Our Mine Warfare Force

TOPICS:

Posted By: Mark Condeno 23-Jan-2024

INTRODUCTION. A country with a 36,289-kilometer coastline and the world’s second largest archipelago, the Philippines’ lifeline is the sea, thus utilizing it to our advantage is a primary mission as part of today’s area denial counter to an invader.

The country having a number of straits, inlets, bays and passageways can use these features in delaying the enemy’s advance.

The essence of Minewarfare in our country has never been lost particularly during World War II with the U.S. Navy’s mine blockade of Manila Bay and the Japanese Navy’s same tactic used in our southern waters resulting in the loss of a U.S. Submarine in 1944.

The birth of Filipino Minewarfare Capability came after the reactivation of the Offshore Patrol (OSP) in 1945 with the formation of its major units namely the Patrol Force comprising our (Patrol Craft Escorts-Miguel Malvar Class), the Service Squadron composed of the First 5 out of 23 Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs), 16 Submarine Chasers of Anti-Submarine Warfare Force (ASWF), and the Minewarfare Force (MWF).

The Philippine Navy’s First Patrol Craft Sweeper USS PCS-1399, later renamed RPS Tarlac (P-11).
Photo credit: Navsource.

RPS LAGUNA (P-12) is a Patrol Craft Sweeper type is the country and the navy’s first minewarfare

vessel along with her sister ship RPS TARLAC (P-110

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RPS_Laguna_(P-12)_1956.jpg accessed 23 December 2018

THE FIRST MINEWARFARE SHIPS. The First Ships of the MWF were the former Patrol Craft Sweepers of the United States Navy namely Ex–USS PCS 1399 and Ex–USS PCS 1403. Upon transfer to the OSP on 22-January-1948, they were renamed RPS Tarlac (P-11) and RPS Laguna (P-12). RPS Tarlac (P-11) was at one time skippered by former Philippine Navy Flag Officer In Command, VADM Eduardo Ma R Santos AFP (Ret), current President of the Maritime League of the Philippines.

RPS Laguna (P-12) is a patrol craft sweeper type and the Navy’s first minewarfare vessel along with her sister ship
RPS Tarlac (P-11).

Both ships were armed with 1-3inch/50 Gun, 1x20mm Gun, Hedgehogs, and 2 Depth Charge Racks. They served the country for 21 years before they were decommissioned and scrapped in 1969.

RPS Zambales (PM-55) sister ship of RPS Zamboanga Del Norte (PM-56) both acquired during the Magsaysay Administration. Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Navy.

RPS Zamboanga del Norte (PM-56) was the Navy’s 4th minewarfare vessel acquired under the U.S. Military Assistance Plan.

COLD WAR TURNED  HOT. As the Cold War turned hot during those years, Minesweeping and Anti-Submarine Warfare became the Philippine Navy’s core capabilities as entrusted to us by our allies should a regional conflict erupt. We would need to keep the sea lines of communication open by initiating minesweeping and minelaying, conduct anti-submarine missions in our geographical areas, and support our allies.

RPS Tarlac (P-11) and RPS Laguna (P-12) were augmented by two USN MSC-218 Class Minesweepers made specifically for the Philippines under the U.S. Military Assistance Plan: the RPS Zambales (PM-55) on 15-February-1956 and RPS Zamboanga Del Note (PM-56) on 3-April-1956. This was during the term of President Ramon D Magsaysay, himself a Reserve Lieutenant Commander of the Philippine Navy.

The minesweepers were armed with a 1x20mm Gun. A full load displacement of 375 tons, a speed of 14 knots, and crew compliment of 5 Officers and 34 enlisted men. Both Ships were decommissioned in 1979, each with 22 years of service.

THE LAST MINESWEEPERS. The last ships of the Minewarfare Force were two (2) former Aggressive Class Minesweepers of the USN Ex-USS Energy (MSO-436) and Ex–USS Firm (MSO-444) transferred on 05-July-1972.

