Multi-purpose Attack Craft

Class overview
Name: MPAC (Multi-Purpose Attack Craft)
Builders: Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Propmech Corp.
Operators: Philippine Navy
In commission:
  • Mk1: 2009–present
  • Mk2: 2011–present
Building: 3
Planned: 9
Completed: 6
Active: 6
General characteristics
Length:
  • Mk1: 15 m
  • Mk2: 17 m
Beam: 4.76 m
Draft:
  • Mk1: 0.92 m
  • Mk2: 0.90 m
Depth: 2.1 m
Speed:
  • Mk1: 40 kn
  • Mk2: 45 kn
Complement: 3 crew, 2 officers, 16 fully equipped amphibious troops
Armament: 3 × Machine Guns

Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) is a class of fast landing craft developed for the Philippine Navy. It is designed to transport troops at a high speed and then land them on the beach.

Construction

The MPAC's hull is made out of aluminum and is powered by water jet engines. It has a range of 560 km, maximum speed of 40-45 knots and carries a crew of 5 plus 16 fully equipped soldiers.[1]

History

In 2009, the Philippine Navy ordered the first batch of 3 ships from a Taiwanese company whose identity was never revealed up to now. However, speculations point out that the manufacturer might be the Taiwanese company "Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co. Ltd." In 2011, an additional 3 MPACs were built that were slightly bigger than the previous 3 ships, and these ships this time were built by the Filipino company "Propmech Corp." Another 3 ships are on order.[2]

Service History

On September 2013, the Philippine Navy's MPAC led the search and rescue operations for the passengers of the ill-fated MV St. Thomas Aquinas owned by 2Go Shipping Company. It collided with Sulpicio Express 7 in Cebu resulting with more than 100 casualties.[3]

In September 2015, an MPAC Mk2 participated in the 2015 PAGSISIKAP Fleet-Marine Amphibious Exercise in Ternate, Cavite by landing Philippine Marine Corps personnel into the beach.[4]

Versions

Mk1
Original production version with total of three built by Lung Teh Shipbuiling Co.[5]
Mk2
Next production version with another three built by Propmech Corp. This version is 2 m longer than the Mk1 and is differentiated by the different shape of its Pilot House and the location of the 3 machine guns.[6]
Mk3
Planned next production build. In March 2015, the Department of National Defense (DND) opened an invitation to bid for a missile capable MPAC that can operate up to Sea State 5.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "MPACs to be transformed into 'harassment force'"
  2. ↑ "DND to buy 3 new multi-purpose attack craft"
  3. ↑ http://www.vjdefense.com/2013/08/philippine-navys-mpac-multi-purpose.html
  4. ↑ "PAGSISIKAP 2015 // PH Navy’s Fleet-Marine Troops Maneuver in Tandem in Amphibious Drills"
  5. ↑ "15M Multi-Purpose Attack Craft Mk1"
  6. ↑ "17M MULTI-PURPOSE ATTACK CRAFT Mk2"
  7. ↑ http://www.dnd.gov.ph/transparency/procurement/DND_BAC/Invitation_to_bid/ITB-Multi-Purpose%20Attack%20Craft%20Acquisition%20Project%20(Lot%201).pdf
  8. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/Maxdefense/photos/a.119059604931372.1073741828.117625771741422/241373222700009/?type=1


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