BRP Diego Silang (PF-9)

For the Filipino revolutionary, see Diego Silang.
History
Philippines
NameDiego Silang
NamesakeFilipino revolutionary Diego Silang y Andaya (1730-1763)
BuilderLake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, Washington
Laid down6 June 1943
Launched15 January 1944
CompletedJuly 1944
Acquired5 April 1976
Commissioned5 April 1976
DecommissionedApril 1990
Renamed
  • BRP Diego Silang (PF-9) June 1980 - 1985
  • BRP Diego Silang (PF-14) 1987 - 1990
FateDiscarded July 1990; probably scrapped
Notes
General characteristics
Class and typeAndrés Bonifacio-class frigate
Displacement
  • 1,766 tons (standard)
  • 2,800 tons (full load)
Length311.65 ft (94.99 m)
Beam41.18 ft (12.55 m)
Draft13.66 ft (4.16 m)
Installed power6,200 horsepower (4.63 megawatts)
Propulsion2 × Fairbanks Morse 38D8 1/8 diesel engines
Speed18.2 knots (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) (maximum)
Range8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km) at 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Sperry SPS-53 Surface Search Radar[1]
  • Westinghouse AN/SPS-29 Air Search Radar[1]
  • Mk.26 Mod.1 Fire Control System[1]
  • Mk.52 Mod.3 Gun Director
Armament
Aircraft carriedNone permanently assigned; helipad could accommodate one MBB Bo 105 Helicopter
Aviation facilitiesHelipad; no support capability

BRP Diego Silang (PF-9)[2] was an Andrés Bonifacio-class frigate of the Philippine Navy in commission from 1976 to 1990. She and her three sister ships were the largest Philippine Navy ships of their time.

  1. ^ a b c Jane's Fighting Ships 1982-1983
  2. ^ This article assumes that the authoritative Jane's Fighting Ships 1980-1981, p. 370, is correct about the ship's lineage (i.e., that she was the former USS Bering Strait (AVP-34), USCGC Bering Strait (WAVP-382/WHEC-382), and RVNS Trần Quang Khải (HQ-02). However, some confusion exists. The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (see http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b5/bering-strait-i.htm), the Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images (see http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-b/avp34.htm), the United States Coast Guard Historian's Office (see http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/BeringStrait1948.asp), NavSource.org (see http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/43/4334.htm) and Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1982 Part II: The Warsaw Pact and Non-Aligned Nations, p. 356, all agree with Jane's that Diego Silang was the former Trần Quang Khải and Bering Strait. However, the Inventory of VNN's Battle Ships Part 2 (see Part 2 at http://www.vnafmamn.com/VNNavy_inventory2.html Archived 2015-02-23 at the Wayback Machine) claims that Diego Silang was the former RVNS Lý Thường Kiệt (HQ-16), which it in turn claims was the former Bering Strait.