WesWorld

I have been doing much thinking about the future of the Philippine Navy, as the design options I’ve posted have indicated. I think I have reached the point where I can summarize the way forward at this point, though there are always circumstances that would call things into question.

Strategic Thinking

China remains the most obvious potential threat. OOC China is quiescent at the moment, and no one knows how long that might be; IC however, China can be taken as still recovering from its war with Chosen, and while a potential threat, nothing is expected to happen in the near term.

Japan is a potential threat, though an unlikely one. The military disparity between Japan and the Philippines is so large that the Philippines cannot even come close to defending itself on its own.

Basically, the strategic situation has not changed since I did my last summary, about two real years ago.

Internal Security

Story-wise this has proven to be a driver and has shaped the Philippine Navy’s construction over the last couple of years. However, the force constructed or now under construction – four patrol frigates, eight escort sloops, sixteen patrol combatants, and eight civil support ships – is enough to handle the threat of Moro insurgency and to support the pacification efforts of the Government. At this point I do not plan to construct too many more specialized ships for the internal security role.

The Battle Force

The core of the Philippine Navy’s heavy surface element is the battlecruiser Mindanao and the four new Visayas class armored cruisers. The Mindanao has been refitted with modern sensors and as unit the five ships are considered more than a match for their potential Chinese opposition.

I’ve already put the Presidente Aguinaldo on the market – and to my surprise she found a buyer; I haven’t yet decided to do the same with the Presidente Bonafacio – of those two the Bonafacio is for me the better vessel.

Backing up the surface element of the Battle Force are the aircraft carriers Sibuyan and Linguyen. I am not sold on the need of the Philippines for aircraft carriers in a defensive posture – yet I am loath to rid myself of them at this point. The Sibuyan is still useful, but the Linguyen is too small for fleet work and I am not certain her activities as a training vessel are really needed. I will probably make a decision on their fate sometime late in 1947 – for all their limitations, they are barely more than ten years old.

The Cruiser Force

As refitted, the four Basilan class heavy cruisers are expected to serve as an independent striking force against Chinese invasion convoys – something the Philippine Navy sees as an all-too-likely nightmare scenario. Given the opportunity, they would also be sent after any Chinese carrier task force that attempted to duplicate the December 1940 raid on Subic Bay. Construction of further heavy cruisers has been an element of current storylines; I have made the final decision to scratch them.

The light cruiser force has been refitted or is new construction. The small Poro class cruisers will continue to take secondary roles in the insular seas, while the Ticao class AA cruisers will serve with the fleet. The main scouting force will comprise the newer Surigao and Dumarao class cruisers, so no major change here either.

I am going to defer further cruiser construction for the time being, for reasons to be touched upon below.

Destroyers

I have mentioned previously that I think that in overall numbers the Philippine Navy has a lot of destroyers, and they are all of very modern construction or recently refitted. Given its defensive stance however, destroyers are among the more useful types for the Philippine Navy. The last of the Marinduque class destroyers will not complete until the end of 1947, and at this point I am leaning towards a more A/S oriented Escort Destroyer to follow them in 1948.

Submarines

The submarine force is going to undergo major changes in the next couple of years. I plan to step up construction of the Tirador class and build a total of twelve between now and 1948. To compensate the Agulon and Delfin classes are going to go to the breakers this year. I have yet to make a final decision on the Aluhuman class of 1938; my present thinking is to keep then until the objective force level is reached in 1948 – which would comprise the two recently refitted Mako class, the twelve Cazador class and the projected twelve Tirador class boats.

The Mine Force

I plan to build eight small minelayers to replace the current force. The design, which I’ve posted elsewhere, is far more capable than the ships currently in service. For minesweepers, I think I am good for now, though that might be one of the first things to reconsider if the strategic situation would change.


The Fleet Train

I’ve reached the conclusion that 1947 is going to be the year of the fleet auxiliary. Many of the existing units are old and outdated, not worth refitting. There will be much work for the shipbreakers, a factor that contributes to the lack of large-ship construction in the next few years. Tonnage will be absorbed too, but when complete, the train will suffice to fulfill its duties in support of the modern fleet. My current plans call for:

• Two large submarine depot ships, mercantile conversions, to begin in the later portion of 1946.
  

• Three small motor torpedo boat depot ships, one for each of the existing MTB squadrons
  

• Two small coastal forces depot ships, to support the Marawi class patrol combatants
  

• Two small minelayer depot ships, to support the new vessels to be built
  

• Two small minesweeper depot ships, to work with the existing Colorado and Batanes class ships
  

• Three small tankers, for general support – perhaps more but three are in the plan at the moment
  

I am also considering whether the civil support ships need their own tender/depot ship/supply carrier. I haven’t worked out details but if I go that route, I think it would be some sort of mercantile conversion.

Infrastructure

I need to address some issues here. However, with most every slip and dock committed to new construction or demolition, I am keeping my plans limited at this point. 1947 will see construction of two Type 0 floating dry docks for use at Zamboanga – primarily to support the small escort force; as we get closer to that date, I could opt for one larger floating dock – it depends on how the game develops between now and then.

That about covers things at this point, at least in the grand scheme.