page_title: BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16)
section_title: Exercises
hierarchical_section_title: BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) / Notable operational deployments / Exercises
caption_attribution_description: English: 180712-N-OU129-033 SOUTH CHINA SEA (July 12, 2018) Philippine Navy ships BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16) sail in formation with the USNS Millinocket (T-EPF 3) during the at-sea portion of Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Sama Sama 2018. The week-long engagement focuses on the full spectrum of naval capabilities and is designed to strengthen the close partnership between both navies while cooperatively ensuring maritime security, stability and prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Fulton/Released)
context_page_description: BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) is the second ship of the Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels of the Philippine Navy. From 1968 to 2012, she was known as USCGC Dallas and served the United States Coast Guard as a high endurance cutter. She was decommissioned on 30 March 2012 and acquired by the Philippines under the Excess Defense Articles and the Foreign Assistance Act.
  She is named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Filipino Naval officer and World War II hero best known for receiving a Silver Star for heroism and gallantry during World War II. He is also known for being one of the first officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to criticize the Marcos dictatorship; and for the concept proposal which would make him the "father" of the Philippine Marine Corps.
  She was originally designated as "PF-16" from 2012 to mid-2016. Then the Navy adopted a new code designation system leading to her being redesignated as "FF-16". In February 2019, the Navy downgraded the status of the entire class from frigate to patrol ship and redesignated her to "PS-16".
context_section_description: The ship, together with its sister ship BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15) participated in joint naval maneuvers as part of CARAT 2014 Philippines from June 26 to July 1, 2014. It was scheduled to conduct exercises on gunnery, combined air, surface, anti-submarine operations at sea.
  The ship, together with a naval AW109E helicopter (serial PNH-431), traveled to Northern Australia as a major participant in the KAKADU 2014 Multi-lateral Naval Exercises hosted by the Australian Defence Force from August 25 to September 12, 2014. The ship's crew also participated in boarding training with the Australian Navy before the actual sea-phase of the exercises.
  During the first week of May 2018, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz participated in the Exercise Balikatan 34-2018 with US Forces together with the BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602).
  In the third week of May 2018, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz conducted joint training with HMAS Anzac (FFH 150) around the waters of Negros Island for Exercise Lumbas 2018, a joint Maritime Training Activity between the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Philippine Navy.
  In the second week of July 2018, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz participated in the Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Sama Sama at Naval Station Ernesto Ogbinar in Pampanga with the US Navy (USN) along with the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) Landing Platform Dock. The USN sent the USNS Millinocket (T-EPF-3) Transport Ship, USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) Salvage Ship and a P-8 Poseidon Aircraft for the exercise.
  During the third week of July 2018, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz participated in a Maritime Security Activity (MSA) with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in the waters around Palawan along with the BRP Simeon Castro (PC-374). The RAN sent the vessels HMAS Ararat and HMAS Wollongong for the activity which consists of Ship Training Activities, Maritime Patrols, Maritime Security Threat discussions, among others.
  From August to September 2018, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz participated again in KAKADU 2018 held in Darwin, Australia which is a biennial event and is the largest maritime exercise hosted by Australia. The 2018 version of the exercise included 3,000 personnel, 23 ships, 1 submarine and 21 aircraft from 28 nations. The Alcaraz participated in various maritime activities there including firing its Oto Melara 76 mm caliber main gun in a live fire exercise.
  In May 2019, the ship participated in a 10-day coordinated Sea Patrol and Exercise in the Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea with the KRI Pandrong (801) of the Indonesian Navy. The exercise aimed to improve interoperability and strengthen the capability to secure the seas.
caption: BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) sail in formation during the at-sea portion of Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Sama Sama 2018.
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