BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16)

BRP Ramon Alcaraz before the installation of the Mk. 38 Mod. 2 25 mm autocannons.
History
United States
Name:	USCGC Dallas
Builder:	Avondale Shipyards
Commissioned:	March 11, 1968
Decommissioned:	March 30, 2012
Identification:	WHEC-716
Fate:	transferred to Philippine Navy.
Philippines
Name:	BRP Ramon Alcaraz
Namesake:	Commodore Ramon Alcaraz (1915–2009), former Philippine Navy fleet commander and World War II hero
Acquired:	May 22, 2012
Commissioned:	November 22, 2013
Maiden voyage:	June 10, 2013
Identification:	PF-16 (2012-2016), FF-16 (2016-present)
Nickname(s):	BRP Monching
Status:	in active service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Gregorio del Pilar-class frigate
Displacement:	3,250 tons, probably less due to removal of several weapons & sensors system
Length:	378 ft (115 m)
Beam:	43 ft (13 m)
Draft:	8.75 ft (2.67 m)
Propulsion:	Combined diesel or gas (CODOG) arrangement: 2 × Fairbanks-Morse 38TD8-1/8-12 12-cylinder diesel engines, each producing 3,500 shp (2,610 kW) Total diesel engine output: 7,000 shp (5,220 kW), and 2 × Pratt & Whittney FT4A-6 gas turbines, each producing 18,000 shp (13,400 kW) Total gas turbine output: 36,000 shp (26,800 kW)
Speed:	29 knots (54 km/h)
Range:	14,000 nautical miles (25,900 km)
Endurance:	45 Days
Boats & landing craft carried:	2 × RHIB
Sensors and processing systems:	Kelvin Hughes MantaDigital 25KW X-band magnetron navigational radar Kelvin Hughes MantaDigital 200KW SharpEye S-band solid state navigation/surface search radar Furuno FAR-28X7 series navigation radar Sperry Mk 92 mod. 1 Fire Control System
Electronic warfare & decoys:	2 × Mk.36 Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Countermeasures (SRBOC) Chaff and Decoy Launching System
Armament:	1 × Mk.75 Oto Melara 76mm Compact Cannon 2 × Mk. 38 Mod 2 25mm Autocannons 4 × M2HB Browning .50 Caliber Machine Guns
Aircraft carried:	1 × AgustaWestland AW109 Power naval helicopter
Aviation facilities:	retractable hangar and flight deck

BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16) is a frigate in the Philippine Navy and the second ship of the Gregorio del Pilar class. From 1968 to 2012, it was known as USCGC Dallas and served the United States Coast Guard as a high endurance cutter. It was decommissioned on 30 March 2012 and was acquired by the Philippines under the Excess Defense Articles and the Foreign Assistance Act.

Ramon Alcaraz is the second of several ex-US Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutters that will serve the Philippine Navy. She was originally designated as "PF-16" from 2012 to mid-2016 when the PN adapted a new code designation, which re-designated her to "FF-16".

The ship was designed with a high level of habitability and provides fairly comfortable accommodations, including air conditioning.

Ramon Alcaraz employs the shipboard application of aircraft gas turbine jet engines with the use of controllable pitch propellers. She is equipped with two 18,000 horsepower (13,000 kW) Pratt & Whitneygas turbines and can propel the ship at speeds up to 28 knots (52 km/h). Ramon Alcaraz also has two 3,500 horsepower (2,600 kW) Fairbanks-Morsediesel engines, capable of driving the ship economically at 17 knots (31 km/h) for up to 14,400 nautical miles (26,700 km) without refueling. A retractable/rotatable bow propulsion unit provides manoeuvrability in tight situations.

Prior to turn-over to the Philippine Navy, the ship was armed with a Mk.75 Oto Melara 76 mm Compact main gun, two Mk.38 25 mm Bushmaster chain guns at midships, and a Phalanx CIWS system aft. The CIWS and chain guns were removed prior to its turn-over, with the Mk.75 gun remaining.