The Portuguese Republican Navy in Twilight

[dragoon500ly]

Portuguese Republic Navy

Personnel: 15,500 men. 2,680 Corpo de Fuzileiros

Naval Aviation: 5 Sea Lynx ASW helos ordered in 1993. Air Force has 8 CASA 212 Aviacar maritime reconnaissance ac. 6 ex-Australian P-3B Orions maritime patrol ac. 5 C-130H and 12 SA-33C Puma helicopters used for SAR duties.

3 ex French Daphne-class
S 163 Albacora; S 164 Barracuda; S 166 Delfim
Displacement of 869/1,043 tons. Speed of 13.5/16kts. Crew of 50. Armament consists of twelve 550mm torpedo tubes (8 fwd, 4 aft). Sister Cachalot (S 165) purchased by Pakistan in 1975.

3 MEKO 200-class Frigates
F 330 Vasco da Gama; F 331 Alvares Cabral; F 332 Corte Real
Displacement of 3,200 tons. Speed of 31.75kts. Crew of 182. Armament consists of two quad Harpoon SSM launchers, one eight-cell NATO Sea Sparrow; one 100mm M1968 gun, one Mk15 Phalanx CIWS, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, 1 Sea Lynx ASW helo.

4 ex French Commandant Rivere-class Frigates
F 480 Comandante Joao Belo; F 481 Comandante Hermengildo Capelo; F 482 Comandante Roberto Ivens; F 483 Comandante Sacadura Cabral
Displacement of 2,250 tons. Speed of 25kts. Crew of 197. Armament consists of three single 100mm M1953 guns, two single 40mm Bofors AA Guns, one four-barreled 305mm ASW mortar, two triple 550 ASW torpedo tubes. F 480 and F 483 were placed in reserve in 1991.

4 Baptiste de Andrade-class Corvettes
F 486 Baptiste de Andrade; F 487 Joao Roby; F 488 Afonso Cerqueira; F 489 Oliveira e Carmo
Displacement of 1,348 tons. Speed of 21kts. Crew of 122. Armament consists of one single 100mm M1968 gun, two single 40mm Bofors AA guns, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes. F 486 placed in reserve in 1991. Plans to modernize these ships have been shelved due to lack of funds.

6 Joao Coutinho-class Corvettes
F471 Antonio Enes; F 475 Joao Coutinho; F 476 Jacinto Candidio; F 477 General Pereira D’eca; F 484 Augisto de Castilho; F 485 Honorio Barreto
Displacement of 1,401 tons. Speed of 24.4kts. Crew of 94. Armament consists of one twin Mk33 3in/50, one twin 40mm Bofors AA guns. Can carry 34 marines. F 476 placed in reserve in 1991.

10 Cacine-class Patrol Boats
P 1140 Cacine; P 1141 Cunene; P 1142 Mandovi; P 1143 Rovuma; P 1144 Quanza; P 1145 Geba; P 1146 Zaire; P 1147 Zambeze; P 1160 Limpopo;
P 1161 Save
Displacement of 310 tons. Speed of 20kts. Crew of 33. Armament consists of two single 40mm Bofors AA guns, one single 20mm AA guns, two depth charge racks.

4 Sao Roque-class Patrol Boats
M 401 Sao Roque; M 402 Ribeira Grande; M 403 Lagoa; M 404 Rosario
Displacement of 452 tons. Speed of 15kts. Crew of 47 men. Armament consists of one twin 20mm AA guns. Former minesweepers, all sweep gear removed.

0 + 4 Minesweepers
Displacement of 610 tons. Speed of 15kts. Crew of 30. Armament consists of one single 20mm AA guns, two single 12.7mm HMGs. Joint development program with Belgium and the Netherlands. To enter service 1995-98.

3 Bombarda-class Landing Craft
LDG 201 Bombarda; LDG 202 Alabarda; LDG 203 Bacamarte
Displacement of 635 tons. Speed of 11kts. Crew of 20. Armament consists of two single 20mm AA guns. Design based on WWII British LCT(4)-class.

6 LDM 400-class Landing Craft
Displacement of 56 tons. Speed of 9kts. Crew of 4. Armament consists of one single 20mm AA gun. Based on British LCM(7)-class.

3 LDM 100-class Landing Craft
Displacement of 50 tons. Speed of 9kts. Crew of 3. Unarmed. Portuguese built US LCM(6)-class.

Source is the “Combat Fleets of the World: 1993”