Philippine Navy interested in acquiring ex-USN Cyclone-class patrol vessels

The Philippine Navy (PN) has expressed interest in acquiring some of the Cyclone-class patrol vessels recently decommissioned by the US Navy (USN), according to a 9 April report by the state-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA).

“The PN has manifested its interest in the decommissioned Cyclone-class patrol vessels (CCPVs) of the US Navy as a stop-gap to the decommissioned legacy PN ships. As to how many, that depends on the seaworthiness and efficiency of the CCPVs that will be offered, and this will be determined by the PN Joint Visual Inspection Team,” PN Chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo was quoted by the media outlet as saying.

The vice admiral said he would be “happy” if the PN acquired “at least five of these Cyclone-class patrol vessels”, adding, We have manifested our interest with JUSMAG [Joint US Military Assistance Group] and USINDOPACOM [US Indo-Pacific Command].”

The Philippines currently operates one vessel of the class – General Mariano Alvarez (ex-Cyclone) – which entered PN service in March 2004 after being transferred from the United States, according to Janes Fighting Ships.

The USN, which originally operated 14 vessels of the class, currently fields 10 of these vessels after having retired three more – USS Shamal (PC 13), USS Zephyr (PC 8), and USS Tornado (PC 14) – in February.

The 54.6 m-long vessels, which have a full-load displacement of 387 tonnes, have a top speed of 35 kt and a maximum range of 2,500 n miles at 12 kt, according to Janes Fighting Ships. Each of them is armed with two Mk 38 25 mm Bushmaster autocannons, three 12.7 mm heavy machine guns, and two 7.62 mm machine guns.