Navy ship BRP ‘Antonio Luna’ unleashes full might of armament in RIMPAC naval exercise in Hawaii

THE Philippine Navy’s newest frigate, the BRP Antonio Luna, has tested its full might in the ongoing Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise by unleashing its firepower.

The South Korean-delivered warship unleashed the power of its main gun and other batteries, firing them off for four days as it joined other foreign navy ships in the world’s biggest military exercise.

Navy spokesman Cdr. Benjo Negranza said that during a gunnery exercise, the Antonio Luna fired and tested the accuracy of its main battery 76mm super rapid gun, 30mm Smash Aselsan and caliber 50 machine gun.

The frigate’s armaments were all aimed at the hammer-head targets deployed by the Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Winnipeg.

“During the Naval Surface Fire Support [NSFS] Rodeo exercise, the 76mm super rapid gun was again tested by targeting 2D virtual land information,” Negranza said.

“[The] BRP Antonio Luna and other participants were given a practice run for gunfire corrections prior to proceeding with the record firing,” he said.

Aside from the firing exercises, the Agusta Westland (AW) 109 helicopter embarked on BRP Antonio Luna also participated in the Combined Anti-submarine Warfare Exercise (CASEX) of the RIMPAC.

During the exercise, the personnel onboard a surface or air asset were tasked and trained to recognize a submarine maneuvering broached and submerged at periscope depth.

The wing component of BRP Antonio Luna is composed of pilot-incommand Lt. Philipp Concepcion Padreganda and co-pilots Lt. Elvan Anthony Marcelo and Lt. Junior Grade Kevin John Reforba.

Negranza said the Navy’s Naval Air Wing AW 109 helicopter is among the more than 170 aircraft currently participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.