Although it is a patrol ship, the Hamilton-class ship that the US has agreed to transfer to Vietnam can completely become a warship with heavy weapons.
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| According to information released by the American manufacturer Avondale, the Hamilton-class ship has a size and displacement that is no less than that of large frigates. The ship has a displacement of up to 3,250 tons, a length of more than 115m, a width of over 13m, a draft of 4.6m, and a crew of 167 sailors and staff. |
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| However, because it was designed as a patrol ship, firepower is not the strength of the Hamilton. However, this patrol ship can completely turn into a real warship with heavy weapons by implementing some suitable upgrade packages. |
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| It is known that during the Cold War, the US armed a Hamilton-class patrol ship - the USCGC Mellon (WHEC 717) to enable it to take on the role of anti-surface ship, air defense, as well as anti-submarine warfare, to support the US Navy when necessary. |
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| After the conversion, the ship was equipped with a Mk 141 launcher for Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles right behind the main gun, in front of the conning tower; along with a surface reconnaissance radar to guide anti-ship missiles; accompanied by a hull-mounted sonar, along with 6 324 mm anti-submarine torpedo tubes; the Phalanx CIWS system was added. |
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| With this upgrade package, the plan to turn Hamilton-class patrol ships into warships with heavy weapons is very feasible and this is also the dream of the Philippines. |
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| Philippine media wants to equip its Hamilton ship with Sperry Mk 92 Mod 1 fire control radar, Raytheon Furuno AN/SPS-73 surface search and navigation radar, AN/SPS-40 air surveillance radar; along with RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, FIM-92 Stinger shoulder-fired missiles, Gatling guns, and lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes. |
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| However, if the country carrying out the conversion is Russia, it will not be too difficult to install the Garpun-Bal fire control radar on top of the front tower, the Pozitiv-ME air reconnaissance radar on top of the rear tower, and replace the Mk 141 launcher with the KT-184 type of Kh-35 Uran-E missile. |
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| With these options, the Hamilton-class patrol ship can completely transform into a real warship with a larger size and weight than the current Gepard 3.9 frigate of the Vietnam Navy. |
According to Baodatviet
