Former Philippine Navy Ships from ASEAN Countries

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The Knox Class Frigate USS Kirk (FF-1087) led the ships of the South Vietnamese Navy to Subic Bay in April 1975. Photograph from US Department of Defense, accessed 09-August-2022.

Posted By: Mark Condeno 27-Sep-2022

“We’re going to have to send you back, to rescue the Vietnamese Navy.”
We forgot ‘em, and if we don’t get them or any part of them, they’re all probably going to be killed.

~ Admiral Donald Whittier, USN, Commander, Evacuation Mission, Operation Frequent Wind to CDR Paul Jacobs, USN,
Commanding Officer of the Knox Class Frigate USS Kirk (FF-1087).

The date was 30-April-1975, a few hours before the Fall of South Vietnam’s Capital City, Saigon. It was the largest evacuation mission by the U.S. Armed Forces. This feat would take the 34-Ship Convoy of the South Vietnamese and Cambodian Navies to Subic Bay on the first week of May 1975.

The Task Force led by the USS Kirk comprised the Capital Ships of the Navy of the former Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) which included 1 Destroyer Escort, 6 Weather High Endurance Cutters, Patrol Craft Escorts, Minesweepers, Landing Ship Tanks, Landing Craft Infantry, among others.

They were divided into two Task Groups, TG 1 led by CAPT Kiem Do RVN, and TG 2 led by CAPT Khu Huum Ba, RVN. They set out from Con Son Island were the USS Kirk would meet them for the voyage to freedom.

As they approached Philippine waters, geopolitical events took place that their entry was uncertain as the Philippine Republic had already recognized the new Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The new government demanded the return of the warships to the former City of Saigon now Ho Chi Minh. Since the Republic of Vietnam did not exist any longer, this dilemma was solved by a technicality on the transfer of the former American Warships to the South Vietnamese Navy. If the assets were no longer needed, the ships and aircraft would revert back to American ownership, to traverse Philippine waters and enter Subic Bay.

The traditional replacement of the Flags was made and not a single Vietnamese Naval Officer or Civilian was without tears when their Flag was being lowered while singing their national anthem.

By 1976-1977, these 34 ships would join the Philippine Fleet as follows:

1 DESTROYER ESCORT RADAR PICKETT (Edsall Class):

  • Ex-USS Camp, Ex-RVNS Tran Hung Dao

1 DESTROYER ESCORT RADAR PICKETT (Edsall Class):

  • Ex-USS Camp, Ex-RVNS Tran Hung Dao
  • RPS/BRP Rajah Lakandula (PF-4)

BRP Rajah Lakandula (PF-4) and BRP Andres Bonifacio (PF-7) during a Fleet Review. Photograph from the book Tides of Change, Headquarters Philippine Navy.

  • A Radar Picket Destroyer Escort, she was commissoned into the Philippine Fleet in 1976 and was in service until 1987 as a Barracks Stationary Ship. She was stricken in 1988, although other sources indicate she was extant until 2002.

BRP Andres Bonifacio (PF-7) underway circa 1980’s. Former ship of Commodore Mariano Sontillanosa AFP (Ret). It sunk at an RC Pier and was salvaged and refloated by CAPT Tomas Baino PN (Ret). Photograph Courtesy of Mr Anthony Faustino.

