Baptista de Andrade-class corvette

NRP Baptista de Andrade (F 486), 1998
Class overview
Name: Baptista de Andrade
Builders: Bazan, Ferrol (Spain)
Operators: Portuguese Navy
Preceded by: João Coutinho class corvette
Succeeded by: Viana do Castelo class patrol vessel
Built: 1972-76
In commission: 1974-present day
Completed: 4
Active: 3
Retired: 1
General characteristics Source: Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-95
Type: frigate
Displacement: 1,252 tons standard, 1,401 tons full load
Length: 81 m (266 ft)
Beam: 10.3 m (34 ft)
Draught: 3.3 m (11 ft)
Propulsion: 2 shaft, 2 OEW Pielstick diesel engines, 10,560 hp (7,870 kW)
Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h)
Range: 5,000 nmi at 18 knots (33 km/h)
Complement: 113
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Radar: AWS-2 air search, TM-626 navigation, Pollux fire control
  • Sonar: Diodon
Armament:
  • 1 × 100 mm gun
  • 2 × 40 mm/L70 Bofors (2 single mounts) guns
  • 6 × 12.75-inch (324 mm) ASW torpedo tubes (2 × 3)
Aviation facilities: 1 helicopter pad

The Baptista de Andrade were a class of four Portuguese designed corvettes, built for the Portuguese Navy by BAZAN in Spain in the 1970s. They are an updated version of the João Coutinho class corvettes - designed by the Portuguese naval engineer Rogério de Oliveira - with more modern armament and sensors.

Like the João Coutinho ships, the Baptista de Andrade corvettes were intended to operate in the Portuguese overseas territories. Allegedly, the ships would originally be intended to the South African Navy, the delivery being canceled after the Portuguese Carnation Revolution in 1974. After Portugal withdrew from its colonies, the four ships were due to be sold to the Colombian Navy in 1977 but the deal was not completed.

One ship, the NRP Oliveira e Carmo, was decommissioned in 1999, the other three are in service but are due to retire soon and be replaced by Viana do Castelo class OPV's.

Ships

Pennant Number Name Launched Commissioned Status
F486 Baptista de Andrade March 1973 November 1974 In reserve
F487 João Roby June 1973 March 1975 In service 2012
F488 Afonso Cerqueira October 1973 June 1975 In service 2012
F489 Oliveira e Carmo February 1974 February 1976 Decommissioned 1999

References

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