BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5)

The BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5) was one of the three ex-USN Cannon-class destroyer escorts that served with the Philippine Navy, the others being BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76) and BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11).

History
United States
Name: Amick
Ordered: 1942
Builder: Federal Drydock & Shipbuilding Co.
Laid down: 30 November 1942
Launched: 27 May 1943
Commissioned: 26 July 1943
Decommissioned: 16 May 1947
Stricken: 15 June 1978
Fate: Transferred to JMSDF in 1955, reverted to US Navy in 1975. Transferred to Philippine Navy in 1976.[1]
History
Japan
Name: Asahi
Namesake: The name Asahi means rising sun, which by extension is a metaphor for Japan.
Operator: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Commissioned: 1955
Decommissioned: 1975
Fate: reverted to US Navy in 1975.
History
Philippines
Name: Datu Sikatuna
Namesake: Datu Sikatuna was the chieftain of Bohol, who made a blood compact and allianced with the Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi on 16 March 1565.
Operator: Philippine Navy
Acquired: 13 September 1976[2]
Commissioned: 27 February 1980
Decommissioned: 1989
Reclassified: BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5)
Fate: Stricken and scrapped in 1989.
General characteristics
Class and type: Datu Kalantiaw class
Type: Destroyer Escort / Frigate
Displacement: 1,240 tons standard, 1,620 tons full load
Length: 306 ft (93 m)
Beam: 36.66 ft (11.17 m)
Draft: 8.75 ft (2.67 m) 8.75 ft
Installed power: 6,000 hp (4,500 kW)
Propulsion:
  • 4 × GM 16-278A Main Diesel Engines
  • 2 × GM EMP 8-268A Auxiliary Diesel Engines with 200kW Generator
  • 1 × GM EMP 3-268A Auxiliary Diesel Engine with 100kW Generator
  • 2 shafts
Speed: 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) (maximum)
Range: 10,800 mi (9,400 nmi; 17,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Raytheon SPS-5 G/H-band Surface Search Radar
  • RCA/GE Mk26 I-band Navigation Radar
  • AN/SQS-17B Hull mounted Sonar
  • Mk52 GFCS with Mk41 Rangefinder for 3 in. guns
  • 3 Mk51 GFCS for 40 mm guns
Armament:
  • 3 × 3"/50 caliber gun Mk.22 dual purpose guns
  • 1 × Mk.1 Twin L/60 Bofors 40 mm gun
  • 8 × Mk.4 Oerlikon 20 mm cannons
  • 3 × Mk.15 21" Torpedo Tubes
  • 1 × Mk.10 Hedgehog Projector (144 rounds)
  • 8 × Mk.6 Depth Charge Projectors
  • 2 × Mk.9 Depth Charge Tracks

History
as USS Amick (DE-168)

Commissioned in the US Navy as the USS Amick (DE-168) in 1943, she was mostly assigned at the Atlantic theatre doing escort duties for transatlantic convoys. She served in the Pacific theatre in the middle of 1945, and received the unconditional surrender of all Japanese forces in the northern Palaus, which was received by the Americans in the wardroom on board Amick in September 1945. Amick was reassigned back to the Atlantic Fleet in December 1945 and remained in semi-active status until her decommissioning in May 1947.[1]

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

She was transferred to the Japanese government as JDS Asahi (DE-262) on 14 June 1955. Together with her sistership JDS Hatsuhi (DE-263), they became one of the first warships of the newly organized Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. As newer ships became available to the JMSDF, both ships were decommissioned and returned to the US Navy in June 1975.[1][3]

Philippine Navy

Remained laid-up in Japan, she was transferred to the Philippine government on 13 September 1976[2] and was sold as Excess Defense Article on 23 December 1978. As a Philippine Navy ship, she was named RPS Datu Sikatuna (PS-77), and was towed to South Korea for an extensive refit in 1979. During this period South Korea also turned over 2 of their own ex-USN Cannon class ships to the US Navy in 1977, namely the Kyong Ki (DE-71) /USS Muir (DE-770) and Kang Won (DE-72) / USS Sutton (DE-771). These were also turned-over by the US to the Philippine government, which were later on cannibalized for use as parts hulk to upgrade and repair the Datu Sikatuna and her sistership Rajah Humabon, and provide both ships with additional guns and improve her machinery.[4][5]

With these upgrades, she was formally commissioned to the Philippine Navy in 1980, and formed the backbone of the Philippine Fleet together with 2 of her sister ships and other ex-US Navy destroyer escorts. She was reclassified as BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5) in July 1980, now using the "BRP" ship naming standard and carrying a "Frigate" classification, and served until 1989, when she was decommissioned and scrapped.[2][6] She became a parts hulk for the remaining ship of her class, the BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11).

References
  1. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships."Amick" page.
  2. "USS Atherton (DE-169)". uboat.net. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  3. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. "Atherton" page.
  4. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. "Muir" page.
  5. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. "Sutton" page.
  6. Wertheim, Eric: The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 15th Edition, page 550. Naval Institute Press, 2007.
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