BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5) was one of the three ex-USN that served with the Philippine Navy

Philippine Navy

The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines"....

, the others being BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76)

BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76)

The BRP Datu Kalantiaw was the first of three ex-USN that served with the Philippine Navy, the others being BRP Datu Sikatuna and BRP Rajah Humabon ...

and BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)

BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)

The BRP Rajah Humabon is a frigate of the Philippine Navy, and is the last World War II-era destroyer escort/frigate active in its fleet and is one of the oldest active warships in the world...

History

Commissioned in the US Navy as the in 1943, she was mostly assigned at the Atlantic theatre doing escort duties for transatlantic convoys. She served in the Pacific theatre in the middle of 1945, and received the unconditional surrender of all Japanese forces in the northern Palaus, which was received by the Americans in the wardroom on board Amick on September 1945. Amick was reassigned back to the Atlantic Fleet on December 1945 and remained in semi-active status until her decommissioning on May 1947.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

She was transferred to the Japanese government as JDS Asahi (DE-262) on 14 June 1955. Together with her sistership JDS Hatsuhi (DE-263), they became one of the first warships of the newly organized Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....

. As newer ships became available to the JMSDF, both ships were decommissioned and returned to the US Navy on June 1975.

Philippine Navy

Remained laid-up in Japan, she was transferred to the Philippine government in 13 September 1976 and was sold as Excess Defense Article on 23 December 1978. As a Philippine Navy

Philippine Navy

The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines"....

ship, she was named RPS Datu Sikatuna (PS-77), and was towed to South Korea

South Korea

The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

for an extensive refit in 1979. During this period South Korea

South Korea

also turned over 2 of their own ex-USN Cannon class ships to the US Navy in 1977, namely the Kyong Ki (DE-71) /USS Muir (DE-770)

USS Muir (DE-770)

USS Muir was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided escort service against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys....

and Kang Won (DE-72) / USS Sutton (DE-771)

USS Sutton (DE-771)

USS Sutton was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided escort service against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys....

. These were also turned-over by the US to the Philippine government, which were later on cannibalized for use as parts hulk to upgrade and repair the Datu Sikatuna and her sistership Rajah Humabon

BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)

The BRP Rajah Humabon is a frigate of the Philippine Navy, and is the last World War II-era destroyer escort/frigate active in its fleet and is one of the oldest active warships in the world...

, and provide both ships with additional guns and improve her machinery.

With these upgrades, she was formally commissioned to the Philippine Navy

Philippine Navy

The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines"....

in 1980, and formed the backbone of the Philippine Fleet together with 2 of her sister ships and other ex-US Navy destroyer escorts. She was reclassified as BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5) on July 1980, now using the "BRP" ship naming standard and carrying a "Frigate"

Frigate

A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

classification, and served until 1989 when she was decommissioned and scrapped. She became a parts hulk for the remaining ship of her class, the BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)

BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)

The BRP Rajah Humabon is a frigate of the Philippine Navy, and is the last World War II-era destroyer escort/frigate active in its fleet and is one of the oldest active warships in the world...

External links

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