| Niteroi-class frigate | |
|---|---|
|
BNS Constituição (F42) | |
| Class overview | |
| Name: | Niterói class, Mk10 |
| Builders: | Vosper Thornycroft, Navy Arsenal in Rio de Janeiro |
| Operators: | Brazilian Navy |
| Built: | 1975–1986 |
| Completed: | 7 |
| Active: | 7 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Frigate |
| Displacement: | 3,355 tons standard3,707 tons full load |
| Length: | 129.2 m (424 ft) |
| Beam: | 13.5 m (44 ft) |
| Draught: | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
| Installed power: |
Two Rolls-Royce Olympus gas turbines (56,000 hp (42,000 kW) combined) Four MTU diesel engines (18,000 hp (13,000 kW) combineD) |
| Propulsion: | Combined diesel or gas, two shafts |
| Speed: | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) (maximum)22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) (diesels only) |
| Range: | 5,300 nautical miles (9,800 km; 6,100 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)4,200 nautical miles (7,800 km; 4,800 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)1,300 nautical miles (2,400 km; 1,500 mi) at 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) |
| Endurance: | 45 days |
| Complement: | 217 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Before modernization:
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| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
Before modernization:
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| Armament: |
After modernization:
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| Aircraft carried: | Westland Super Lynx Mk.21A (locally designated as AH-11A); orEurocopter AS-350/355 Squirrel (locally assembled by Helibrás as UH-12/UH-13 'Esquilo') |
| Aviation facilities: | Helipad and hangar |
The Niterói class frigates are a class of warships of the Brazilian Navy.
History[]
The Niterói Class Frigates were designed and built by the British shipyard Vosper Thornycroft in the 1980s. These ships were designated Mk 10 by Vosper Thornycroft and are the largest of a series of ships built by that shipyard for both foreign buyers and the Royal Navy.
All of them were extensively modernized between 1996 and 2005 under the 'ModFrag' program. The projected completion was 2001. But due to lack of funds and sea trials to verify the new software, the entire program had been slipped to 2005.
A total of six ships were built, four of an anti submarine version built in England. These ships had an Ikara missile launcher in Y position aft of the flight deck. This was removed as part of the modernisation programme. The remaining two general purpose ships were built at the Arsenal da Marinha no Rio de Janeiro with assistance from VT. These ships had a second 4.5 inch gun in Y position. A seventh ship was built as the navy's main training unit. The ship is identical to the other ships of the class, but is not fitted with weapons or sensors.
Ships[]
| Pennant number | Name | Builder[1] | Laid Down[1] | Launched[1] | Commissioned[1] | Type | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F40 | Niterói | Vosper Thornycroft | 8 June 1972 | 8 February 1974 | 20 November 1976 | ASW | In service |
| F41 | Defensora | Vosper Thornycroft | 14 December 1972 | 27 March 1975 | 3 March 1977 | ASW | In service |
| F42 | Constituição | Vosper Thornycroft | 13 March 1974 | 15 April 1976 | 31 March 1978 | ASW | In service |
| F43 | Liberal | Vosper Thornycroft | 2 May 1975 | 7 February 1977 | 18 November 1978 | ASW | In service |
| F44 | Independência | Arsenal de Marinha, Rio de Janeiro | 11 June 1972 | 2 September 1974 | 3 September 1979 | GP | In service |
| F45 | União | Arsenal de Marinha, Rio de Janeiro | 11 June 1972 | 14 March 1975 | 12 September 1980 | GP | In service |
| U27 | Brasil | Arsenal de Marinha, Rio de Janeiro[2] | 18 September 1981[2] | 2 September 1983[2] | 21 August 1986[2] | Training | In service |
References[]
- Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian Navy)
- Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995
- Cicalesi, J.C. e Del Gaizo, Cesar: La Marina brasiliana oggi, RiD magazine, Chiavari, June 2006, pag. 50–55
- Saunders, Stephen. Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2002. ISBN 0710624328.
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