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USS Cyclone (PC-1)
Encyclopedia
USS Cyclone (PC-1) was the first of the Navy's Cyclone
class coastal patrol ships. As the first of her class, Cyclone served as the test bed for this series of 14 vessels. She was laid down at Bollinger Shipyards
, in Lockport, Louisiana
, on 22 June 1990, launched on 1 February 1992, and commissioned on 7 August 1993.
(SOF) insertion and extraction as well as other SOF support duties as needed.
The ship's operational capabilities were designed to meet the unique requirements of its Special Warfare missions. Operationally, Cyclone was capable of accelerating from stop to 35 knots (68.6 km/h) in under three minutes, then move from full ahead to 15 knots (29.4 km/h) astern in 60 seconds. In high-speed, hard-over turns, the ship barely heeled as the automatic stabilizers engaged.
Originally armed with two Mk38 25 mm chain guns fore and aft, several pintle mounts for attaching .50 caliber machine guns
or Mk19 grenade launchers, and a position for launching Stinger
shoulder-fired SAMs, the Cyclone, along with others of her class, were upgraded early on by replacing the after Mk38 mount with the new Mk96 platform. The Mk96 combines both a 25 mm chain gun and a 40 mm grenade launcher on a single stabilized platform. The Mk96 features an electro-optical fire control system with 27x zoom, infrared and low-light modes, a laser rangefinder, and an array of environmental sensors, which feed data into the ballistics computer to produce an accurate firing solution even while maneuvering at high speed. The computer can also interface with the Stinger SAMs carried on board. The Navy was positive about the performance of the Mk96 and briefly considered up-gunning the 25 mm Bushmaster cannon to a 30 mm or even 35 mm cannon, but due to the high price this never came to pass.
She was then transferred to the United States Coast Guard
the next day, being re-commissioned as the USCGC Cyclone (WPC 1). The Coast Guard lacked an effective vessel sized between its 110' patrol cutter and the 210' Medium Endurance Cutter, so there was considerable interest in Cyclone at first. However, her high operating costs were prohibitive and thus she sat largely inactive.
on 8 March 2004, as part of a US military aid package to the Philippines
, in an effort to bolster interdiction and counterterrorism capabilities. She was rechristened BRP Mariano Alvarez (PS-38)
, in honor of a revolutionary general
in the Philippine war of independence
against Spain.
Cyclone class patrol ship
The Cyclone class patrol ships are a class of United States Navy coastal patrol boats. Most of these ships were launched between 1992 and 1994....
class coastal patrol ships. As the first of her class, Cyclone served as the test bed for this series of 14 vessels. She was laid down at Bollinger Shipyards
Bollinger Shipyards
Bollinger Shipyards is an American constructor of ships, workboats and patrol vessels.The firm was founded in 1946.Its thirteen shipyards and forty drydocks are located in Louisiana and Texas....
, in Lockport, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, on 22 June 1990, launched on 1 February 1992, and commissioned on 7 August 1993.
Ship's History
The primary mission of Cyclone was to serve as a platform for conducting maritime special operations, including interdiction, escort, noncombatant evacuation, reconnaissance, operational deception, intelligence collection, and tactical swimmer operations. Her small size, stealthy construction and high speed were tailored to performing long-range Special Operations ForcesSeals
Seals may refer to:In military:* United States Navy SEALs, the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force* Royal Thai Navy SEALs, part of the Royal Thai NavyIn sport:* Florida Seals, a minor league ice hockey team from 2002 and 2007...
(SOF) insertion and extraction as well as other SOF support duties as needed.
The ship's operational capabilities were designed to meet the unique requirements of its Special Warfare missions. Operationally, Cyclone was capable of accelerating from stop to 35 knots (68.6 km/h) in under three minutes, then move from full ahead to 15 knots (29.4 km/h) astern in 60 seconds. In high-speed, hard-over turns, the ship barely heeled as the automatic stabilizers engaged.
Originally armed with two Mk38 25 mm chain guns fore and aft, several pintle mounts for attaching .50 caliber machine guns
.50 BMG
The .50 Browning Machine Gun or 12.7×99mm NATO is a cartridge developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s. Entering service officially in 1921, the round is based on a greatly scaled-up .30-06 cartridge...
or Mk19 grenade launchers, and a position for launching Stinger
FIM-92 Stinger
The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile , which can be adapted to fire from ground vehicles and helicopters , developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981. Used by the militaries of the U.S...
shoulder-fired SAMs, the Cyclone, along with others of her class, were upgraded early on by replacing the after Mk38 mount with the new Mk96 platform. The Mk96 combines both a 25 mm chain gun and a 40 mm grenade launcher on a single stabilized platform. The Mk96 features an electro-optical fire control system with 27x zoom, infrared and low-light modes, a laser rangefinder, and an array of environmental sensors, which feed data into the ballistics computer to produce an accurate firing solution even while maneuvering at high speed. The computer can also interface with the Stinger SAMs carried on board. The Navy was positive about the performance of the Mk96 and briefly considered up-gunning the 25 mm Bushmaster cannon to a 30 mm or even 35 mm cannon, but due to the high price this never came to pass.
Decommissioning and transfer
As good a design as it is, Cyclone had barely gone into service in the mid-1990s when the Special Operations Command rejected them as too big for commando missions, and the regular surface Navy dismissed them as too small for any of its missions. The Navy began looking for ways to phase out Cyclone and her sister ships, so on 28 February 2000, Cyclone was decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list.She was then transferred to the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
the next day, being re-commissioned as the USCGC Cyclone (WPC 1). The Coast Guard lacked an effective vessel sized between its 110' patrol cutter and the 210' Medium Endurance Cutter, so there was considerable interest in Cyclone at first. However, her high operating costs were prohibitive and thus she sat largely inactive.
Transferred
USS Cyclone(PC-1) was eventually sold under FMS to the Philippine NavyPhilippine Navy
The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines"....
on 8 March 2004, as part of a US military aid package to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, in an effort to bolster interdiction and counterterrorism capabilities. She was rechristened BRP Mariano Alvarez (PS-38)
BRP Mariano Alvarez (PS-38)
The BRP General Mariano Alvarez is the lone ship of the same class of coastal patrol ships in service with the Philippine Navy. Historically, she is the lead ship of the Cyclone class prior to being transferred to the Philippine Navy, thereby making it the only navy other than the US Navy to...
, in honor of a revolutionary general
Mariano Álvarez
Mariano Álvarez was a Filipino revolutionary and politician.-Pre-war life:Álvarez was born in Noveleta, Cavite. He received formal schooling at the San José College in Manila, and obtained a teacher's diploma. He returned to Cavite and worked as a schoolteacher in Naic and Maragondon. He was...
in the Philippine war of independence
Philippine Revolution
The Philippine Revolution , called the "Tagalog War" by the Spanish, was an armed military conflict between the people of the Philippines and the Spanish colonial authorities which resulted in the secession of the Philippine Islands from the Spanish Empire.The Philippine Revolution began in August...
against Spain.