Eight officers and 13 enlisted men are in San Diego, California to bring home the USCG Hamilton this coming August. They are in the United States training on how to operate the systems on board the Hamilton before setting sail back for the Philippines.
Philippine Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Jose Luis Alano hosted a send off dinner the day before their departure in honor of the 21 crewmen who will undertake the maiden voyage across the Pacific.
He motivated the crew to take every opportunity to learn and master the systems onboard the Hamilton, which is vital in the sustainment of its operations and in training the next generations of crew who will man and maintain the vessel.
“This endeavor is taking us one step ahead towards our vision, to build a strong and credible Navy that our maritime nation can be proud of,” he added.
The US government will decommission the USGC Hamilton on March 30, 2011 and she will be turned over to the Philippine government on May 13, 2011 through the Excess Defense Articles Program.
Her maiden crew from the Philippines are composed of the Skipper, Captain Alberto Cruz, Executive Officer Commander Reynaldo Lopez, Lieutenants Marvin Cornejo, Randy Blantucas, Dennis Donga, Robert Baylon, Lieutenant Junior Grade Lotis Gonzales, Ensign Andrelee Mojica, Engineman Chief Francisco Sombrero, Engineman First Gerry Somberano, Engineman Second, Victor Evangelista, Machinist Mate Second Class Ricardo Ulamino, Electricians Mate Second Ferdinand Alvarez, John Nebre, Joselito Peji, Damage Control Second Class Neil Flotildes, Aviation Machinist Third Class Gilproscano Camposo, Electricians Mate Third Class Geovanie Baylon, Electician Mate Third Class Isagani Zacarias, Fireman First Engineman Thomas Aguillana and Fireman First Electricians Mate Erwin Malabanan.
Captain Cruz’s team departed for San Diego on February 25, 2011. They are undergoing six months familiarization training on the Hamilton.
USGC Hamilton is a High Endurance Cutter class vessel that is 378 feet long and 42 feet wide, the largest ever built for the US Coast Guard. It is powered by two diesel engines and two gas turbines. The gas turbines are made up of 1,800 horsepower engines that can propel the vessel up to a speed of 28 knots, while the two 3,500 horsepower diesel engines that can take her to a speed of 17 knots without refueling for the next 9,600 nautical miles.
The Cutter is armed with a MK76mm gun mount controlled by an MK92 Fire Control System, two MK38mm Machine Gun and Caliber 50 Heavy Machine Guns. She was designed to undertake long range search and rescue operations, oceanographic research and law enforcement - defense operations. It has a hangar and a flight deck capable of handling helicopter operations.
Another batch of 74 Navy personnel are scheduled to leave for the US on May 14, 2011 to undergo the same familiarization training and will sail back to the Philippines all together.
No comments:
Post a Comment