BRP Dagupan City (LC-551)

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Career (Philippines)
Name: BRP Dagupan City (LC-551)
Namesake: Dagupan City is an independent component city of the province of Pangasinan.
Operator: Philippine Navy
Builder: Halter/Moss Point Marine, Escatawpa, MS.
Commissioned: 1994
Fate: in service with the Philippine Navy
General characteristics
Class and type: Bacolod City class
Type: Logistics Support Vessel
Displacement: 4,265 Tons (Full Load)
Length: 273 ft (83 m)
Beam: 60 ft (18 m) (folded)
Draft: 12 ft (3.7 m)
Speed: 12 Knots (maximum), 10 knots (sustained)
Boats and landing
craft carried:		 2 LCVP
Complement: (30) 6 - Officers/ 24 - Enlisted Personnel
Armament: 2 x 20 mm Oerlikon cannons
2 x 7.62 mm GPMG
Aviation facilities: Helipad at aft deck

The BRP Dagupan City (LC-551) is the second and last ship of two Bacolod City class of Logistics Support Vessel, and is based on a helicopter capable variant of the US Army Frank S. Besson class. She is also considered as one of the most modern transport ships in the Philippine Navy, having been commissioned during the early 90s.

Contents

[edit] History

The BRP Dagupan City was built by Halter/Moss Point Marine of Escatawpa, MS. in the United States and was commissioned into Philippine Navy in 1994. Both ships of its class were purchased brand-new by the Philippine government through the FMS program of the United States. Since its commissioning, both ships of its class were rigorously used in military and peacetime operations, and has been joining joint military exercises with foreign navies as well.

[edit] Technical details

The ship is powered by two General Motors-EMD 16-645EZ6 diesel engines with a combined power of around 3,900 bhp driving two propellers. The main engines can propel the 664 ton (712 tons full load) ship at over 28 knots (52 km/h). At a sustained speed of 10 knots (19 km/h), it range is at around 8,300 nautical miles (15,370 km).

As a amphibious transport, it is fairly armed for defensive purposes, and carries two 7.62mm general purpose machine guns at the front side decks, and two Oerlikon 20 mm cannons near its two LCVPs.

The prime mission of the ship is the direct transport and discharge of liquid and dry cargo to shallow terminal areas, remote under-developed coastlines and on inland waterways.

The ship does not require external cranes or port facilities, and even with four feet of water allows the ship to land even under full load. This capability expands the choice of landing locations, and at the same time reduces the potential enemy impact on the logistics support operations.

The ships has a capacity to transport up to 48 TEU or 1,815 tons vehicles/general cargo, or up to 900 tons on Logistics Over The Shore (LOTS) / amphibious operations. Its ramps and the main deck are able to withstand roll-on / roll-off operations of even heavy main battle tanks.

[edit] Gallery

[edit] References

  • Naval Technology - Frank S Besson Class LSV Logistic Support Vessel
  • World Navies Today - Philippines
  • Naming and Code Designation of PN Vessels by DLSU ROTC Office
  • Philippine Defense Forum (timawa)

[edit] External links

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Bacolod City class logistics support vessel
Bacolod City | Dagupan City |
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