Philippine Navy

The Philippine Navy (PN) is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".

Philippine Navy ships are prefixed "BRP" (Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas or Bapor ng Republika ng Pilipinas; in English, "Ship of the Republic of the Philippines.")Philippine Navy Information Manual 1995 - Adoption of Pilipino Translation of "Bapor ng Republika ng Pilipinas"

On January 4, 2011, Rear Admiral Alexander Pama assumed command as the new FOIC.

History

The Philippine Revolution and First Philippine Republic (1896-1901)

The need of a naval force was illustrated when the Filipino revolutionaries included a provision in the Biak-na-Bato Constitution authorizing the government to license privateers to engage foreign enemy vessels.

In the English version of the same constitution, it was stipulated that after the army was organized, another such force should be created for the protection of the coasts of the Philippines and its seas, with a Secretary of the Navy being appointed to head this force.

The infant Philippine Navy was established during the Philippine Revolution, when General Emilio Aguinaldo formed the Revolutionary Navy, which then consisted of the pinnace Magdalo and several steam launch captured from the Spanish. The Navy refitted...
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