João Belo class frigate

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The João Belo class, also known as Comandante João Belo class, is a class of four frigates of French design, identical to the Comandant Rivière class, with extra equipment for tropical climates. Ordered by the Portuguese Navy in 1964, the four ships of this class were constructed in Nantes' shipyard.

In the 60s the Portuguese Navy was interested in the acquisition of British frigates of the Leander class, but because of British political opposition against Portugal this acquisition was impossible. Portugal was then forced to buy frigates of an already existing project due the urgency in the acquisition of naval ships for the defense in African, Macao's and Timor's waters.

The replacement of the two remaining frigates of this class in the Portuguese Navy by the Van Nes and Van Galen frigates of the Karel Doorman class is scheduled for 2008 with the delivery of the first Dutch frigate on December 1, 2008.

[edit] Ships

Pennant	Name	Shipyard	Commissioned	Status
F480	Comandante João Belo	Chantier Nantes, Dubigeon	1967	In active service
F481	Comandante Hermenegildo Capelo	Chantier Nantes, Dubigeon	1968	Recently decommissioned
F482	Comandante Roberto Ivens	Chantier Nantes, Dubigeon	1968	Decommissioned in the late 90's after colliding with a Tanker ship on a Nato exercise. The vessel was seriously damaged by the accident and had to be towed to harbour. Due to the age and extent of the damage, it was decided to decommission the ship. It was stripped of its equipment, taken to sea and sunk.
F483	Comandante Sacadura Cabral	Chantier Nantes, Dubigeon	1969	In active service