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The ''Rizal'' class is a ship class of two patrol corvettes currently in service of the Philippine Navy, and are currently its largest class of corvettes. These ships were formerly used by the US Navy as ''Auk'' class minesweepers. Under the Philippine Navy, the two vessels have undergone upgrades and modification, and were categorized as corvettes. ==History== The ''Auk'' class of naval ships were Allied minesweepers serving with the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy during the Second World War. In total, there were a recorded 95 ''Auk'' class minesweepers under Allied command during that time. Thirty-two minesweepers were ordered by the US (as BAM-1 to 32) intending them to be supplied to the Royal Navy under Lend-lease but 12 were retained for USN use and given names and "AM" hull classification prefix. Those transferred were given "J" pennant number prefixs and formed the ''Catherine'' class Eleven minesweepers of the ''Auk'' class were lost in World War II; only one (USS ''Skill'') was sunk — by ''U-593''.〔''Wikipedia.org. Auk Class minesweeper.〕 Out of the reserved US Navy units, two were transferred to the Philippines as part of the US Military Assistance Program, these were USS ''Murrelet'' (renamed BRP ''Rizal'') in 1965, and USS ''Vigilance'' (renamed BRP ''Quezon'') in 1967. Both ships were stricken in 1994, but were overhauled with assistance from Hatch & Kirk, Inc., and returned to service in 1995-1996. Recent upgrades includes a satellite radio dish for communications.〔''Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003.〕 As of 2008, both ships are still on the active roster of the Philippine Navy, and are assigned with the Patrol Force.〔''Hazegray online. (World Navies: Philippines ).〕〔''Philippine Fleet Official Website. (Commissioned ships and crafts ).〕 With 40 years of active duty with the Philippine Navy, both have been involved local and international crisis, exercises, and incidents.〔''BBC News 24 May 1999. (Chinese boat sunk off disputed reef ).〕〔''Asia-Pacific Defense Forum. ().〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rizal-class corvette」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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