Another Hamilton class cutter being eyed for the Navy

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 20): Another Hamilton class cutter being eyed for the Navy

Another Hamiltonclass cutter is in the works for the Philippine Navy (PN), defense officials said Sunday.

The ship is of the same type as the country's BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16).

Both vessels were converted to frigates after their donation to the Philippines.

This develops as the US Coast Guard is slated to decommission two Hamilton class cutters by this year.

Defense sources said that USgovernment has expressed its intention to "donate" one of the cutters to the PN with the other one being given to the Nigerian Navy.

They added that the ship will be handed over to the Philippineswith its 76mm Oto Melara main gun and whatever sensors and communication devices the PN will request.

If this donation pushes through, the Philippineswill be fielding three Hamiltonclass cutters, two brand-new general purpose frigates and an air-to-air warfare frigate.

The ships are now being bid out by the Department of National Defense.

The two Hamilton-class cutters in PN service are a big boost to the military's "maritime situational awareness" capability.

The two ships are part of twelve Hamiltonclass cutters built for the US Coast Guard during the 1960s.

It weighs 3,250 tons, has a length of 378 feet, beam of 43 feet, and draft of 15 feet.

Its propulsion systems consist of two diesel engines and two gas turbine engines, giving it a top speed of 29 knots.

The ship has cruising range of 14,000 miles and has a sea and loiter time of 45 days.

It has a complement of 167 officers and men.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=636338