South Korea to Gift Corvette to Philippines Navy

Po Hang class corvettes (photo : Chosun)

Po Hang Retires To The Tropics

South Korea is donating one of its recently retired Po Hang class corvettes to the Philippines Navy. The Po Hangs are 1,200 ton warships that first entered service in 1984. Since then 24 have been built. Each is armed with four Harpoon anti-ship missiles, one 76mm cannon; two twin 40mm automatic cannon, six torpedo tubes and twelve depth charges. The crew of 95 also operates radar and sonar. Top speed is 59 kilometers an hour. Two Po Hangs have been retired so far, and one was sunk by a North Korean torpedo last year.

The Philippines is an island nation, with 7,100 islands to defend. Long crippled by corruption and bad government, the Philippines have never had much money to spend on the military (or anything else.) Wealthier nations have found it good diplomacy to donate military equipment to the Philippines. The Filipinos appreciate it; because donated military gear is something the thieving politicians have a hard time stealing.

Russian Marines To Get New Tracked Amphibia

The new vehicle will be designed by JSC Kurganmashzavod and will be capable to move both on land and at sea staying afloat even in strong sea disturbance. (image : Kurgan)

Russian defense ministry ordered a new tracked combat vehicle to be designed specially for the Navy but not refitted from army hardware. According toIzvestiya, new self-propelled vehicle will be capable to move both on land and at sea staying afloat even in strong sea disturbance. The new naval combat vehicle will be designed by JSC Kurganmashzavod.New vehicle will be based on multipurpose tracked carrier which will be also used in other types of combat vehicles for the Army, Airborne Troops, and air defense mounts. Naval version will be equipped with engine-driven screw making possible to sail at speed up to 25-30 kph.By initial estimates, naval tracked combat vehicle will be fielded in 2015-2016. The military expect new vehicle to widen the range of tasks. In particular, landing troops will reach coast in half an hour during over-the-horizon discharge. Currently used BMP-1 and BMP-2 are non-effective in sea disturbance, so are not frequently used in landing drills.At present, landing troops are mostly delivered by navy-adapted BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, landing ships or boats. According to a source, defense ministry does not order the latter ones focusing on procurement of French Mistral-class assault landing docks capable to put afloat troops beyond the horizon.It was reported late in 2009 that all marine units would be completely rearmed by 2015. Procurement of new hardware will be carried out under State Arms Program 2011-2020. The document provides deliveries of main battle tanks T-90, infantry combat vehicles BMP-3, armored personnel carriers BTR-82A, combat reconnaissance landing vehicles BRDM-3, 120-mm self-propelled guns 2S31 Vena, modernized small arms, grenade launchers, and antiaircraft assets.