Philippine warship tests firepower in Hawaii naval exercises

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy’s warship, BRP Antonio Luna, has tested its main guns at the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises in Honolulu, Hawaii.

During the Gunnery Exercise phase of the activities held from July 12 to 16, the missile-capable frigate showed other participants from across the globe its firepower capabilities.

Naval Pubic Affairs Office chief Commander Benjo Negranza said the warship’s main guns and other batteries were put to a test in a series of live fire events.

He said BRP Antonio Luna was able to fire and test the accuracy of its main battery 76mm Super Rapid Gun, 30mm Smash Aselsan and 50-caliber machine gun, aiming at the hammer-head targets deployed by the Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Winnipeg while underway.

Negranza said that during the Naval Surface Fire Support Rodeo exercise, the Super Rapid Gun was again tested by targeting two-dimensional virtual land information.

According to him, the Philippine frigate and other participants were given a practice run for gunfire corrections prior to proceeding with the record firing.

Negranza said RIMPAC 2022 helps to gauge and validate the Philippine Navy’s capacity to sustain operations overseas, as well as provides resources and an environment that permit international participants to achieve their individual and collective training objectives.

Twenty-six countries, 25,000 naval personnel, 38 ships, four submarines and more than 170 aircraft are participating in the US-led naval events until Aug. 12.

Last week, US Third Fleet Commander Michael Boyle met with the officials and crew of BRP Antonio Luna.