Hi Ralph,

i do have a launch named RANGER as active in 1905; don't know if it's the same one. Don't know of any cable ship named RIZAL. The only one i know of in Philippine Government service was J. BUSTAMENTE, later renamed APO.

I do have quite a bit of info on other Philippine Government ships, but it will take a while to dig out. Keep in mind that the Philippine Coast Guard became known as the Bureau of Customs from 1913 on, and that there were several other agencies that operated ships and boats: Constabulary, Fisheries Bureau, etc. Off the top of my head, I know that at the opening of WW2, the Philippine Government had the following ships:

ARAYAT 903grt customs cutter (Schichau, Danzig YN 1253)
completed July 1931. Bombed and sunk in Manila Bay 27 Dec 1941. Salved and became Japanese P 105, sunk 28 Nov 1944.
BANAHAO 667grt lighthouse tender (Schichau YN 1237) completed March 1931, sunk 28 Dec 1941. Raised by Japanese, fate?
CANLAON 667grt customs cutter (Schichau YN 1236) completed Feb 1931, sunk by aircraft Manila 27 Dec 1941
APO (ex J. BUSTAMENTE) 1074grt cargo ship (Cia. Transatlantica, Cadiz YN 20) completed Sep 1904 for Cia. General de Tabacos de Filipinas, Barcelona. Converted ot cable ship 1922, renamed APO 1936. Unsure if in government service when war began; scuttled Bataan 11 Apr 1942.
CASIANA 1227grt presidential yacht, (Scotts, Greenock YN 423) completed Jun 1908 as CASSANDRA.Bombed and sunk near Fort Mills wharf 29 Dec 1941.

Also a number of smaller vessels, including FISHERIES II and CUSTOMS IV (and assuredly others, not least of which the Q-boats and launches of the Philippine Army). Just hard to find info, especially when so many US Quartemaster and Engineer launches were running around Manila Bay.

Hope this might be of interest--will try to find more out.

Dave Wright