The Sinking and Raising of RPS RAJAH SOLIMAN (D-66) 29-JUNE-1964

TOPICS:
The Battered Hulk of the Philippine Navy Destroyer Escort RPS Rajah Soliman (D-66). Photo Courtesy of the US Navy All Hands Magazine January 1965 issue.

Posted By: Mark Condeno 26-Nov-2020

On 29-June-1964, the Philippine Navy lost its Flagship and First Destroyer Escort during the fury of Typhoon Winnie. The loss of a Flagship is a major loss to any Naval Force. Fortunately during this incident, none of the Officers and Crew were lost. Despite the harshness of Mother Nature, the ship’s entire complement braved the typhoon to save the ship until the very end. For us to know what transpired on that fateful day, here is part II of her story.

ESSENCE OF THE OPERATION: TESTED TECHNIQUES. The raising of Rajah Soliman’s wreck is noteworthy as the facility where it was at was a vital industrial berth. Thus, removing the wreck was of the essence, while the United States Navy saw it as an important salvage exercise to further hone its capabilities for the exercise objective of keeping Vietnam’s Rivers navigable with the impending Vietnam War in the horizon. The SALVEX also brought out the importance of the Lift Craft type of vessel in this kind of operations. The parbuckle was last used almost 20 years ago and during the Salvage operations with Rajah Soliman, it has again proven that the technique is still up to standard with adequate technological and personnel support.

DISPOSAL AND SCRAPPING. After the successful operation, D-66 was towed to the Ship Repair Facility at Subic Bay Naval Base on 1300H 18-February- 1965. Another survey was made of the ship and it was decided that she was beyond economical repair. She was sold to the Mitsubishi International Corporation for scrapping on 31-January-1966.

COMPOSITION AND FATE OF THE US NAVY SHIPS DURING THE SALVAGE OPERATIONS FOR RPS RAJAH SOLIMAN. United States Naval Units involved were the Salvage Ships USS Bolster (ARS-38), USS Grasp (ARS-24) Harbor Tug USS Takelma (ATF-113) and Floating Crane YD-127, along with two Royal Navy Lift Crafts from Singapore, LC-25 and LC-28.

USS Bolster (ARS-38) a Bolster Class Rescue and Diving Ship was commissioned into service on 01-October-1945 and as of the present, undergoing scrapping. During the SALVEX, her Skipper was CDR Francis L Looney USN.

USS Grasp (ARS-24) was a Diver Class Rescue and Salvage Ship commissioned on 22-August-1944 that conducted patrol missions during the closing days of the World War II. She again saw action during the Project Jennifer Operation. During the SALVEX, she was skippered by LCDR Peveril Blundell USN.

USS Takelma (ATF-113) is an Abnaki Class Tug commissioned on 03-August-1944 in US Naval Service and still currently in active service with the Navy of Argentina as ARA Sub-Official Castillo (A-6). During the Rajah Soliman SALVEX, her Commanding Officer was LT Ray William Jr USN.

USS YD-127 is a 100-Ton capable Floating Crane. Currently, no records or details exist online. (Based on the Harbor Mine Clearance Operations handbooks, it notes that YD-120 was utilized during the operation, but again one of the illustrations notes the Yard Crane is YD-127 though no online records of YD-127 is available; YD-120 is currently in service at the Apra Harbor, Guam.

  • British Royal Navy (HM Singapore Naval Base): WW2 VINTAGE 750-TON LIFT CRAFT
  • Lift Craft 25
  • Lift Craft 28 – no records or details exist for these two vessels

Other US NAVAL OFFICERS involved in the SALVEX:

  • REAR ADMIRAL JOSEPH W WILLIAMS JR USN COMMANDER TF 73-LOGISTIC SUPPORT FORCE, U.S. 7TH FLEET FLAGSHIP USS AJAX (AR-6)
  • COMMANDER EUGENE B MITCHELL USN – PAC Fleet Salvage Officer
  • LCDR J.HUNTLY BOYD USN Fleet Salvage Officer CO Service Group 3
  • COMMANDER WILARD FRANKLYN SEARLE USN – Supervisor of Salvage
  • CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER W.D. THOMAS USN SRF-SUBIC BAY
  • COMANVPHIL Explosive Ordnance Division, Naval Magazine, Subic Bay, Philippines

POSTSCRIPT

What is lacking in this article are the details of the SALVEX operation and personnel involved as conducted by the Philippine Navy while they initially righted the ship earlier on. The author would highly appreciate any information on this particular matter.

SOURCES

  • Exchange of Communication via email with the SON OF CAPTAIN NONATO, Sir Jhun Nonato, from 15-June to 27-June 2018. Upon request of this author, he kindly provided photographs of CAPTAIN NONATO as well as other details of his Family and career.
  • His memoirs http://my-memoirs.yolasite.com/rps-rajah-soliman-capsizes-off-bataan.php and http://my-memoirs.yolasite.com/blog/rps-rajah-soliman-de-66-conflicting-dates-on-sinking were vital in completing the D-66 story.
  • The author would like to acknowledge the assistance of Sir Jhun Nonato in the completion of this article.