Now the Philippine Navy’s largest vessel, BRP Gregorio del Pilar was laid down 1967 as the Hamilton, first of a class of 378-foot high endurance, Secretary Class (named after former Secretaries of the U.S. Treasury) cutter. Built primarily as a patrol ship for open ocean and long range operations, for decades they were the largest cutters in USCG inventory until the Polar Class cutters were laid down.
With a flight deck capable of landing a helicopter and a retractable hangar, these cutters were introduced to the U.S. Coast Guard inventory in the 1960s. Through the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program that started in the 1980s ending in 1992 the entire class was modernized, which included the replacement of their original 5 inch (127 mm) gun with a much more modern 3 inch (76 mm) weapon.
The vessel was formally acquired by the Philippines last May 13 and is the first military acquisition of the Aquino administration through the Excess Defense Article (EDA) program of the United States. The BRP Gregorio del Pilar will be dry-docked, retrofitted, and given a fresh coat of paint showing the color gray of the Philippine Navy. The Navy expects to commission the ship after one month.The vessel is named after the youngest Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution who famously gave up his life in the Battle of Tirad Pass, protecting the retreating party of President Emilio Aguinaldo.
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