From SN Guides

The Portuguese Navy Today and projection for near future:

FRIGATES

Vasco da Gama Class, 3 ships of the Meko 200PN type,

F 330 - Vasco da Gama , comissioned 1990

F 331 - Álvares Cabral , comissioned 1991

F 332 - Corte Real , comissioned 1991

Bartolomeu Dias Class (Dutch Karel Doorman) - 2 ships

F 333 - Bartolomeu Dias (ex- F833 HrMs Van Nes), comissioned 16th January 2009

F 334 - D. Francisco de Almeida (ex- F834 HrMs Van Galen), comissioned 15th January 2010

CORVETTES

(downgraded to OPV missions)

João Coutinho Class

F471 António Enes

F475 João Coutinho

F476 Jacinto Cândido

F477 Pereira d'Eça (in decomission phase)

Baptista de Andrade Class (improved João Coutinho) - 3 ships, originally 4

F486 Baptista de Andrade

F487 João Roby

F488 Afonso Cerqueira

(the corvettes are planed to be phased out and replaced by the NPOs Viana do Castelo)

SUBMARINES

New Class Type U-209PN (in reality they are U-214)

Under Construction , at HDW Shipyards-Germany, to join Fleet in 2010 and 2011

S 160 - NRP Tridente (provisional hand-over @ 17th June 2010 , arrived at Lisbon Naval Base @ 2nd August 2010)

S 161 - NRP Arpão (in sea-trials )

SUPPORT VESSELS

A5210 NRP Bérrio (ex-HMS Blue Rover)

(photo used by permission of author, Pedro Baptista)

NEW CONSTRUCTIONS

P 360 - Viana do Castelo (unknown date for joining fleet)

P 361 - Figueira da Foz (unknown date for joining fleet)

the 2 first (and so far the only ones built) new OPVs of the "Viana do Castelo" class, after being lauched , back in 2005... The commissioning of these 2 ships (of a planned class of 6) , due to replace the corvettes is being constantly delayed. Last date to be announced for the commissioning was January and July 2010, it did not happen.

RECENT DECOMISSIONS

Albacora Class SS (originally 4 ships: Albacora d. 2000, Barracuda, Cachalote [to Pakistan 1975 as Ghazi] , Delfim d. 2005)

S 164 - NRP Barracuda

(decommisioned January 2010)

João Belo Class - 2 ships , originally 4

(Based on french Cmt Riviere, but built specifically for Portugal )

F480- Comandante João Belo* / Sold to Uruguay, Official Transfer on 8th April 2008, renamed ROU-01 URUGUAY

F483- Comandante Sacadura Cabral*/ Sold to Uruguay, Official Transfer on 8th April 2008, renamed ROU-02 CTE PEDRO CAMPBELL

.....

F481- Comandante Hermenegildo Capelo - Decommisioned April 2004, in Alfeite, waiting scrap

F482 - Comandante Roberto Ivens - Decommisioned 1998, after colision, scrapped

The original Configuration of these frigates included a ASW 305mm Mortar ahead of the bridge and a 3rd 100mm Creuseot-Loire gun astern, as visible in this photo of the [F482-Comandante Roberto Ivens], decommissioned in 1998

Links Of Interest

Official PN Site:

http://www.marinha.pt

Unofficial site with plenty of data concerning the fleet:

http://barcoavista.blogspot.com/

Written by Member P44