PHILIPPINE FLEET HISTORY

The Philippine Fleet is

synonymous to Philippine
Navy. The Navy is the Fleet
and the Fleet is the Navy. As
such, it also traces its origin to
the pre-war Off Shore Patrol
(OSP) the forerunner of the
Philippine Navy.

The creation of the OSP was an offshoot of a news report that a “mystery
flotilla” was sighted conducting maneuvers OFF Davao Golf on 10 April 1938.
Acting on the news report, President Quezon ordered on the creation of the Off
Shore Patrol (OSP) as a unit of the Philippine Army and handpicked Major
Rafael Ramos to organize the new unit. Assisting him was Lt. Jose V. Andrada
USNA’30 who was designated later as the acting Chief OSP on 18 June 1938
when the former was sent to the US for a Quartermaster schooling. On 04
December 1941 few days before the war broke Capt Enrique Jurado, OSP, PA
took over the helm of the Off Shore Patrol.

When War broke out in the pacific, on 08 December 1941, this fledging fleet,
composed of fast and highly maneuverable motor torpedo boats known as Q-
boats, was committed against the Japanese Imperial Navy. Undaunted by
enemy superiority, the ubiquitous patrol boats fought with zeal, courage and
heroism hitting Japanese warships with torpedos when given the opportunity.

Because of its intrepid and successful raids on enemy ships, the squadron
was dubbed the “Mosquito Fleet” mainly because of its manuscule size and its
capability to attack with a deadly sting. The squadron relied on speed and
surprise to attack larger vessels at close range. As a result, 65 percent of its
men were awarded the Silver Star Medal and other decorations for gallantry in
action. This is a heroic legacy that the Philippine Fleet cherishes, perpetuates
and lives by to this day and onward.

After the war, Off Shore Patrol (OSP) was redesignated as Philippine Naval
Patrol (PNP) on 24 October 1947 pursuant to GO Nr 228 issued by then General
Jalandoni. Under this reorganization law of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
the Philippine Naval Patrol was elevated as one of its major command. After
ironing out every detail of the reorganization as mandated by the Executive
order, the Philippine naval Patrol was formally organized on 02 June 1948. Col
Jose V. Andrada was designated as commander, Philippine Naval Patrol. This
title of his rank was later changed to Navy Captain, by authority of Sec 18 of
Executive Order Nr 94. The Philippine Navy Patrol expanded with the integration
of Marine Battalion, Underwater operations Unit, and Naval Air Unit to the
Command. As it acquired bigger patrol and transport ships, the Patrol Force and
the Service Force was also created. Then pursuant to Executive Order No. 389
dated 23 Dec. 1950, the Armed Forces of the Philippines were reorganized into
four major commands. The Executive Order likewise mandated the change of
designation from the Philippine Naval Patrol to Philippine Navy.
THE BIRTH OF THE PHILIPPINE FLEET

Naval Operating Forces/Naval Defense Force

On 22 Aug 1960, with the expansion of the Philippine Navy Organization, the
Naval Operating Forces was activated as a major unit pursuant to HPN GO Nr
14 to become the main fighting arm of the Philippine navy. Units as well as their
missions absorbed by the Naval Operating Forces and the Service Force (later
deactivated on 16 Mar 1963), together with the marine Battalion, Underwater
Operations UNIT< Naval Air Unit, and Small Craft Unit. The first commander
was Capt Juan Magluyan PN (GSC).

Through the years, the Naval Operating Forces grew and expanded with the
acquisition of more vessels of various types. The Fleet underwent several
reorganizations as the missions varied. New units were added such as the Anti-
Submarine Force, the reactivated Service Force, Coast Guard Force, Mine
Force and Ready Force.

A year after the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, the Ready Force and the
Marine Battalion were separated from the Naval Operating Forces. These
became major units of the Philippine Navy.

On April 22, 1976, the Naval Operating Force (NOF) became the Naval
Defense Forces (NDF) with Capt Leonardo G. Bugayong PN (GSC) as its first
commander. A complete revamp of the organization set-up of the Naval Defense
Forces was undertaken in order to make it more responsive to its new mission
and to meet the increasing requirements of the new PN command.

