PH, US navies test weapons in West Philippine Sea as Balikatan drills continue

The Philippine, US, and French navies participated in the Surface Gun Exercise (GUNNEX), which tested their live-fire capabilities and communication skills. Armed Forces of the Philippines

WEST PHILIPPINE SEA — Naval vessels of the Philippines and the United States on Monday mounted heavy machine guns and fired at a buoy in the West Philippine Sea, east of several shoals being illegally claimed by China, as the Balikatan exercises continued outside the Philippines’ territorial waters.

At past 10 a.m., landing platform dock USS Somerset fired at the “killer tomato” — an orange buoy — that served as the target for the Balikatan flotilla practicing its weapons.

BRP Davao del Sur and BRP Ramon Alcaraz followed with more shots using their caliber .50 heavy machine guns.

The Philippine, US, and French navies participated in the Surface Gun Exercise (GUNNEX), which tested their live-fire capabilities and communication skills. Armed Forces of the Philippines

“I’m very satisfied sa performance ng mga tao natin. Dito natin makikita yung husay at galing ng mga sailors, mga mandaragat,” said Commander Marco Sandalo, commanding officer of the BRP Davao del Sur.

“Malaking opportunity ito especially sa ating training and nakikita ko yung excitement and katuwaan sa tropa natin na mayroon na naman tayong matututunan na bago coming from our allies and partners especially during these exercises,” he said.

(I’m very satisfied with the performance of our personnel here. We can see the skills and abilities of our sailors and navy. This is a big opportunity to train, and I can see their excitement and joy in learning new concepts from our allies and partners especially during these exercises.)

It remains unclear why USS Harper’s Ferry — which was at the tail-end of the flotilla — was unable to fire its weapons.

“We are only allowed to conduct a serial for one hour,” Sandalo said.

“Minsan may limitations yung elevation and yung mga baril natin. Kung medyo malapit yung target, yung elevation niya is also affected so hindi ko masabi kung ano talaga yung reason kung bakit hindi nakapag paputok si Harper’s Ferry,” he added.

(Sometimes there are limitations to our guns because of the elevation. If the target is too near, its elevation is also affected so I can’t really pinpoint the reason why Harper’s Ferry was unable to fire its guns.)

The Philippine, US, and French navies participated in the Surface Gun Exercise (GUNNEX), which tested their live-fire capabilities and communication skills. Armed Forces of the Philippines 

The gunnery exercises were held 35 nautical miles from the town of Quezon in Palawan.

The area is adjacent to the Escoda Shoal, the Ayungin Shoal and the Panganiban Reef, areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but are being surrounded by Chinese naval vessels and maritime militia.

China sent three naval ships, instead of the usual lone vessel, to monitor the exercises some 5 nautical miles away from BRP Davao del Sur, the Philippine Navy’s largest sea craft joining the exercises.

“Never naman tayong na-intimidate as long as we have conducted yung ating exercise na safe,” Sandalo said.

(We were never intimidated as long as we conducted our exercises safely.)

“We were able to perform together with our counterparts or partners during the multinational maritime exercise,” he said.

US Navy helicopter from USS Somerset (LPD-25) performs precise flight maneuvers. Armed Forces of the Philippines

French frigate Vendemiaire rejoined the flotilla around 3 p.m., and conducted a vertical landing exercise, where some of its troops rappelled from a hovering helicopter onto the deck of BRP Davao del Sur.

“For the vessels, very important talaga yung pag-conduct ng transfer ng mga personnel and cargo utilizing yung ating mga helicopters or aircraft,” Sandalo said, noting that this is crucial in rescue operations.

(It is very important for vessels to conduct trainings on the transfer of personnel and cargo utilizing helicopters or aircraft.)

The flotilla is expected to continue practicing their naval formations before launching an amphibious raid drill in Rizal town, Palawan.

The April 30 drill is designed to clear and prepare an isolated area for the arrival and mounting of the United States’ high-mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS).