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Tomas Batillo class patrol craft

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Name
  
Tomas Batilo class

In service
  
1996 - present

Lost
  
2

Operators
  
Philippine Navy

Active
  
6

Tomas Batillo-class patrol craft

Builders
  
Korea Tacoma Shipyard, Chinhae, South Korea

The Tomas Batilo class is a ship class of eight patrol boats currently in service of the Philippine Navy. These ships were formerly used by the South Korean Navy as Chamsuri/Wildcat (PKM-200 series) class fast attack crafts. Only six ships are still in active service, with two units lost in separate incidents.

History

Formerly Chamsuri - Wildcat class fast attack crafts of the South Korean Navy built in the 1970s, with Korean designation as Patrol Killer Medium (PKM). South Korea transferred the former ROKN ships to the Philippine government, with the first batch of five units namely the former PKM-225, 226, 229, 231, and 235 which were handed-over on 15 June 1995, and arrived in Manila in August 1995. This batch became the following ships: BRP Tomas Batillo (PG-110) ex-PKM 225; BRP Boni Serrano (PG-111) ex-PKM 226; BRP Bienvenido Salting (PG-112) ex-PKM 229; BRP Salvador Abcede (PG-114) ex-PKM 231; and BRP Ramon Aguirre (PG-115) ex-PKM 235. Except for PG-115 which was used as spares after being written-off during a delivery accident, all where commissioned to the Philippine Navy on 22 May 1996.

Another PKM was delivered to the Philippine Navy in 1998 and was originally for spares, but this was activated by the Philippine Navy on 2 July 1998 which became BRP Nicolas Mahusay (PG-116).

The South Korean government granted a request by the Philippines to transfer another two units in 2004, and PKM 223 and PKM 232 was handed-over to the Philippine government in 2005, and was transferred from Chinhae Naval Base in Busan, South Korea, to Manila, Philippines, arriving on 30 May 2006. ex-PKM 232 was commissioned as BRP Dionisio Ojeda (PG-117) in 2007, while PKM 223 was commissioned as BRP Emilio Liwanag (PG-118) on 15 April 2008.

References

Tomas Batillo-class patrol craft Wikipedia