The BRP Miguel Malvar, old enough to have seen action in World War II, was scheduled to go out in a blaze of glory Monday as a target ship during the annual US-Philippine “Balikatan” military exercises.
The 80-year-old vessel, however, would not quite make it to its own funeral.
Onlookers instead watched as the ship, which once chased Japanese submarines and ferried German prisoners as part of the US fleet, sank before the first volley could be fired.
“The Balikatan 25 maritime strike target vessel sank off the west coast of the Philippines prior to the event commencing today,” Philippine Navy spokesman John Percie Alcos said in canceling a planned media event.
“Due to rough sea conditions … and with its long service life… she took on a significant amount of water and eventually sank,” he said.
Alcos, however, said the MARSTRIKE remains “unchanged as part of Balikatan 25 Command Post Exercises,” where the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US joint task forces will rehearse virtual and constructive fire missions.
“The training will integrate ground, maritime, and air-based sensors in a combined joint fire network as the Philippines and US joint task forces exercise command-and-control while exercising combined warfighting capabilities,” he added.
Alcos said elements of the scheduled maritime live-fire events will still occur and the combined forces will achieve their training objectives.
“The Notice to Mariners and Notice to Airmen surrounding the MARSTRIKE location remains in effect. We thank those who have honored the restricted areas to ensure safety and allowed this training to continue,” he added.
Praising the BRP Miguel Malvar as one of the most decorated ships in Philippine history, Alcos said the country is proud to be “transitioning to a new and multi-capable navy.”
After more than 20 years of service, the vessel—then named USS Brattleboro—was sold to the Republic of Vietnam in 1966. With AFP
