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American Military News
06-05-2025
- General
- American Military News
WWII ship sinks ahead of US, Philippine military exercise
A Philippine Navy ship featured in World War II sank on Monday just hours ahead of a joint military exercise between the United States and the Philippines. U.S. and Philippine military officials told The Associated Press that the BRP Miguel Malvar sank on Monday, forcing officials to cancel a maritime strike test that would have involved the sinking of the decommissioned naval vessel as part of the annual Balikatan exercises. The Associated Press reported that the Philippine military confirmed that the decommissioned naval vessel took on water while it was being towed into rough waters facing the South China Sea and sank roughly 30 nautical miles from the Zambales province of the Philippines. The Philippine military added that no individuals were on the ship when it sank on Monday. Philippine Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado told The Associated Press, 'It's an 80-year-old dilapidated ship and it wasn't able to withstand the rough seas.' According to The Associated Press, the BRP Miguel Malvar was decommissioned in 2021 by the Philippine Navy. The outlet noted that Philippine Navy Capt. John Percie Alcos explained the ship was initially constructed in the 1940s as a patrol vessel for the U.S. Navy. READ MORE: US, Philippines hold 'full battle test' drills amid tension with China According to the U.S. Navy's Naval History and Heritage Command, the BRP Miguel Malvar, which was first known as the USS Brattleboro, was used by the U.S. Navy for over 20 years prior to being transferred to the Vietnam People's Navy and later to the Philippine military. Naval History and Heritage Command noted that the Brattleboro earned three battle stars during World War II and played an active role in the Battle of Okinawa, where the ship 'treated over 200 badly wounded men and rescued in excess of 1,000 survivors of ships that sank.' The Associated Press reported that the canceled joint ship-sinking military exercise was initially planned to take place in an area facing the Scarborough Shoal, which has been disputed due to confrontations between the Chinese and Philippine military forces in the region. The outlet noted that the Chinese Coast Guard, the People's Liberation Army's Navy, and suspected militia ships have been observed guarding the Scarborough Shoal, while the Philippines has also defended claims to the Scarborough Shoal. According to The Associated Press, the joint ship-sinking military exercise was expected to be the third ship-sinking exercise to be held by the United States and the Philippines in recent years.
CBS News
05-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
WWII-era ship sinks before it can be sunk as target practice in U.S.-Philippine drills
How the U.S. military could become involved in a dangerous conflict in the South China Sea A World War II-era Philippine navy ship to be used as a target in a combat exercise by American and the Philippine forces accidentally sank Monday hours before the mock assault, prompting the drill to be cancelled, U.S. and Philippine military officials said. The BRP Miguel Malvar, which was decommissioned by the Philippine navy in 2021, took on water while being towed in rough waters facing the disputed South China Sea and sank about 30 nautical miles off the western Philippine province of Zambales. Nobody was onboard when the ship listed then sank, the Philippine military said. American and Philippine forces would proceed with other live-fire maneuvers off Zambales on Monday despite the premature sinking of the Malvar. The ship was built as a patrol vessel for the U.S. Navy in the 1940s and was transferred to Vietnam's navy before the Philippine military acquired it, Philippine navy Capt. John Percie Alcos said. "It's an 80-year-old dilapidated ship and it wasn't able to withstand the rough seas," Philippine Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado told The Associated Press. Originally named the USS Brattleboro, the ship was in service for the U.S. Navy for more than 20 years. It was heavily involved in the Battle of Okinawa where the vessel "treated over 200 badly wounded men and rescued in excess of 1,000 survivors of ships that sank," according to the U.S. Navy. Brattleboro earned three battle stars during World War II. In this handout photo, provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office (PAO), the decommissioned Philippine Navy BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) takes on water before sinking while being positioned as vessel target prompting the cancellation of a live-fire drill as part of a joint U.S.-Philippines military exercises approximately 30 nautical miles west of San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines on Monday, May 5, 2025. / AP The vessel was sold to the Republic of Vietnam in 1966, the U.S. Navy said. The Philippine Navy acquired and refurbished the ship after its crew fled Vietnam following the 1975 fall of Saigon, according to Agence France-Presse. The ship-sinking exercise was planned in an offshore area facing the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal, which has been closely guarded by the Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships. The Philippines also claims the fishing atoll, which lies about 137 miles west of Zambales. Chinese and the Philippine forces have had increasingly hostile confrontations in the waters and airspace of Scarborough in recent years. The cancelled ship-sinking drill would have been the third to be staged by the treaty allies in recent years. It was supposed to be one of the highlights of largescale annual military exercises by the United States and the Philippines from April 21 to May 9 with about 14,000 U.S. and Filipino forces participants. Called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, the combat drills have increasingly focused on the defense of Philippine sovereignty in the face of China's growing aggression in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety. Mock battle scenes which have been staged so far, including the retaking of an island from hostile forces, have reflected assurances by the Trump administration, including by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, that the U.S. would abide by its treaty commitment to defend the Philippines in case Filipino forces come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea. On Sunday, U.S., Australian and Philippine forces practiced retaking an island from hostile forces in the coastal town of Balabac in western Palawan province, which faces the South China Sea. Japanese forces and British marines joined as observers of the combat exercise, which "showcased the growing interoperability and cohesion among partner nations in maintaining regional security," Salgado said. "What we have seen since Trump returned to the White House is a remarkable level of continuity in the U.S.