Navy ship sinks on its own before military exercise in South China Sea
A World War II-era Philippine Navy ship unexpectedly sank before it could be used in a planned target practice drill during joint military exercises by the United States and the Philippines. Military officials from both countries confirmed the incident on Monday.The vessel, named BRP Miguel Malvar, was intended to serve as a target for a mock attack during the Balikatan exercises, which are yearly military exercises involving both countries.advertisementHowever, the ship started to sink as it was towed in choppy seas near the contested South China Sea. It eventually sank around 30 nautical miles off Zambales province in the Philippines.
No one was aboard when the 80-year-old vessel sank into the sea. Philippine military spokespersons said that the ship was in very deplorable condition and could not endure the strong sea environment. "It's an 80-year-old dilapidated ship, and it wasn't able to withstand the rough seas," stated Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado.WWII-ERA VESSEL HAD SURVIVED BATTLESThe vessel was originally constructed in the 1940s and was part of the United States Navy as the USS Brattleboro. It was an important vessel in the Battle of Okinawa, where it treated more than 200 injured soldiers and saved over 1,000 survivors from wrecked ships. For its services in World War II, the vessel received three battle stars.advertisementIn 1966, the ship was transferred to the South Vietnamese Navy by the United States. Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, the crew evacuated and took refuge, while the ship was finally accepted and restored by the Philippine Navy. It served until its eventual retirement in 2021.Although the vessel was no longer in service and was set to fulfil one last role as a target for live fire exercises in the Balikatan.The cancelled sinking of the ship was one of the main scheduled exercises of this year's Balikatan exercises, which run from April 21 to May 9. This year, around 14,000 US and Philippine troops are participating. ALSO READ: Trump's $1,000 offer to migrants who self-deport in fresh mass deportation pushMust Watch
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