BRP Rajah Humabon – June 8,2017

The BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-11) is a former destroyer escort of the United States Navy and is now a frigate of the Philippine Navy. It is the last World War II-era destroyer escort/frigate active in its fleet and is one of the oldest active warships in the world. She is one of three ex-USN Cannon-class destroyer escorts that served the Philippine Navy. The others being BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5/PS-77) and BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76).

BRP Rajah Humabon at Rivera pier Subic Bay

Remained laid-up in Japan, she was transferred to the Philippine government on 13 September 1976 and was Transferred as an Excess Defense Article on 23 December 1978.As a Philippine Navy ship, she was named RPS Rajah Humabon (PS-78), and was towed to South Korea for an extensive refit and modernization in 1979.During this period South Korea also turned over 2 of their own ex-USN Cannon class ships to the US Navy in 1977, namely the Kyong Ki (DE-71) / USS Muir (DE-770) and Kang Won (DE-72) / USS Sutton (DE-771). These were also turned-over by the US to the Philippine government, which were later on cannibalized for use as parts hulk to upgrade and repair the Rajah Humabon and her sistership Datu Sikatuna, and provide both ships with additional guns and improved machinery.

With these upgrades, she was formally commissioned to the Philippine Navy on 27 February 1980, and formed the backbone of the Philippine Fleet together with 2 of her sister ships and other ex-US Navy destroyer escorts. She was renamed and reclassified as BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-6) effective 23 June 1980, now using the “BRP” ship prefix in lieu of “RPS” and following a new standard classifying it as a “Frigate”, and served until 1993 when she was retired. But due to pressing needs, she was later called back into service in 1995 after being overhauled at the Cavite Naval Dockyard by Hatch & Kirk Inc, and was formally recommissioned in January 1996 as BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11) with a new hull number.

First Published: wikipedia.org