-Philippines alliance not only in joint military drills, but also on American statements that the alliance is 'ironclad,' said Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst at RAND Corporation. "The Trump administration is trying to keep the pressure on China through its support to the Philippines," Grossman said, but added that it's unclear "just how sustainable this commitment will be given that the Trump administration seems less hawkish on China than its predecessors." China has vehemently opposed such exercises involving U.S. forces in or near the South China Sea or Taiwan, the island democracy, which Beijing claims as a province and has threatened to annex by force if necessary. U.S. and Philippine military officials, however, have insisted that the combat exercises were not designed with China in mind but serve as a deterrence to acts of aggression in the region.
Asahi Shimbun
05-05-2025
- General
- Asahi Shimbun
US and Philippine forces cancel ship-sinking drill after World War II-era target prematurely sinks
In this handout photo, provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office (PAO), the decommissioned Philippine Navy BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) takes on water before sinking while being positioned as vessel target prompting the cancellation of a live-fire drill as part of a joint US-Philippines military exercises called Balikatan or "shoulder to shoulder" approximately 30 nautical miles west of San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines on May 5. (Armed Forces of the Philippines PAO via AP) MANILA, Philippines--A World War II-era Philippine navy ship to be used as a target in a combat exercise by American and the Philippine forces accidentally sank Monday hours before the mock assault, prompting the drill to be cancelled, U.S. and Philippine military officials said. The BRP Miguel Malvar, which was decommissioned by the Philippine navy in 2021, took on water while being towed in rough waters facing the disputed South China Sea and sank about 30 nautical miles (55 kilometers) off the western Philippine province of Zambales. Nobody was onboard when the ship listed then sank, the Philippine military said. American and Philippine forces would proceed with other live-fire maneuvers off Zambales on Monday despite the premature sinking of the Malvar. The ship was built as a patrol vessel for the U.S. Navy in the 1940s and was transferred to Vietnam's navy before the Philippine military acquired it, Philippine navy Capt. John Percie Alcos said. "It's an 80-year-old dilapidated ship and it wasn't able to withstand the rough seas,' Philippine Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado told The Associated Press. The ship-sinking exercise was planned in an offshore area facing the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal, which has been closely guarded by the Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships. The Philippines also claims the fishing atoll, which lies about 220 kilometers (137 miles) west of Zambales. Chinese and the Philippine forces have had increasingly hostile confrontations in the waters and airspace of Scarborough in recent years. The cancelled ship-sinking drill would have been the third to be staged by the treaty allies in recent years. It was supposed to be one of the highlights of largescale annual military exercises by the United States and the Philippines from April 21 to May 9 with about 14,000 U.S. and Filipino forces participants. Called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, the combat drills have increasingly focused on the defense of Philippine sovereignty in the face of China's growing aggression in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety. Mock battle scenes which have been staged so far, including the retaking of an island from hostile forces, have reflected assurances by the Trump administration, including by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, that the U.S. would abide by its treaty commitment to defend the Philippines in case Filipino forces come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea. On Sunday, U.S., Australian and Philippine forces practiced retaking an island from hostile forces in the coastal town of Balabac in western Palawan province, which faces the South China Sea. Japanese forces and British marines joined as observers of the combat exercise, which 'showcased the growing interoperability and cohesion among partner nations in maintaining regional security,' Salgado said. "What we have seen since Trump returned to the White House is a remarkable level of continuity in the US-Philippines alliance not only in joint military drills, but also on American statements that the alliance is 'ironclad,' said Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst at RAND Corporation. 'The Trump administration is trying to keep the pressure on China through its support to the Philippines," Grossman said, but added that it's unclear 'just how sustainable this commitment will be given that the Trump administration seems less hawkish on China than its predecessors.' China has vehemently opposed such exercises involving U.S. forces in or near the South China Sea or Taiwan, the island democracy, which Beijing claims as a province and has threatened to annex by force if necessary. U.S. and Philippine military officials, however, have insisted that the combat exercises were not designed with China in mind but serve as a deterrence to acts of aggression in the region.