6 HIGH ENDURANCE CUTTERS (WHEC) (Ex-USN Barnegat Class, Ex-USCG Casco Class, Ex-RVN):

  • Known as Andres Bonifacio Class in Philippine Naval Service.
  • RPS/BRP Andres Bonifacio (PF-7, Ex- USS/USCGC Chincoteague, Ex-RVNS Ly Thoung Kiet HQ-16).
  • Commissioned into the Philippine Fleet in 1976, PF-7 was the lead ship of the Andres Bonifacio Class of 4 out of 6 vessels in the Fleet; scrapped between 2001 and 2002.
  • RPS/ BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF8, Ex-USS/USCGC McCullogh, Ex-RVNS Ngo Kuyen). Re-numbered as PF-12. She was decommissioned in 1986.
  • RPS/BRP Diego Silang (PF-9, Ex-RVNS Tran Quang Khai, Ex-USS/USCGC Bering Strait). She was commissioned around August 1983 with Hull number PF-9, re-numbered to PF-14 in 1984, was and decommissioned during the 90’s.
  • RPS/BRP Francisco Dagohoy (PF-10, Ex-RVNS Tran Bihn Trong, Ex-USS/USCGC Castlerock); decommissioned in 1986.
  • RVNS Tran Nhat Duat (HQ-03, Ex USS Yakutat and RVNS Tran Quoc Toan (HQ-06, Ex-USS Cook Inlet). Acquired as spare parts source and was never commissioned.

ADMIRABLE CLASS OCEAN MINESWEEPER:

  • RPS/BRP Magat Salamat (PS-20, Ex-RVNS Chi Lang II, Ex-USS Gayety MSF 329); acquired on 05-April-1976; commissioned 07-February-1977. Still in active service.
  • RPS/BRP Datu Tupas (PS-18, Ex-RVNS Chi Linh HQ-11, Ex-USS Shelter AM-301). Transferred from South Vietnam in 1976; decommissioned.

PATROL CRAFT ESCORT (185FT) (Miguel Malvar Class):

  • RPS/BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19, Ex-RVNS Ngoc Hoi, Ex-USS Brattleboro PCER 852)
  • RPS/BRP Sultan Kudarat (PS-22, Ex-RVNS Dong Da II, Ex-USS Crestview PCER 895)
  • RPS/BRP Datu Marikudo (PS-23, Ex-RVNS Van Kiep II, Ex-USS Amherst PCER 853)
  • PS 19 still in active service, PS-22 decommissioned on 05-July-2019 and PS-23 decommissioned in Dec-2010. All fitted as Rescue Ships were designated R on their classification in USN Service; classified as Corvettes in the Philippine Navy.

LANDING SHIP TANKS (LST):

  • RPS/BRP Agusan Del Sur (LT-54, Ex-RVNS Nha Trang HQ-505, Ex-USS Jerome County); decommissioned in 1986.
  • RPS/BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57, Ex-RVNS My Tho HQ-800, Ex-USS Harnett County; commissioned into the Philippine Fleet 05-April-1976; serves the Philippine Navy as an observation outpost at Ayungin Shoal; deliberately ran aground in 1999.
  • RPS/BRP Cotabato Del Sur (LT-87, Ex-RVNS Thi Nai HQ-502, Ex-USS Cayuga County LST-529). Entered Philippine Fleet on November 1975; scrapped in 2003.
  • RPS/BRP Kalinga Apayao (LT516, Ex-RVNS Can Tho HQ-801, Ex-USS Garrett County LST 786); decommissioned in 2010; scrapped in 2012. Some of her interior parts are displayed at the Philippine Fleet Museum, Sailor’s Memorial, Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point, Cavite City.
  • RPS/BRP Zamboanga Del Sur (LT-86, Ex-RVNS Cam Ranh HQ-500, Ex-USS Marion County LST-975); transferred to Philippine Navy in November 1975; scrapped in 2014.

LANDING SHIP MEDIUM (LSM):

  • RPS/BRP Batanes (LP-65, Ex-RVNS Huong Giang HQ 404, Ex-USS Oceanside LSM-175); acquired in 1976; commissioned into the Philippine Fleet in Feb-1977 post refurbishment; decommissioned in 1988; scrapped 1989.
  • RPS Western Samar (LP-66, Ex-RVNS Hat Giang HQ-400, Ex-USS LSM-355) Acquired in May 1975; modified for Hospital Ship duties in South Vietnamese Naval service; served the French Navy; Served the Philippine Navy until 1989; converted into a commercial barge.
  • Ex-RVNS Han Giang HQ 401, Ex-USS LSM 110. Acquired in 1975; utilized as spare parts source; scrapped in 1976.

