Photographic report on Navy Day 2010

Following the May report at Portimão, when the commemorations of the Navy Day took place this year, the Portuguese magazine Revista de Marinha published a short report, presenting part of the photos of the report and text by António da Cruz Cordeiro.

Pedro Monteiro

Navy Day of 2010

The 2010 celebrations of the Navy Day brought to the south of the country, more precisely to the city of Portmão, ships from the main classes serving in the Portuguese Navy. Among them were for, example, the newly received frigate D. Francisco de Almeida, one of the two former Dutch Karel Doorman frigates acquired by Portugal, the Vasco da Gama frigate or the Bérrio, the fleet support tanker received in the 1990s after serving in the Royal Navy as Blue Rover.

The Minister of Defence, Augusto Santos Silva, has attended May 23th military ceremony and, during his speech, Mr. Santos Silva underlined the importance of a modern and operational fleet for defending the strategic interests of the country. The modernization plan will cost 2 billion Euros, comprising, for example, the two new frigates of the Bartolomeu Dias class, the Portuguese-built Viana do Castelo offshore patrol vessels, the two Tridente submarines or a Landing Platform Dock ship which - essential for supporting amphibious operations and the deployment of military forces in foreign scenarios. According to Mr. Santos Silva, the delivery of the first Tridente submarine and the first Viana do Castelo vessel is expected for this year.

Another highlight of the event was an impressive demonstration by the ships and navy units visiting Portimão which included an amphibious landing demonstration by the marines. Some of the three deployed Super Lynx Mk 95 helicopters were armed with the recently-received 12,7mm FN Herstal M3M machine guns.

A photographic report was made for the Portuguese magazine Revista de Marinha, which can be partially seen here.

Pedro Monteiro

EHM: The Portuguese Naval Aviation

The May issue of the Spanish magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo published a new article focusing the Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha (EHM, Navy Helicopter Squadron).

This new work brings updated information about the EHM, namely the future of the fleet, new detachments for the new Bartolomeu Dias frigates or the recent deployment with the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) which is conducting an anti-piracy naval operation off the coast of Somalia. Moreover, it covers technical aspects such as the new equipments and weapons systems for the Super Lynx fleet.

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTED IN: Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, Peru and USA.

Pedro Monteiro

Onboard the N.R.P. "Côrte-Real" frigate

Some photographies from a report made onboard the Portuguese Navy frigate N.R.P. "Côrte-Real" ("Vasco da Gama" class, Meko 200PN). This is one of the three ships received by Portugal by the 1990s.
The ship was then participating on the naval exercise Instrex 082 with the Super Lynx helicopters from the Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha (EHM, Navy Helicopter Squadron). Currently it is participating on the NATO’s anti-piracy mission in Somalia.

My acknowledges for the collaboration given by all the crew during the report made onboard. Good winds for them!

Pedro Monteiro

EHM: Sailing across the skies

The August issue of the Portuguese magazine "Vega" (you can check their website here) brings a report about the Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha (EHM, Navy Helicopter Squadron) as part of my collaboration with such publication.

Such work includes images from the Instrex 08 military exercise as well as several details about the future of the squad. Besides, the articles from the magazine include a full English version.

Pedro Monteiro

Blade runners over the sea

The Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha (EHM, Navy Helicopter Squadron), created in 1993, operates the Super Lynx fleet of the Portuguese Navy. These helicopters are used with the Vasco da Gama class frigates (Meko 200PN type). Although it is a young unit, the EHM has already in her curriculum vitae real operations, like the Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) in Guinea-Bissau in 1998.


I have flew with them in last February as part of a report for the portuguese magazine "Vega" (you can check their website here).

Pedro Monteiro