The Vasco da Gama class is a class of frigates, of the MEKO 200 PN German concept, and are the major surface ships of the Portuguese Navy. Portugal operates 3 ships of this class, which were built in Kiel by Blohm + Voss and later by HDW, using modular construction techniques.

The project for the construction of 3 frigates of this class was authorized by the Portuguese Government in 1985, five years after the request of the Portuguese Navy for the acquisition of new surface ships.

Specifications

• Length: 115.90 m
• Beam: 14.80 m
• Draft: 6.2 m
• Displacement: 3200t
• Propulsion: combined diesel or gas (CODOG)
• 2 propeller shafts, controllable pitch propellers
• 2 MTU 20V 956 TB92 diesel-engines, 8.14MW each
• 2 General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 38MW each
• Range: at
• Maximum speed:
• with Diesel-engines:
• with Gas-turbines: at least
• Sensors:
• 1 Thales DA08 air search D band radar
• 1 Thales MW08 air/surface search F band radar
• 2 Thales STIR 180 fire-control radar
• 1 SQS510 hull mounted sonar
• 1 APECS II/700 ESM
• Countermeasures: SRBOC launcher
• Armament:
• 1 100 mm Mod68 CADAM polyvalent artillery piece
• 1 Phalanx CIWS 20 mm Vulcan anti-ship missile defence system
• 2x3 12.75" Mk32 torpedo tubes in triple mountings
• 2 Mk 141 quad-pack Launcher for a maximum of 8 RGM-84 Harpoon
• 1 MK 21 Guided Missile Launching System for 8 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
• Hangar for 2 Super Lynx Mk.95 helicopters
• Complement: 180 total
• 19 officers;
• 40 petty-officers;
• 102 enlisted;
• 13 air crew;
• 6 boarding team.

Ships

External links

• Vasco da Gama class, Portuguese Navy website