PH's first anti-submarine warfare capable corvette will arrive this July

Christmas gifts came early for the Philippine Navy.

Philippine Navy flag officer-in-command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad in an interview after the launch of the country’s first missile frigate, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) at the Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipyard in South Korea's southeastern city of Ulsan, confirms that the South Korean "Pohang" class corvette Chungju, will sail home to the Philippines in July.

The BRP Conrado Yap’s (PS-39) s 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 BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39), formerly the South Korean "Pohang" class corvette Chungju, with its Philippine Navy crew undergoing training since April of this year. (photo credit to PH Navy.)

"The ship will be delivered to the Philippines by July (after refurbishment works in June)," he added.

PN spokesperson, Capt. Jonathan Zata, said "the ship will sail and arrive in the country in July 2019."

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 (PEFTOK).

"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 corvette 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 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, its 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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Report from PNA