LANDING SHIP FIRE SUPPORT LARGE (LSSL 1 Class):

  • RPS/BRP Camarines Sur (LF 48, RVNS Nguyen Duc Bong, Ex-US LSSL 129). She was decommissioned 1991.
  • Ex- RVNS Lulu Phu To (Ex-LSSL 101); acquired in 1975; never commissioned in Philippine Fleet; used as spare parts source for active units.
  • RPS/BRP La Union (LF 50, Ex-French Navy HallebardE, Ex-JDS Atago and Ex-RVNS Doan Ngoc Tang HQ-228, Ex-USS LSSL 9). Decommissioned in 1991. Armed with 1-76mm and 4-40mm AAG, 2-20mm and 4-50CMG.

LSIL CLASS INFANTRY LANDING SHIPS (LSIL):

  • RPS/BRP Sorsogon (LF-37, Ex-RVNS Tien Kich, Ex-French Navy L9038 and Ex-USS LSIL 872).
  • RPS/BRP Camarines Norte (LF 52, Ex-RVNS Loi Cong, Ex-French Navy L9034, Ex- USS LSIL 699).
  • RPS /BRP Misamis Occidental (LF 53,Ex- RVNS Tam Set, Ex-French Navy L9033, Ex-USS LSIL 871). LF 53 was decommissioned in 1979, LF-37 and LF-52 in 1980.
  • RPS/BRP Marinduque (LF-36, Ex-P111 of the Khmer Navy) was decommissioned from PN service in 1980.

ACHEALOUS CLASS REPAIR SHIP:

  • RPS/BRP Yakal (AD-617,Ex-RVNS Vinh Long HQ-802, Ex-USS Satyr ARL-23). Situated at Subic Bay since 1975, Commissioned into the Philippine Navy on 21-June-1983. She was bought under the Foreign Military Sales program as there was a need of a repair ship capability in the Philippine Navy.
  • YOG-5 Class Gasoline Barge:

Ex-RVNS Hoa Van Ham (HQ-407, Ex-US YOG 33) acquired by the Philippine Navy; never commissioned; used as spare parts source, as well as YOG-80 Ex-RVNS 470 and YOG-13, Ex-RVNS 474)

PATROL GUNBOAT MEDIUM:

  • RPS/BRP Basilan (PG 60, Ex-RVNS Hon Troc, Ex USS PGM 83); acquired in Nov-1975; similar to PCG Cape Class Gunboats.

CAMBODIAN NAVY (Khmer National Navy) SHIPS:

E-312 of the Khmer National Navy at Subic Bay, Circa May 1975, later became BRP Negros Oriental (PS-26). Photograph from Khmer Navy www.khmernavy.com accessed Oct 2020.

SUBMARINE CHASER 173 FT:

  • RPS/BRP Negros Oriental PS 26 (Ex E312, Ex French Navy L’Inscontant, Ex-USS PC 1171); acquired by Philippines in December 1975; commissioned in April 1976; decommissioned on 29-March-1990.
  • E312, P-111 (RPS Marinduque) and a Landing Craft Infantry P-112 also of the Khmer Navy arrived on Subic Bay on 09 May 1975 from Malaysia and turned themselves to the United States Navy. P-112 was never commissioned and used as a spare parts source of the PN. The Guided Missile Frigate USS Ramsey (FFG-2) and a P-3C Orion ASW aircraft escorted the Khmer warships until entry into Subic Bay.

SOURCES (BOOKS):

  • Combat Fleets of the World 1976-1977, USNI Press.
  • Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1947-1995 by Antony Preston, Conway Press.
  • Jane’s Fighting Ships 1974-1975.
  • Jane’s Fighting Ships 1977-78.
  • COUNTERPART by Capt Kiem Do, Republic of Vietnam Navy with Julie Kane, USNI Press.