WesWorld

In line with some of the thoughts percolating in the StormEx thread, I've put together a proposal for a small civil response vessel for the Philippine Navy; while useful perhaps in disaster relief, I envision something that could be useful in supporting the civil authority in a variety of missions.

Comments welcome.

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TBD, Philippine Civil Support Ship laid down 1945

Displacement: 410 t light; 424 t standard; 686 t normal; 896 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught

150.22 ft / 144.36 ft x 24.61 ft x 9.02 ft (normal load) [45.79 m / 44.00 m x 7.50 m x 2.75 m]

Armament:

1 - 0.98" / 25.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.48lbs / 0.22kg shells, 1945 Model Anti-aircraft gun in deck mount on centreline forward
2 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1945 Model Machine guns in deck mounts on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 1 lbs / 0 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 300

Armour:

Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.39" / 10 mm 0.39" / 10 mm -

Conning tower: 0.39" / 10 mm

Machinery:

Diesel Internal combustion motors, Geared drive, 2 shafts, 2,161 shp / 1,612 Kw = 16.00 kts
Range 10,000nm at 14.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 472 tons

Complement: 66 - 87

Cost: £0.152 million / $0.609 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:

Armament: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Armour: 1 tons, 0.1 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 1 tons, 0.1 %
Machinery: 55 tons, 8.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 234 tons, 34.2 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 276 tons, 40.2 %
Miscellaneous weights: 120 tons, 17.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:

Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship): 2,094 lbs / 950 Kg = 4,392.9 x 1.0 " / 25 mm shells or 1.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 0.7 ft / 0.2 m
Roll period: 12.1 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 72 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.00
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:

Hull has raised quarterdeck
Block coefficient: 0.749
Length to Beam Ratio: 5.87 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 12.01 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 69 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 36
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 18.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 18.04 ft / 5.50 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 15.58 ft / 4.75 m
- Mid (50 %): 13.12 ft / 4.00 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 15.58 ft / 4.75 m (13.12 ft / 4.00 m before break)
- Stern: 15.58 ft / 4.75 m
- Average freeboard: 14.55 ft / 4.44 m

Ship space, strength and comments:

Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 46.2 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 117.5 %
Waterplane Area: 2,973 Square feet or 276 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 297 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 34 lbs/sq ft or 168 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.84
- Longitudinal: 16.91
- Overall: 1.14
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Cargo simmed as bunkers - Actual radius 2,200 nm at 14 knots with BAM 109 tons.
Cargo represents 80 tons POL storage for distribution, 80 tons dry stores for distribution, 40 tons medical supplies for use or distribution, 20 tons fresh water in

tanks with pumps

Breakdown of miscellaneous weight:

Accommodation for disaster response team - 30 tons
Expanded dispensary and medical facilities - 60 tons
Evaporators, generators and necessary shore connections - 30 tons

An interesting vessel.
I'm wondering if you actually need any armament on this vessel. Indeed does it even have to be a Navy vessel? I think another government agency/ coastguard could operate these kinds of vessels more comfortably without having to use Naval resources and for the Navy to find a routine day-to-day role for the ship or risk it begin unavailable/delayed due to naval duties or exercises if an emergency arises.

Is it an idea to decrease draught so it can get closer to shore and perhaps navigate shallower rivers?

I'd throw the weapons and armor off it and build a small patrol ship class which would tag along with these civil response ships and take care of the odd pirate, thief or looter you might encounter.

Interesting points.

As to another agency operating them, one would have to be created, and that begs the question of who will run the show. From the POV of the Philippine Senate it would create another potential base for political power (not a good idea); from the POV of the Philippine Navy, it means turning part of their budget (and I cannot see building these vessels on the civil economy) over to someone else and they are quite jealous of their funding. Besides, the Navy, like the Army and Air Force, has a long history of aiding the civil power.

As for their armament, it is there more for show than for use, but is a reminder that the vessels are commissioned warships and not to be trifled with. While things are relatively safe in the Southern Seas, no one is taking that for granted at this point in tume.

As for their being engaged in some sort of naval exercises when needed, that supposition ignores their role - they will have regular rounds among the many islands of the southern and central Philippines and their medical detachments will be making regular "house calls" at coastal towns. The reason they have such good turns of speed is to enable them to rapidly move from where-ever they may be to where-ever they are needed. They are in effect the first responders.

As making them more shallow draft, I don't see that as a necessary option. They're not hauling heavy cargo ashore, and under normal circumstances they would be tied up pierside as necessary. Due to its topography the Philippines does not have many navigable rivers so there is no real reason to make them extremely shallow draft.

These vessels, inspired by some of the observations made in the Bharati StormEx44 exercise, form a part of the long-term pacification strategy for the southern provinces in the Philippines. In addition to the four Makarina class sloops soon to be commissioned, the naval forces in the south will be joined by eight of the new Marawi class patrol combatants - more than enough to provide generally adequate security.

Fair points Bruce, politics can't be ignored!