BRP Domingo Deluana (PG-905) is fourth ship of the class of the Acero-class patrol gunboat of the Philippine Navy. She was commissioned during the 125th Philippine Navy Anniversary on May 26, 2023.[4][5]

History
Philippines
NameBRP Domingo Deluana
NamesakeSergeant Domingo Deluana, PN (Marines), Philippine Medal of Valor Awardee
BuilderIsrael Shipyards Ltd.
Acquired8 May 2023
Commissioned26 May 2023
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeAcero-class patrol gunboat
Displacement95 tons full load[1]
Length32.65 m (107.1 ft)[2]
Beam6.2 m (20 ft) max[2]
Draft1.25 ft (0.38 m)[1]
Propulsion
  • 2 × MTU 16V 4000 M70 Diesel Engines
  • 2 x MJP-J650 waterjets
Speedgreater than 40 knots (74 km/h) maximum
Range1,000 nmi (1,900 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement12[2]
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Furuno Navnet 3D X-band navigation/surface search radar[2]
  • Rafael Toplite electro-optical tracking system (EOTS)[3]
Armament
  • 1 x Rafael Typhoon MLS-NLOS missile launcher for 8 x Spike-NLOS surface-to-surface missiles (fitted for but not with)
  • 1 × Mk.44 Bushmaster II autocannon mounted on Rafael Typhoon Mk 30-C remote-controlled weapon station
  • 2 × M2HB Browning 12.7 mm/50-cal. heavy machine guns mounted on Rafael Mini Typhoon remote-controlled weapon stations
  • 2 × M60 7.62 mm/30-cal. GP machine guns
Aircraft carriednone
Aviation facilitiesnone

Namesake

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Sergeant Domingo Deluana, PN (Marines) was a Philippine Marine Corps enlisted personnel and a posthumous recipient of the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor.[6]

Sergeant Deluana served with the 9th Marine Battalion during the 2000 Philippine campaign against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.[7] In a military operation in Matanog, Maguindanao, Deluana and Marine officer Lieutenant Lolinato To-ong were themselves wounded while providing suppressive fire to cover the medical evacuation of wounded fellow Marines. Despite their wounds, they continued manoeuvring and providing cover fire until a rocket propelled grenade blast hit the pair. Sgt. Deluana and Lt. To-ong were killed in action.[8]

History

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In 2019, the Philippine Navy raised a requirement to procure a new class of coastal patrol interdiction craft (CPIC) that would be missile-capable and are based on Israel's Shaldag V patrol boat design,[9] and would replace the Tomas Batilo-class fast attack crafts that have been retired in service.[10][11]

A contract was signed between the (DND), Israel Shipyards Ltd. and Israeli Ministry of Defense on 9 February 2021, with the Notice to Proceed to start the effectivity of the contract released on 27 April 2021.[10][12]

The fourth boat of the class, the Domingo Deluana (905), arrived in the Philippines together with its sistership Gener Tinangag (903) on 11 April 2023, and was christened as the BRP Domingo Deluana (PG-905) on 8 May 2023.[10][13]

Subsequently, both vessels have commissioned into active service within the Littoral Combat Force on 26 May, 2023, during the 125th Anniversary of the Philippine Navy.[10][14][15]

The hull number's use of "PG" indicates that the boats are classified as Patrol Gunboats based on Philippine Navy's 2016 naming classification standards.

Design

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Armament

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The ship class was designed to carry one bow-mounted Mk.44 Bushmaster II autocannon mounted on Rafael Typhoon Mk 30-C remote-controlled weapon station, and two M2HB Browning 12.7 mm/50-cal. heavy machine guns mounted on Rafael Mini Typhoon remote-controlled weapon stations.[10]

It is also one of the few ships of the class that did not have a Rafael Typhoon MLS-NLOS missile launcher for Spike-NLOS surface-to-surface missiles upon its commissioning, although the boat was fitted for the missile launcher there are plans to integrate such weapon in the future.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b Legien, Wolfgang (2011). "Shaldag Fast Patrol Craft" (PDF). Naval Forces IV. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "VESSEL REVIEW NESTOR ACERO – PHILIPPINE NAVY WELCOMES MISSILE-CAPABLE ATTACK BOATS INTO SERVICE". Baird Maritime. 2022-10-17. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Israel delivers two new Acero class patrol gunboats to Philippines". navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  4. ^ Sadongdong, Martin (26 May 2023). "PH Navy commissions 2 new patrol gunboats". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  5. ^ Allanigue, Alaine (26 May 2023). "Pres Marcos graces commissioning of 2 new gunboats during PH Navy's 125th anniversary". Philippine Information Agency. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  6. ^ Fonbuena, Carmela (20 December 2017). "FAST FACTS: List of Medal of Valor awardees and their privileges". Rappler. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  7. ^ https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/7/ph-navy-christens-2-new-israel-made-patrol-gunships
  8. ^ Philippine Marine Corps. "Medal for Valor: FIRST LIEUTENANT LOLINATO G TOONG 0-129481 Philippine Navy(Marines)". Archived from the original on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Knowing the Shaldag-class Fast Patrol Boats". Pitz Defense Analysis. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Fast Attack Interdiction Craft - Missile (FAIC-M) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy". Philippine Defense Resource. 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  11. ^ "Philippine Navy commissions two Shaldag Mk V attack craft". www.imdexasia.com. Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  12. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (2022-06-29). "Israel Shipyards Launches First Two Fast Patrol Craft for Philippine Navy". Naval News. Archived from the original on 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  13. ^ "Philippine Navy christens two new gunboats, inaugurates shipyard". GMA News. 8 May 2023. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Philippine Navy Commissions Two More Acero-Class Patrol Boats". Naval News. 29 May 2023. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  15. ^ Sadongdong, Martin (26 May 2023). "PH Navy commissions 2 new patrol gunboats". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Additional Shaldag-class Fast Attack Interdiction Crafts for the Philippine Navy?". Pitz Defense Analysis. 18 December 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.