BRP Tarlac Post-Collision

The BRP Tarlac is one of the largest ships in the Philippine Navy where it can carry up to 500 troops and conduct amphibious operations. However, a situation caused it to somewhat dented a bit to the very hull that rethinks the way of defending them. Just wondering that it comes with a question: "What is it today? Is it that totally fixed?" Albeit the fewer reports, but this topic will simply make an assurance where things are deemed alright.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Russian navy personnel aboard RFS Varyag while BRP Tarlac is in
the background. From Arjhay Tabios, DefensePH FB Group Page.

The BRP Tarlac is one of the largest ships the Philippine Navy has at present where its sister-ship BRP Davao del Sur is on its way from PT PAL Indonesia where these ships were made. They are categorized as Landing Platform Docks designed for deploying and conducting amphibious operations as well as command and control platform during the war and being a floating hospital as well as a support logistics platform in times of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) situations. These features in which may find helpful not only for the navy but as well for the government where it will serve the country in various features aforementioned.

However, months after being commissioned in service, the BRP Tarlac collides with a Tanker named Tosca off the coast of Zamboanga City's Western Mindanao Command where the ship's hull takes minor yet significant damage in which good enough, it only hit the front part of the ship as well as on its sides that dents of the collision are clearly seen after it took place where it is not as worse in the sense that one may worry if the ship was disabled or not.

The dent after the collision. From Philippine Navy via Sunstar Website.

Even after the incident, the Philippine Navy said that the BRP Tarlac despite all of the damages given is still operational at that time wherein its role can still be given out at that period given. Apparently, no one was hurt on that incident. This is a glad thing to see that the ship is still afloat and functioning well in the sense that it is just still months old from being commissioned as one of the largest ships in the fleet that enhances the Philippine Navy's mandate not only to defend waters at battle but as well to further improve its logistics chain which also consists of ships like BRP Tagbanua, the Balikpapan-class LCUs from Australia, among others.

THE WEAPONS OPTIONS AND REPAIR RESULTS

No more dents! From Brylle Osete.

Last year, Indonesian shipbuilder and BRP Tarlac-class maker PT PAL Persero confirms to IHS Janes in ADAS 2016 that rectification works for the said ship will be initiated with the worst-case scenario of major repairs being considered where it will be sent back to Indonesia for it to undertake. So far, as other defense outlets' reports are concerned, it was done in the country with the help of PT PAL technicians where the ship's dents are fixed where the said photos especially the ones during the RFNS Varyag's visit confirms it where various photographers like Arjhay and Brylle capture it to end questions once and for all.

The hull was now fixed. From Brylle Osete.

More unto this, before the ship is seen docked aside with the visiting Russian cruiser, it was seen in Zamboanga in action weeks before wherein this newly-repaired ship was deemed active in its mandate where it was deployed on areas it needs the most. More unto this, several photos about the ship before its docking are out where various individuals managed to take photos where at that time, the said ship was seen clearly off the coast of the city. Also to take note that the collision also took place in the said city that causes minor damage where the point of this topic is taken. This in which, gives a glimpse of where the said ship is active in its duties.

More unto this, it was even shared by one of our contributors in PDA like Je R Ome where the said ship was spotted just off Manila South Harbor Anchorage where it also shows its shape where the dent on the other side was deemed fixed as the way it is before the Russian cruiser visit which has provided harder evidence. These said photos were sent last April 13, 2017. Check them out right here.

In such an incident like a collision that happens to this ship last year, it raises doubts on the overall security of the ship where at present, it was equipped with light weapons like this .50cal machine gun mount where defense-wise, it simply cannot suffice the needs. The deeper meaning lying here is that hard-kill defensive weapons like a dedicated close-in weapons system (CIWS), as well as other weapons suite like a main 76mm cannon, series of decoys, and other defense amenities, are more of a necessity considering that such ship being deployed in the Sulu Sea just like last year needs to defend itself from potential threats where the incident gives a hard lesson to obtain knowledge about such a matter. 

Apparently, arming it with various weapons is planned as a separate purchase or in that case, as a Fitted For, But Not With (FFBNW) provision. And in this, no details are given about it yet aside from the planning as per discussion across defense forums. Hence, the materialization of it remains to be seen wherein it comes with hopes that these ships, being huge military assets of the Philippine Navy, shall be capable of defending themselves where these Landing Platform Docks are too essential to obtain.

THE BOTTOMLINE

The BRP Tarlac, as seen in photos, is already fixed where it was done locally with the help of P.T. PAL Persero. In that, it is already commendable where the hull's integrity was inspected, ensured and the dents repaired where in that is a good thing to see where the Landing Platform Dock is in good condition once again. Moreover, in that coincides one concern, that is the necessity of arming the ship to defend itself as well as the procedures it coincides so that such incident will never happen again. 

That being told, the lessons that are gathered in such a mishap are somewhat a necessary step for the Navy to learn more about the necessary alternative courses of action that will see fit on this matter that in this comes the growth in all degrees from military assets to the personnel skills and better standard operating procedures it coincides or supplements. 

That being said, this is detrimental to the goals wherein lessons are to be gathered, assessed, and integrated. And it is applied not only to the Navy's Sail Plan but also to the AFP Modernization Program in general wherein it lies the hopes and dreams of having an effective deterrence by the year 2028 and beyond.

See also: Philippine Navy's First Landing Platform Dock - The Pitzviews

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