Both are classified as an Ocean Minesweeper capable of long-range operations. MSO-436 became RPS Davao Del Norte (PM-91) while MSO-444 became RPS Davao Del Sur (PM-92).

Armaments include 1x40mm Gun, 2×50 Cal MG’s and for Minesweeper Operations it had the AN/SQQ-14 Sensors (Mine hunting Sonar). Both ships are about 630 tons full load displacement, 52 meters in length, a beam of 11 meters with a speed of 10 knots, and a compliment of 7 Officers and 70 crewmen. Both were returned to the U.S. Navy on 01-July-1977 and were scrapped in Hong Kong 7 days later.

RPS Davao del Norte (PM-91) is one of the two Aggressive Class minesweepers of the Navy capable of long-range operations.

RPS Davao del Sur (PM-92) formerly the USS Firm (MSO-444) Photograph Courtesy the U.S. Navy.

CONCLUSION. In the 5-year AFP Modernization Plan from 1977-1981, envisioned was the acquisition of 2 Ocean/Coastal type Minesweepers and 1 Minelayer, probably to replace the Aggressive Class.

Naval mines are vital components of area denial strategy against the enemy. What if Lamon Bay had a minefield since 1952? or the passage between Coron Island and Linapacan Island in Northern Palawan; or the waters of Sulu and Balabac where various submarine sightings were made during the Cold War period? Having the capability to lay and sweep mines as an Island Nation is a vital factor in our territorial defense.

An enlisted personnel of a Philippine Navy warship secures mines during a SEATO Naval Exercise Circa 70’s. Photograph Courtesy of the Philippine Navy.

Both the PCS, MSC, and Aggressive Class played a pivotal role in keeping our sealanes open during the Cold War, in support of friendly forces during SEATO Exercises and Joint RP-US Bilateral Exercises and Naval Gunfire Support (NGFS) in our Southern waters, and the primordial mission of conducting patrol on our vast territorial waters.

Today, potential adversaries can field thousands and various types of mines undetected. With the reactivation of the Philippine Navy’s Minewarfare Group, and the proposed acquisitions of dedicated minewarfare ships in the near future, our Navy could inflict a severe loss on a larger adversary both in a tactical (denying passage on our littoral waters) and strategic nature (laying mines along the enemy routes).

SOURCES

Books

  • History of the Philippine Navy by CAPT Aquilino Silverio PN (GSC) and LT Isidro G Espela PN, Headquarters Philippine Navy, Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1976
  • The Philippine Navy in the New Society by CAPT Antonio Empedrad PN (GSC) Office of Naval History, Bonifacio Naval Station, June 1979
  • The Philippine Navy 1898-1996 by COMMODORE Regino P Giagonia AFP (RES) (Hardbound)
  • The Philippine Navy 1898-1998 by COMMODORE Regino P Giagonia AFP (RES) (Softbound) (Centennial Edition)
  • Ships and Aircraft book of the Philippine Fleet
  • Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet, 15th Edition, USNI

ON-LINE SOURCE

  • Org sections on MSC-218 and Aggressive Class Minesweepers.

PHOTOGRAPH SOURCES

About the Author

AUX CDR Mark R Condeno PCG is the Administrative Officer of the Philippine-Korea Friendship Center under the Department of National Defense-Philippine Veterans Affairs Office. He holds a BS degree in Architecture from Palawan State University. He completed the Basic Naval Reserve Officers Training Course with the 420TH NROTCU. He is with Bravo Class of 1999, the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Officers Indoctrination Course, Coast Guard District-Palawan. In 2002, he took the Aerospace Power Course at Air University, United States Air Force and is a 2008 Graduate of the Joint US Military Historical Operations Course. In 2007, he was Research Officer at the Office of the Naval Historian, Philippine Navy. Lastly, he is with Class 26 of the Executive Course on National Security of the National Defense College of the Philippines.