Arab Times
05-05-2025
- General
- Arab Times
US and Philippine forces cancel ship-sinking drill after WWII-era target sinks
MANILA, Philippines, May 5, (AP): A World War II-era Philippine navy ship to be used as a target in a combat exercise by American and the Philippine forces accidentally sank Monday hours before the mock assault, prompting the drill to be cancelled, US and Philippine military officials said. The BRP Miguel Malvar, which was decommissioned by the Philippine navy in 2021, took on water while being towed in rough waters facing the disputed South China Sea and sank about 30 nautical miles (55 kilometers) off the western Philippine province of Zambales. Nobody was onboard when the ship listed then sank, the Philippine military said. American and Philippine forces would proceed with other live-fire maneuvers off Zambales on Monday despite the premature sinking of the Malvar. The ship was built as a patrol vessel for the US Navy in the 1940s and was transferred to Vietnam's navy before the Philippine military acquired it, Philippine navy Capt John Percie Alcos said. "It's an 80-year-old dilapidated ship and it wasn't able to withstand the rough seas,' Philippine Lt Col John Paul Salgado told The Associated Press. The ship-sinking exercise was planned in an offshore area facing the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal, which has been closely guarded by the Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships. The Philippines also claims the fishing atoll, which lies about 220 kilometers (137 miles) west of Zambales. Chinese and the Philippine forces have had increasingly hostile confrontations in the waters and airspace of Scarborough in recent years. The cancelled ship-sinking drill would have been the third to be staged by the treaty allies in recent years. It was supposed to be one of the highlights of largescale annual military exercises by the United States and the Philippines from April 21 to May 9 with about 14,000 U.S. and Filipino forces participants. Called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, the combat drills have increasingly focused on the defense of Philippine sovereignty in the face of China's growing aggression in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety. Mock battle scenes which have been staged so far, including the retaking of an island from hostile forces, have reflected assurances by the Trump administration, including by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, that the US would abide by its treaty commitment to defend the Philippines in case Filipino forces come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea. On Sunday, US, Australian and Philippine forces practiced retaking an island from hostile forces in the coastal town of Balabac in western Palawan province, which faces the South China Sea.
Boston Globe
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
US and Philippine forces cancel ship-sinking drill after World War II-era target prematurely sinks
'It's an 80-year-old dilapidated ship and it wasn't able to withstand the rough seas,' Philippine Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado told The Associated Press. Advertisement The ship-sinking exercise was planned in an offshore area facing the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal, which has been closely guarded by the Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships. The Philippines also claims the fishing atoll, which lies about 220 kilometers (137 miles) west of Zambales. Chinese and the Philippine forces have had increasingly hostile confrontations in the waters and airspace of Scarborough in recent years. The cancelled ship-sinking drill would have been the third to be staged by the treaty allies in recent years. It was supposed to be one of the highlights of largescale annual military exercises by the United States and the Philippines from April 21 to May 9 with about 14,000 U.S. and Filipino forces participants. Advertisement Called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, the combat drills have increasingly focused on the defense of Philippine sovereignty in the face of China's growing aggression in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety. Mock battle scenes which have been staged so far, including the retaking of an island from hostile forces, have reflected assurances by the Trump administration, including by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, that the U.S. would abide by its treaty commitment to defend the Philippines in case Filipino forces come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea. On Sunday, U.S., Australian and Philippine forces practiced retaking an island from hostile forces in the coastal town of Balabac in western Palawan province, which faces the South China Sea. Japanese forces and British marines joined as observers of the combat exercise, which 'showcased the growing interoperability and cohesion among partner nations in maintaining regional security,' Salgado said. 'What we have seen since Trump returned to the White House is a remarkable level of continuity in the US-Philippines alliance not only in joint military drills, but also on American statements that the alliance is 'ironclad,' said Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst at RAND Corporation. 'The Trump administration is trying to keep the pressure on China through its support to the Philippines,' Grossman said, but added that it's unclear 'just how sustainable this commitment will be given that the Trump administration seems less hawkish on China than its predecessors.' Advertisement China has vehemently opposed such exercises involving U.S. forces in or near the South China Sea or Taiwan, the island democracy, which Beijing claims as a province and has threatened to annex by force if necessary. U.S. and Philippine military officials, however, have insisted that the combat exercises were not designed with China in mind but serve as a deterrence to acts of aggression in the region.
