Philippines in July and is set to boost the Navy’s anti-submarine and anti-surface capabilities.
This was disclosed by Philippine Navy flag officer-in-command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad in an interview shortly after the launch of the country’s first missile frigate, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) at the Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard here Thursday.
“The ship will be delivered to the Philippines by July (after refurbishment works in June),” he added.
The BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39) is the former Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) “Pohang”-class corvette Chungju (PCC-762) that was commissioned with the ROKN in 1987 and served until 2016.
“The ship will sail and arrive in the country in July 2019,” PN spokesperson, Capt. Jonathan Zata, said.
The ship was named Conrado Yap to uphold the legacy of a gallant Filipino military leader who served in the Korean War as part of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea.
Yap was a Philippine Army captain and is considered as the most decorated Filipino soldier during the Korean War.
He posthumously received a Philippine Medal of Valor, the country’s highest military honor, as well as a US Distinguished Service Cross, for gallantry in action as part of the Tank Company, 10th Battalion Combat Team (10th BCT), Philippine Army.
“Its sailing crew departed last April 2019 and (is) now undergoing necessary operational and warfare trainings for 13 weeks being facilitated by the Reserve Ship Maintenance Squadron (RSMS) in Jinhae, Gyeongsang-namdo, South Korea. The ship’s crew (members were) divided into five groups based on skills and specialization,” Zata added.
The ship measures 88.3 meters long, with a beam of 10 meters and draft of 2.9 meters while its displacement is at 1,216 tons full load.
The ship is rated for a crew of 118 personnel and can sustain operational presence for 20 days.
The vessel’s Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion configuration of Motor Transport Unit (MTU) diesel engines and LM2500 gas turbine with controllable pitch propellers (CPP) enable the ship to move to a maximum speed of 25 knots to a distance of 4,000 nautical miles.
“This ship will greatly enhance our fleet’s Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities,” Zata added.
The ship is armed with two 76mm Oto Melara main guns, a 30mm automatic cannons, anti-submarine torpedoes, and a variety of sensors, including sonars, and radars.
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