I finally decided to release the Pictures and Videos of the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Philippine Navy (PN) which I took during the Asian Defense and Security (ADAS) Event in Pasay last Year in October of 2024.
I intended to release these much earlier, but it just got buried due to one Reason or another. I’m releasing them now since I intend to discuss more about these Ships at another time soon. Anyway, the first time I saw their Scale Models at the Booth of the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), I really admired how it looked, it looks fantastic and really modern.
The Ships are based on HHI’s HDP-2200 Design, is 94.5 meters long, has a Displacement of 2,450 tonnes and a maximum Speed of 41 kilometers per hour.
However, as I got to examine it closer, I was a bit disappointed mainly because it totally lacked Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) Capabilities. It has no Torpedo Launchers, and also doesn’t have a Hull Mounted Sonar (HMS).
This means that the Ship lacks the ability to detect Submarines on its own, nor does it have the ability to attack them when they are submerged. Also its Anti Surface Warfare (AsuW) and Anti-Air Capability is limited as it will rely mainly on its Cannons, namely its 76 millimeter caliber Main Gun and two 30 millimeter caliber Guns mounted on Remote Weapons Station (RWS).
Its Simbad-Remote Control or RC Missile System, the same ones being used on the Jose Rizal class Frigates, will be mainly used against Aerial Targets, but it does have a secondary capability for use against Ships also.
It has no Anti-Ship Missile (AShM) Weapons of its own, I asked the HHI Representatives then if the Vessel has any Fitted For But Not With (FFBNW) Features, but they said no.
This means that fitting AShMs, Torpedo Launchers and Sonars may not be easy since those have Space, Electrical, etc. Requirements that are not there in Place, which I think is a big loss of Opportunity as these will be some of our most Modern Ships once they go into Service.
It’s possible those Weapons and Equipment may be fitted later, but I have some doubts about that because the PN doesn’t exactly have a great Track Record when it comes to doing that with its Ships. Our Del Pilar Class Vessels have been in Service for around one and a half Decades now, and they are still the Gunboats that they were when the United States (US) transferred them to us.
The Tarlac class Landing Docks still have nothing more than Heavy Machine Guns (HMG) for their Armament up to now, almost a Decade since its Lead Ship went into Service.
