BRP Rizal ( PS - 74 ) The BRP " Rizal " ( PS - 74 ) is the lead ship and first of two " Rizal " class ships in service with the Philippine Navy . She is formerly an ex - USN " Auk " class minesweeper that were produced during World War II , and is now classified as a patrol corvette protecting the vast waters of the Philippines . Along with other ex - World War II veteran ships of the Philippine Navy , she is considered as one of the oldest active fighting ships in the world today . History . US Navy ( 1945 - 1965 ) . was commissioned with the US Navy in 1945 , her duty was to sweep mines along the Japanese and Korean waters from January 1946 until April the same year . She was decommissioned in 1948 and was placed with the Pacific Reserve Fleet . She was again recommissioned in 1950 . She arrived Yokosuka , Japan , in August 1951 to aid U . N . forces meeting the challenge of Communist aggression . Departing Yokosuka 21 August , she sailed to Korea , participating in operations north of Wonsan , in the Hungnam , Songjin , and Chongjin areas . She continued sweeping and patrol duties off Korea in 1952 , capturing and destroying several enemy sampans , until July , when she returned to the west coast . " Murrelet " started a second tour of duty off Korea in April 1953 , returning to Long Beach in December . " Murrelet " received five battle stars for Korean service . Redesignated MSF - 372 , 7 February 1955 , she continued to operate off the west coast . She decommissioned 14 March 1957 , and was assigned to the Pacific Reserve fleet . Struck from the Naval Register 1 December 1964 , she was transferred 18 June 1965 to the Philippine Republic under the Military Assistance Program . Philippine Navy ( 1965 - present ) . She was commissioned with the Philippine Navy on 18 June 1965 and was renamed RPS " Rizal " ( E - 69 ) , but was later on re - classified as a corvette and renamed to RPS " Rizal " ( PS - 69 ) under a new ship classification scheme implemented between 1965 and 1966 . Again in June 1980 she was renamed BRP " Rizal " ( PS - 69 ) using a new localized prefix . She was stricken from the navy in 1994 , but was overhauled and returned to service in 1995 . Some of her weapons were also removed , mainly its anti - submarine equipments due to lack of spare parts . This includes the five Mk6 depth charge projectors and two depth charge racks . This move totally removed her anti - submarine warfare capabilities , which is in fact outdated at present conditions . " Rizal " completed restoration works in January 1996 , wherein she was renumbered and recommissioned as BRP " Rizal " ( PS - 74 ) , which is used to this day . Recent upgrades includes a satellite radio dish for communications . Her current classification is Patrol Corvette . She is currently assigned to the Patrol Force of the Philippine Fleet . Notable Deployments . Naval Exercises . The " Rizal " is included in the Philippine Navy ' s representatives at CARAT 2005 , together with BRP " Emilio Jacinto " ( PS - 35 ) , BRP " Bacolod City " ( LC - 550 ) , BRP " Hilario Ruiz " ( PG - 378 ) , and BRP " Timoteo Figoracion " ( PG - 389 ) . " Rizal " was also part of the Philippine Navy contingent that joined Exercise SEAGULL 03 - 07 , which was held in Brunei from September 2 to 10 , 2007 . Together with BRP " Federico Martir " ( PG - 385 ) , and Royal Brunei Navy participating ships KDB " Pejuang " P03 , KDB " Seteria " P04 , KDB " Perwira " P14 and KDB " Penyerang " P16 , they conducted series of drills , including Mine Clearance , Under Water Operations , Replenishment at Sea , Night Encounter Exercise , Boarding Exercise and Other Naval Tactical Exercises . " Rizal " , together with Malaysian ships KD " Ganas " and KD " Sri Perlis " and Philippine Navy ships BRP " Nicolas Mahusay " and BRP " Bonny Serrano " , participated in joint border patrol exercises from June to July 2008 . On July 2011 , " Rizal " , together with BRP " Pangasinan " ( PS - 31 ) and US Navy ships USS " Howard " ( DDG - 83 ) and USS " Chung - Hoon " ( DDG - 93 ) , took part in the sea phase bilateral exercises Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training ( CARAT ) Philippines 2011 . Other Incidents . " Rizal " was involved in a collision with a Chinese fishing boat off Scarborough Shoal on 23 May 1999 . This incident sparked a diplomatic protest by the Chinese government since they are claiming that the PN ship collided with the fishing boat " on - purpose " . Incidentally , the shoal is claimed by the Chinese government as part of their territory . On 19 June 2009 " Rizal " took part in the rescue of Indonesian - registered tugboat MT " Benoa " with 10 people on board , and towed the distressed boat to San Fernando City pier . On 18 October 2011 " Rizal " was involved in an minor accidental collision with a Chinese boat towing 25 smaller boats . The incident happened in the Recto Bank area , which is within the Philippine EEZ . The Chinese boat retreated and left behind the 25 sampans , which the " Rizal " towed back to Ulugan Bay in Palawan . Technical Details . Armaments . As a minesweeper , the ship was originally armed with one forward Mk . 26 3 " / 50 caliber dual purpose gun , two single Bofors 40 mm guns , 1 Hedgehog depth charge projector , four depth charge projectiles ( K - guns ) and two depth charge tracks . Upon transfer to the Philippine Navy , her mine sweeping equipments were removed , and refitted her armaments . An additional Mk . 26 3 " / 50 caliber dual purpose gun was fitted aft , and her two single Bofors 40 mm guns were replaced by two twin Mk . 1 Bofors 40 mm guns . She was also refitted with two twin Mk . 24 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon s and six 324mm Torpedo Tubes on two triple - mounts . A small helicopter flight deck was later added , requiring the removal of the aft Mk . 26 3 " / 50 caliber gun . During its overhaul and refit between 1995 to 1996 , the Philippine Navy removed her old anti - submarine weapons and systems , and made some changes in the armament set - up . Her flight deck was also removed . Final armaments fitted to the ship are two Mk . 26 3 " / 50 - caliber gun ( one forward and one aft ) , two twin Mk . 1 Bofors 40 mm cannons ( aft ) , one twin Mk . 24 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon s ( forward ) , and four M2 Browning 12 . 7 mm / 50 caliber machine guns . This made the ship lighter and ideal for surface patrols , but losing her limited anti - submarine warfare capability . Machinery . She underwent completed a rehabilitation overhaul in 1995 , by Hatch & Kirk , wherein she was fitted with two remanufactured GM EMD 16V - 645C diesel engines with a combined power of around driving two propellers . The main engines can propel the ship at a maximum speed of around . It has a maximum range of at a speed of . The ship was also equipped with state - of - the - art safety equipment on deck and engine room with all digital control panels . Electronics . Also during the refit the ship ' s Raytheon SPS - 5C surface search radar and DAS - 3 navigation radar was replaced by a Raytheon AN / SPS - 64 ( V ) 11 surface search and navigation radar system . Later modifications included the installation of an additional Furuno navigation radar , long range and satellite communications systems , and GPS system standard to all Philippine Navy ships .