CABRA

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Patrol boat assisted supply boat which was damaged by Chinese Coastguard

The BRP 'Cabra' assisted the supply boat 'Unaizah May 4', which was chartered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and carrying fresh supplies for Filipino troops stationed at the BRP 'Sierra Madre'. The wooden boat was severely damaged, and three soldiers were hurt, after it was water cannoned by the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels while approaching Ayungin Shoal on March 23, 2024. CCG vessels impeded the voyage of the supply boat and the Philippine Coast Guard’s escort vessels. At 6:08 a.m., the 'BN 21551' performed a dangerous maneuver of crossing the bow of the supply ship. Approaching Ayungin shoal about an hour later, the CCG then conducted a reverse blocking maneuver against it which caused a near collision between the two vessels. At 7:59 a.m., the CCG started blasting a water cannon as it deliberately targeted and hit the boat. At 8:38 a.m., the boat was eventually subjected to direct water cannoning by two CCG vessels. while two Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels were simultaneously blocking the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP 'Cabra (MRRV 4409)', one of the designated escort vessels. The UM4 supply boat sustained heavy damages at around 8:52 a.m. due to the continued blasting of water cannons from the CCG vessels. The BRP 'Cabra' managed to maneuver and reach the 'Unaizah May 4' to assist. The BRP 'Cabra' was impeded and encircled by the CCG vessel 21551 and CMM vessels bearing bow numbers 00036 and 00314. The 'MRRV 4409' has been isolated from the supply boat due to the irresponsible and provocative behaviour of the Chinese maritime forces, who have shown a disregard for the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. At 11:09 a.m., six navy crew and essential cargoes from the 'Unaizah May 4'and the BRP 'Cabra' were brought on their way, and by 11:59 a.m., the navy crew with supplies arrived at the starboard side of the BRP 'Sierra Madre'. The 'Unaizah May 4' could not continue its course as the CMM vessel, assisted by Chinese RHIBs, installed floating barriers to prevent further entry to the shoal. Despite China’s blocking maneuvers, the AFP announced the success of the RoRe mission. The AFP-chartered supply boat departed the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on March 22. It was escorted by two Philippine Navy ships and two more from the PCG. The 'Unaizah May 4' was the same chartered supply boat which was water cannoned by two CCG vessels on March 5 in the same area. Report with photo: https://tribune.net.ph/2024/03/23/phl-supply-ship-damaged-after-chinese-vessels-water-cannon-attack

Chinese patrol vessels provoked collisions

The Philippine supply boat 'Unaiza May 2' collided on with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel attempting to block it during an operation to resupply the grounded 'LST BRP Sierra Madre (LS57)' at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands on Oct 22, 2023. The 'Cabra' was also bumped by a Chinese Maritime Militia during the mission. The incident occurred at 6:04 a.m., when the Coast Guard Vessel 'CCGV 5203' was blocking maneuvers of the Philippines-contracted upply boat 13,5 nautical miles east-northeast of the 'Sierra Madre'. The 'Cabra (MRRV-4409)'’s port side was bumped by the Chinese Maritime Militia vessel 00003 at 8:14 a.m. while it was lying approximately 6,4 nm northeast of Second Thomas Shoal, according to the statement. The 'Unaiza May 1', howeverm successfully resupplied the ''Sierra Madre' and personnel stationed there. The 'Cabra' and its sister ship 'Sindangan (MRRV-4407)', which had escorted the resupply mission, escorting the supply boat back to the home port. Report with photo: https://news.usni.org/2023/10/22/china-coast-guard-vessel-collides-with-filipino-supply-ship-in-south-china-sea