An offshoot of the organization was the adoption of the Type Command

concept, which called for the activation of three major units the Patrol Escort
Force, the Service Force and the Special Operation Force. (SOF). The SOF took
under the command the Small Craft Squadron and the Underwater Operations
Group-, which later became a Naval Craft Force and Naval Special Warfare
Group respectively. Under this new set-up, the following units were also
subsequently activated. Naval Air Group, Service Support Group, Material
Support Group and Maintenance repair Group. On the other hand, on 22 April
1976 the Amphibious Strike Group was activated and under the operational
control of Ready force 9a special unit under FOIC, PN)

The turnover of the US Naval Station, Sangley point to the Philippine

government on 10 Sept 1971 precipitated the birth of the sea-lift-Amphibious
Command. Its operation was an offshoot of the expansion of the Philippine Navy
and its increasing mandate in its socio-economic development program through
transport and sealift missions.

The forerunner of Sealift-amphibious Command (SAC) was the AFP Terminal

Command (AFPTC), which was activated on 09 Jan 1972 serving as the logistic
support base of the AFP under the administrative and operational control of theft
Logistics Center. On 06 June 1972 the Chief of Staff General Romeo C. Espino
AFP transferring the administrative and operational control of AFPTC to AFP
Logistics Center to the Philippine Navy issued General Orders Nr. 561. As a
result several transport vessels of the navy were assigned to the unit thereby
expanding transport capability.

On 05 Dec. 1973, pursuant to GO Nr. 133 HPN, the Command was reorga-
nized and subsequently renamed the Military Sealift and Terminal Command
(MSTC) as one major unit of the Philippine Navy. Later the Command was
designated as the Sea lift-Amphibious Command after all amphibious vessels
and crafts of the then Naval Operating Forces were transferred to Military Sealift
Terminal command on 01 July 1976.

The Philippine Fleet today

On 01 March 1988, the Naval defense Forces (NDF) and the Sealift-
Amphibious Command (SAC) were merged as one command. All the personnel,
equipment and facilities of the two deactivated units were transferred and
assigned to Philippine Fleet. Its Headquarters was set up at the former Sealift-
Amphibious Command Headquarters at Naval Base Cavite, Sangley Point,
Cavite City. Commo Juanito G. Cortez AFP was designated as the first
commander.

The reorganized Philippine Fleet meet bigger challenges as well as to enable

it to perform more effectively its role in naval defense and in support to national
development efforts.

Today, as a type command, the Fleet has major units, namely: the Ready
Force, Patrol Force, Service Force and Fleet Support Group and special units,
Naval Air Group, Naval Special Warfare Group and Fleet Training Group.
THE COMMANDANTS

NAVAL OPERATING FORCES

1. CAPT JUAN B. MAGLAYAN PN (GSC)

2. CAPT SANTIAGO C. NOVAL PN (GSC)
3. CAPT EMILIO S. LIWANAG PN (GSC)
4. CAPT FELIX M. APOLINARIO PN (GSC)
5. COMMO RAMON A. ALCARAZ AFP
6. COMMO HERACLEO J. ALANO AFP
7. COMMO PASTOR G. VIADO AFP
8. COMMO DIOSCORO E. PAPA

NAVAL DEFENSE FORCES

1. CAPT LEONARDO G. BUGAYONG PN (GSC)

2. CAPT DANTE Q. DE GUZMAN PN (GSC)
3. COMMO TAGUMAY R. JARDINI AFP
4. COMMO ERNESTO S. RAMOS AFP

SEALIFT-AMPHIBIOUS COMMAND
(01 Jan 1972 – 01 Mar 1988)

1. COMMO GENARO M. FRIAS AFP

2. COMMO DANTE R. GONZAGA AFP
3. COMMO PONCIANO T. BAUTISTA AFP
4. COMMO ROBERTO M AMPIG AFP
5. CAPT RUBEN G. DELA CRUZ PN (GSC)
6. COMMO ISMAEL D. APARI AFP
7. COMMO GEORGE D. TEMPLO AFP

PHILIPPINE FLEET
(01 Mar 1988 to present)

1. COMMO JUANITO G. CORTEZ AFP

2. COMMO PROCESO C. FERNANDEZ AFP
3. COMMO MARIAO J. DUMANCAS AFP
4. COMMO DARIO T. FAJARDO AFP
5. COMMO EDUARDO I. TOLENTINO AFP
6. COMMO ANTONIO G. SURATO AFP
7. COMMO NICASIO A. BLANCAS AFP
8. RADM ERIBERTO C. VARONA AFP
9. COMMO DANTE Z. RUIZ AFP
10. RADM NAPOLEON C. BAYLON AFP
11. RADM ERLINDO A EROLIN AFP
12. COMMO RUBEN G. DOMINGO AFP
13. RADM JOAQUIN Y. TAN AFP
14. RADM GILMER B. BATESTIL AFP
 ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT

The Philippine Fleet’s mission is to prepare and operate assigned forces for
naval operations in order to support the PN accomplish its mission. Its general
objectives are to optimize operational readiness and combat effectiveness of
equipment and personnel and effectively manage available resources through
efficient internal administration.

