Rizal-class corvette

Class overview
BRP Rizal (PS-74) and BRP Quezon (PS-70)
Name:	Rizal class Patrol Corvette
Builders:	Associated Shipbuilding Corp. and Savannah Machine and Foundry Co., USA
Operators:	Philippine Navy
Preceded by:	Miguel Malvar class corvette
Succeeded by:	Jacinto class corvette
Active:	2
General characteristics
Class and type:	Rizal class
Type:	Patrol Corvette
Displacement:	1,090 tons standard, 1,250 tons full load
Length:	221.67 ft (67.57 m)
Beam:	32.67 ft (9.96 m)
Draft:	10.75 ft (3.28 m)
Installed power:	5,800 shp (4,300 kW)
Propulsion:	2 × GM EMD 16V-645E6 Diesel Engines
Speed:	18 knots (33 km/h) maximum
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement:	80
Sensors and processing systems:	Raytheon SPS-5C G/H-band Surface Search Radar DAS 3 I-band Navigation Radar SQS-17B hull-mounted Sonar (high frequency) Mk52 GFCS for 3"/50 guns Mk51 GFCS for 40 mm guns
Armament:	2 × 3"/50 caliber gun Mk26 dual purpose guns 2 × Twin Bofors 40 mm gun 2 × Twin 20 mm Oerlikon guns 4 × 50 caliber machine guns

The Rizal class is a ship class of two patrol corvettes currently in service of the Philippine Navy, and are currently its largest class of corvettes. These ships were formerly used by the US Navy as Auk class minesweepers. Under the Philippine Navy, the two vessels have undergone upgrades and modification, and were categorized as corvettes.

The Auk class of naval ships were Allied minesweepers serving with the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy during the Second World War. In total, there were a recorded 95 Auk class minesweepers under Allied command during that time.

Thirty-two minesweepers were ordered by the US (as BAM-1 to 32) intending them to be supplied to the Royal Navy under Lend-lease but 12 were retained for USN use and given names and "AM" hull classification prefix. Those transferred were given "J" pennant number prefixs and formed the Catherine class

Eleven minesweepers of the Auk class were lost in World War II; only one (USS Skill) was sunk — by U-593.

Out of the reserved US Navy units, two were transferred to the Philippines as part of the US Military Assistance Program, these were USS Murrelet (renamed BRP Rizal) in 1965, and USS Vigilance (renamed BRP Quezon) in 1967.

Both ships were stricken in 1994, but were overhauled with assistance from Hatch & Kirk, Inc., and returned to service in 1995-1996. Recent upgrades includes a satellite radio dish for communications. As of 2008, both ships are still on the active roster of the Philippine Navy, and are assigned with the Patrol Force.

With 40 years of active duty with the Philippine Navy, both have been involved local and international crisis, exercises, and incidents.

Although fairly armed for her size, her weapon systems are manually operated and are of World War II origin.

...
Wikipedia