The Cruise Training Squadron Delivers Quarantine Supplies to the Philippines, a Participant in the Korean War

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The Navy's Circumnavigation Training Squadron delivered supplies for the prevention of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), such as masks and hand sanitizers, to the Philippine Navy.

According to the Navy on the 17th, the Circumnavigation Training Squadron used three high-speed boats from the destroyer Gang Gam-chan (4,400-ton class) and the new logistics support ship Soyang (10,000-ton class) near the waters off Manila, Philippines, to deliver 10,000 KF-94 masks and 2,000 hand sanitizers to the Philippine Navy's 'Conrado Yap' (1,000-ton class).

The boxes packaging the masks were inscribed in English with the phrase, "We have never forgotten your noble sacrifice," along with the Taegeukgi (Korean national flag).

The 'Conrado Yap' is a ship named after the late Captain Conrado Yap of the Philippine Army, a Korean War veteran, and is a Pohang-class patrol ship that Korea transferred to the Philippines last year.

Captain Yap participated in the Battle of Yultong in April 1951, north of Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, where he blocked the Chinese Communist forces' offensive and was killed in action. To honor Captain Yap's merits, the governments of Korea and the Philippines awarded him the highest military decorations of each country: the Taegeuk Military Order of Merit and the Medal of Valor, respectively.

Marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, the initial first port of call for this year's circumnavigation training, which focused on gratitude to the countries that fought in the war, was Manila, Philippines. However, due to the spread of COVID-19, the number of ports of call was drastically reduced, and the stop in the Philippines was canceled, so the Navy reported that the quarantine supplies were delivered at sea.

After delivering the quarantine supplies, the Circumnavigation Training Squadron conducted joint naval exercises with the Conrado Yap, including tactical maneuvers, communication network training (voice drill), and farewell maneuvers.

Led by Brigadier General Kim Kyung-chul, the Circumnavigation Training Squadron consists of about 540 personnel, including 147 cadets from the 75th class of the Korea Naval Academy. They departed Jeju Island on the 14th of last month and are conducting 72 days of education and training while visiting countries in the Americas and Southeast Asia.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.