João Coutinho class corvette

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NRP António Enes, João Coutinho class corvette
NRP António Enes, João Coutinho class corvette

The João Coutinho class corvettes were a series of corvettes built for the Portuguese Navy for service in Portugal's African colonies. The corvettes were designed in Portugal, but the urgent need of their services in the colonial war meant that the construction of the ships was assigned to foreign shipyards. Six ships were built; the first three ships were built by Blohm + Voss and the remaining three by Empresa Nacional Bazán. The ships were launched in 1970 and 1971.

From 1970 until the end of the conflict in 1975, the corvettes were used for patrol and fire-support missions in Angola, Mozambique, Guiné-Bissau and Cabo Verde. After the African colonies gained their independence, the corvettes were assigned to patrol duties in Portuguese territorial waters.

The João Coutinho served as the basis for several other designs: Baptista de Andrade class corvettes (Portugal), Descubierta class frigates (Spain, Egypt and Morroco) and Espora class (MEKO 140) frigates (Argentina).

[edit] General Characteristics

  • Displacement: 1438 tons;
  • Length: 85 m;
  • Beam: 12.5 m;
  • Speed: 23 knots;
  • Range: 5,725 nmi at 18 knots;
  • Machinery: 2 shafts, 2 OEW Pielstick diesel engines, 12,000 hp
  • Complement: 72
  • Armament:
    • 1 x 3"/50 Mk.33 twin mounts guns
    • 1 x 40 mm/L70 Bofors twin mounts guns
  • Sensors:
    • Radar: Western Electric SPG-34, fire-control
    • Radar: Kelvin Hugues, navigation

[edit] Ships

Pennant Number Name Builder Commissioned Current Status
F 471 NRP António Enes Bazán 1971 In service
F 475 NRP João Coutinho Blohm + Voss 1970 In service
F 476 NRP Jacinto Cândido Blohm + Voss 1970 In service
F 477 NRP General Pereira D'Eça Blohm + Voss 1970 In service
F 484 NRP Augusto de Castilho Bazán 1970 Decommissioned
F 485 NRP Honório Barreto Bazán 1970 Decommissioned