A Philippine Navy ship, the BRP Miguel Malvar, sank unexpectedly on Monday before it could serve its purpose in a planned target practice exercise during the Balikatan military drills, which are a joint exercise between the United States and the Philippines. Military officials from both nations confirmed the incident, which occurred in the contested waters of the South China Sea.
The 80-year-old vessel, originally built in the 1940s and known as the USS Brattleboro during its service with the United States Navy, was being towed to the location of the exercise when it began sinking. It eventually went down approximately 30 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales province in the Philippines. Fortunately, no personnel were aboard the ship at the time.
The BRP Miguel Malvar was originally scheduled to serve as a target for live-fire exercises during the Balikatan drills, which run from April 21 to May 9 and involve around 14,000 US and Philippine troops. However, the vessel’s condition, described as “dilapidated,” led to its inability to withstand the rough seas. Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado of the Philippine military stated that the ship, due to its age, was unable to endure the harsh conditions of the sea.
The ship, which had served with distinction during World War II, was part of the Battle of Okinawa and earned three battle stars for its role in saving hundreds of soldiers and survivors. After being transferred to the South Vietnamese Navy in 1966, it was later accepted by the Philippine Navy following the fall of Saigon in 1975 and remained in service until its retirement in 2021.
Despite its historical significance, the ship’s final mission—to serve as a target for military training—was interrupted by its unfortunate sinking, which led to the cancellation of one of the key exercises in this year’s Balikatan drills.