The specific functions of the Fleet are, First, to provide assets that will conduct
continuous naval patrol, sea control and amphibious operations in order to
defend the sovereignty of the country, its territorial waters and EEZ from foreign
aggression, intrusion and exploitation. Second, to assist in the conduct of
national security operations and ensure safety and security of coastal areas.
Third, to employ assets to assist in the conduct of disaster response, particularly
maritime search and rescue and patrol, sealift and other type of operations as
directed.

Fleet assets were able to detect and apprehend numerous lawless elements
engaging in illegal maritime activities. These operations were conducted while
vessels and aircraft were enroute to their designated Area of Operations and
while still under the OPCON of PHILFLT. And to include some of its major
accomplishment are as follows:

1. Conducted and participated in search and rescue operation on M/V

Princess of the Orient when it sank at vicinity of Carabao Island last Sept
1998.
2. Conducted search and rescue operation for ill-fated PAF. Nomad aircraft
carrying COMWESCOM and party last 03 Jul 2000.
3. The Fleet organized an Amphibious Task Force (ATF), composed of
Transport and Patrol ships, Patrol Gunboats, aircraft and NSWG Teams to
undertake amphibious operations in order to rescue the hostages of the
Abu sayyaf Group (ASG)
4. The fleet ably supported the Joint Task Force Trident by deploying assets
to support the conduct of Maritime negation and Patrol particularly in the
island of Jolo.
5. Planned and executed all major activities in connection with the retirement
of VADM FERNANDEZ AFP to wit commissioning of PG-395, Testimonial
Parade and Thanksgiving Night last 20 Nov. 2000.

The Fleet has greatly contributed in the Navy firm commitments in promoting
regional security through the conduct of Bilateral Exercises with the US,
Indonesia and Malaysia navies and PASSEXes with the other visiting foreign
navies. Among the notable Bilateral Exercises conducted are as follows:
 1. CARAT’98with USS mobile Bay on 05 Aug 1998.
2. CARAT’99 participated by PS –37, PS-31, PG 392, DF-342 and PNI- 304
from 03 May to 01 Jun 1999.
3. PALAH 01-’99 participated by four (4) officers and twenty (20) enlisted
personnel from the NSWG and its USN personnel counterpart from 03-21
May 1999.
4. MARSURVEX with USN P-3C Orion aircraft participated PNI-304 and PAF
OV 10 on 01 Jun 1999
5. RANFCPKAKADU 4’99 participated by PS17 and IC –550 at Darwin
Australia from 20 Jul to 13 Aug 1999.
6. Joint RP-US Military Training Exercise (BALIKATAN 2000) from 21 Feb-04
Mar 2000.
7. CARAT 2000 from 13 – 20 June 2000
8. Exercise LUMBAS from 15 –22 Sep 2000.
9. MARSURVEX from 25-29 Sep 2000.
10. MALPHILAUT3/2000 from 13 – 22 Nov 2000.
11. Flshpiston FROM 04-25 Aug 2000.
12. CORPAT PHILINDO from 09 – 14 Oct 2000

The Fleet also emphasized the value of ship and crew readiness by providing
support during the conduct of the following:

- JFTX (SANGHAYA99) participated by LT –516,DF339,PNI323 and one (1)

officer and seven (7) enlisted personnel from NSWG.

- Boat Handling Exercise of 143rd NOQC “B” using DF 339 from 07 – 09 Jul
1999 AT manila Bay

- PAGSASAMA99 – 1 Exercise participated by PS-70, PS-19 and PG 104 at

Bohol and Cebu on 05 Aug 1999.

- GUNNEX participated by PS-70,PS-31,PG-102,PG-381,PG-393, LC

551(viewing flatform) DF-321 and DF 340 (marshal craft) on 13 Aug 1999

- In-service Training/OJT of PMA CL 99 Midshipmen from 14 Dec 1998 to 07

Feb 1999.

- Sea Phase Training of 143rd NOQC “B” from 19 Jan to 01 Feb 1999.

- Sea phase Training of 198th BSC from 01-07 Mar 1999.(1st Batch) and 08-
13 Mar 1999 (2nd Batch)

- Summer Shipboard Training of 179 PMM FROM 19-20 Apr 1999

- Summer Shipboard Training og NS-43 Midshipmen from 07 Apr- 04 Jun

 1999.

- Fleet Training Cruise from 02 Oct –03 Nov 2000.