Brazilian frigate Constituição (F42)
 F Constituição (F42) | |
| Career (Brazil) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Constituição |
| Namesake: | Constitution of Brazil |
| Operator: | Brazilian Navy |
| Builder: | Vosper Thornycroft |
| Launched: | 15 April 1976 |
| Christened: | 13 March 1974 |
| Commissioned: | 31 March 1978 |
| Homeport: | Rio de Janeiro |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2015 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Niteroi class frigate |
| Type: | frigate |
| Displacement: | 3,200 tons standard, 3,800 tons full load |
| Length: | 129.2 m (424 ft) |
| Beam: | 13.5 m (44 ft) |
| Draught: | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shaft CODOG 2 Rolls-Royce Olympus gas turbines 56,000 hp 4 MTU diesels 18,000 hp |
| Speed: | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) (22 knots diesels only) |
| Range: | 5,300 NM - at 17 knots 4,200 NM - at 19 knots 1,300 NM - at 28 knots |
| Endurance: | 45 days |
| Crew: | 209 |
| Armament: | Missile antiship MM-40 Exocet; Anti-aircraft missile ASPIDE; |
| Aircraft carried: | 1 Westland Super Lynx Mk.21A (locally designated as AH-11A) or 1 Eurocopter AS-350/355 Squirrel (locally assembled by Helibrás as UH-12/UH-13 'Esquilo') |
| Aviation facilities: | Helipad and hangar |
The F Constituição (F42) is a Niteroi class frigate of the Brazilian Navy. The Constituição was the fourth Niterói class frigate ordered by the Brazilian Navy, on 20 September 1970. The Constituição was launched on 15 April 1976, and was commissioned on 31 March 1978.[1]
History
In June 2009, the F Constituição (F42) participated in the recovery mission for the wreckage of Air France Flight 447.[2]
On the 20th of February, 2010, the Constituição brought 12 students, faculty, and crew of the SV Concordia ashore after they were initially rescued by merchant vessels. The Concordia, a tall ship floating classroom operated by the West Island College International's Class Afloat program, was abandoned approximately 300 nautical miles (560 km) south east of Rio de Janeiro with all 64 people aboard making it to life rafts. The remaining 52 students, faculty, and crew were to be transferred from merchant vessels to the Constituição and another Brazilian frigate, but weather and other concerns prevented that.
Gallery
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The tail fin of the Airbus A330 that crashed as Air France Flight 447 is being loaded onto the frigate
-
%2C_along_with_ships_from_other_countries_participating_in_Exercise_Unitas_Gold%2C_takes_part_in_a_parade_of_ships_just_off_the_coast_of_Jacksonville.jpg)
Constituicao taking part in a parade of ships just off the coast of Jacksonville while participating in Exercise UNITAS Gold.
References
- ↑ F Constituição - F 42 Navios de Guerra Brasileiros. Retrieved on June 0, 2009.
- ↑ "Bodies of two Air France passengers found." CNN. Saturday June 6, 2009. Retrieved on November 23, 2009.