Philippine Navy to receive two ex-US Navy Cyclone-class boats

A file image of USS Chinook patrolling in the Persian Gulf. The vessel was retired on 28 March 2023 with its sister ship, USS Monsoon . Both are being transferred to the Philippines. (US Navy)

The Philippine Navy is set to receive two more Cyclone-class coastal patrol boats that were formerly in service with the US Navy (USN).

The vessels, USS Monsoon and USS Chinook , were retired by the USN's Fifth Fleet on 28 March at a decommissioning ceremony in Manama, Bahrain. The vessels were stationed at Naval Support Activity Bahrain before the decommissioning.

Officials from the Philippines were present at the decommissioning ceremony, according to information published by the US Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs on 28 March, which suggests that a transfer will be effected soon.

Monsoon and Chinook were the last two Cyclone-class boats in service with the USN. The boats were commissioned by the service in January 1994 and January 1995, respectively.

The USN operated a fleet of 14 Cyclone-class patrol boats and the boats were commissioned between 1993 and 2000.

The first-of-class was transferred to the US Coast Guard in 2000 and subsequently handed over to the Philippine Navy in 2004. The vessel is now in service as BRP General Mariano Alvarez .

Various other retired vessels in the class have also been transferred to the Egyptian Navy and the Royal Bahrain Naval Force.