The Philippine Navy’s (PN) first missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), is certified ready to perform naval missions after undergoing a three-day operational readiness evaluation (ORE) in Subic Bay, Zambales last week. The BRP Jose Rizal and its sister ship, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), are modern warships capable of surface, sub-surface, air, and electronic warfare. The annual ORE, held on Aug. 24-26, determines the state of preparedness and effectiveness in performing its mission based on available equipment and material inventory and the readiness of its crew. The evaluation was facilitated by the ORE Team composed of 11 fleet operational readiness training and evaluation group (FORTEG) headed by its director Lt. Commander Jonathan Layno.
The evaluation covers the refresher training for the crew, “trainer-to-trainer” talks between the ORE team and the integrated training team of the ship, and the evaluation of shipboard evolutions. During the three-day ORE period, the Director FORTEG and its team members were impressed and satisfied with the skills and performance of the crew. Through this test, the ORE team handed over its final score with a passing mark thereby certifying the ship’s readiness in performing naval missions. The ship continuously develops its systems and procedures to fully optimize its modern capabilities and the skill of its crew through continuous training and crafting of responsive warfighting procedures that compliments its capabilities.
The three-day ORE covers the refresher training for the crew, “trainer-to-trainer” talks between the ORE Team and the Integrated Training Team (ITT) of the ship, and the evaluation of the following shipboard evolutions; Replenishment-at-Sea; Nuclear Biological and Chemical Attack; Repel Boarder / Anti-Sneak Attack; Fire: Collision; Flooding; Flight Quarters; Special Sea Detail; Piloting; Peacetime Steaming; Man Overboard; Rescue and Assistance (Distress Ship); Towing and Being Towed; Emergency Steering Casualty; General Quarters (Multi-Threat Scenario); Abandonship; Precision Anchoring; Visit Board Search and Seizure; Basic Life Support and Helo Crash and Recovery.
The Jose Rizal-class of multi-role guided missile frigates, currently in service with the Philippine Navy, are a heavily modified variant of the ROK Navy’s Incheon-class frigates. The ships, which were built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), are specifically accommodated to fit the requirements of the Philippine Navy. The frigates will improve the ability of the Philippine Navy’s Offshore Combat Force, which is mostly composed of ships that were retired from other countries and subsequently transferred to the Philippines. The BRP Jose Rizal was delivered to the Philippines in May 2020 and commissioned in July of the same year while the BRP Antonio Luna was commissioned on March 19, 2021.
