A WWII-Era Ship's Accidental Sinking Cancels Military Exercise
US-Philippine joint naval exercise aborted after historic warship sinks prematurely
In Manila, a Philippine Navy vessel, the BRP Miguel Malvar, built during WWII, was supposed to be the target in a joint combat exercise between American and Filipino forces. However, fate had other plans as the dilapidated ship sank prematurely in rough seas near the South China Sea.
This unfortunate incident occurred before the scheduled mock assault. Consequently, the drill had to be called off, though other live-fire maneuvers moved forward in Zambales.
The BRP Miguel Malvar was initially commissioned by the U.S. Navy but was later transferred to Vietnam's navy before the Philippine military acquired it. As a patrol vessel, it had a distinguished history, participating in various operations, including anti-terrorist missions and the 2021 Whitsun Reef incident [1].
The aged vessel, however, failed to withstand the harsh sea conditions during the towing process, and it swiftly sank approximately 30 nautical miles off the western Philippine province of Zambales. No crew was on board at the time of sinking [2].
American and Philippine forces pressed on with other activities, disregarding the untimely demise of the ship. The BRP Miguel Malvar had been built by the U.S. Navy in the 1940s and served in the Vietnamese Navy before the Philippine military acquired it [3].
Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado stated that the ship was an 80-year-old warhorse and simply couldn't withstand the rough seas [3].
Unfortunately, the ship-sinking exercise was planned in an area facing the contested Scarborough Shoal. This area is closely guarded by Chinese forces and is claimed by both the Philippines and China. In recent years, there have been increasing confrontations between the two nations in the waters and airspace of Scarborough Shoal [4].
The canceled drill would have been the third such exercise between treaty allies in recent years, and it was expected to showcase the robust U.S.-Philippines alliance against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. Critics, however, question the long-term commitment of the U.S. toward the region [3].
Several nations, including Japan, Japanse forces, and British marines, participated as observers in these exercises. The U.S. and the Philippines have consistently maintained that these exercises are not aimed at China but serve as a deterrent to acts of aggression in the region [5].
[References]1. Enrichment Data: Historical Operations of BRP Miguel Malvar.2. "80-Year-Old Dilapidated" Ship Sinks in Philippines, Canceling Military Exercise.3. "USS Brattleboro (PCE(R)-852)" from NavSource Online: U.S. Navy Ships.4. Philippines-China Standoff: The Clash at Scarborough Shoal.5. Balikatan Exercises: US and Philippines Strengthen their Alliance.
- The sinking of the Philippine Navy vessel, the BRP Miguel Malvar, which served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was later transferred to the Vietnamese Navy and then to the Philippine military, occurred prematurely during a tow in rough seas near the South China Sea.
- The canceled joint military exercise between American and Filipino forces, which would have featured the BRP Miguel Malvar as a target, was planned in an area facing the contested Scarborough Shoal, claimed by both the Philippines and China, and closely guarded by Chinese forces.
- Despite the untimely demise of the BRP Miguel Malvar, other live-fire maneuvers moved forward in Zambales, and American and Philippine forces continued with other activities, disregarding the sunken ship.
- The BRP Miguel Malvar, which had served in various operations including anti-terrorist missions and the 2021 Whitsun Reef incident, was over 80 years old and, according to Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado, could not withstand the rough seas it encountered during the towing process.
