D. Francisco de Almeida frigate: 3,000 tons of strength and grace

The February edition of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Marinha presents a report focusing the newly-received D. Francisco de Almeida frigate from the Bartolomeu Dias class. This two-ship class comprises two former 3,000-ton Dutch Karel Doorman frigates. It has replaced the João Belo class, whose the last two ships are now serving with the Uruguayan Navy.

The reports is based on a visit made on May during the Navy Day in the city of Portimão and is followed by a short report focusing the delivery of the first ship of the Viana do Castelo class, a Portuguese project for an oceanic Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).

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The new submarine Tridente

The November edition of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Marinha published a news focusing of the September 8th reception ceremony of the new Tridente submarine of the Portuguese Navy. Along with technical information on the new submarine class, this work analyzes the speeches made at the occasion by both the Minister of Defense, Augusto Santos Silva, and the Navy Chief of Staff, Alm. Melo Gomes. In addition, the cover of the November edition presents a photo of the Portuguese-built hydrographic ship Auriga. The ship has been photographed during the Navy Day naval review, which has taken place at Portimão in May 2010.

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Inside the Tridente submarine

The October issue of Fuerzas Militares del Mundo brings a report onboard of the Tridente, the newly-received U-209PN submarine of Portuguese Navy.
This report includes interviews to some members of the 33-men crew as well as exclusive inside photos showing, for example, the torpedo room, kitchen or crew accomodations. Besides this, it provides details on the equipments and weapon systems of the new class of submarines which has replaced the former French-built Daphné submarines.

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

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Tridente: The new Portuguese submarine

On the September 8th, the new Tridente submarine from the Portuguese Navy was publicly presented during a ceremony which took place in the naval base of Alfeite, near Lisbon. The modern conventional submarine from the U-209PN model shares, in the reality, many common characteristics with the more recent U-214 project. The two new submarines ordered by Portugal in 2004 replace the French-built Albacora class, based on the Daphné model. The deliver of the second submarine, named Arpão, is scheduled for 2011.

A detailed report focusing the ceremony and this new class of submarines will be soon published by the Spanish magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo. Meanwhile, the Portuguese magazine Revista de Marinha has published a short report here.

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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.

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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.

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Report: Portuguese Navy receives its first Karel Dorman frigate

The Brazilian defence website Defesa Net has published a report about the arrival to Lisbon of the first of the two frigates from the Karel Dorman class acquired by Portugal to The Netherlands in 2006 in a EUR260 million deal. The ship named Bartolomeu Dias has similar capabilities to the Vasco da Gama class (Meko 200PN) currently in service and it will replace the frigates from the former João Belo class, which was sold to Uuruguay (check here the previous article). The second ship, renamed Francisco de Almeida (F334), will be transferred on November of 2009.
The Karel Doorman class is composed by eight 2,800t multi-purpose frigates, originally operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy. Today the eight ships built during the 1990s are operated by The Netherlands, Belgium, Chile and Portugal.

Bartolomeu Dias multi-purpose frigate (F333) has arrived to the Portuguese capital this Thursday, April 30th, after months of sea trials and crew trainning (Photo: Portuguese Navy).

You can check the full report in Portuguese on the following link:
http://www.defesanet.com.br/nato/pt_fragatas.htm

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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!

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Navy Day of 2006

The Dia da Marinha (Navy Day) in 2006 took place, in the city of Sines, on 20th May. This day celebrates the arrival of Vasco da Gama, by maritime travel, to India. The official cerimony included a demonstration of capabilities by the combat surface units and the Corpo de Fuzileiros (marines). The report was made for the Spanish magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo.

A Vasco da Gama class frigate (Meko 200PN) supports with her organic Super Lynx helicopter the projection of the amphibious force. At second plan, the Berrio, the support ship of the portuguese Navy.

A portuguese marine, armed withe G-3 assault riffle with a 7,62mm caliber. The special operations unit uses the modern G-36K.

The official cerimony. In the official speach, the Chief of Navy Staff, Almirante Melo Gomes, has anounced that the third patrol ship (OPV) of the Viana do Castelo class would be named Sines. This ship is the first of the variant for pollution combat - the Navy will recieved two of these ships and other six of the patrol version. Currently, the first two ships of the classe are being constructed at Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo (ENVC) and will be delivery in 2008.

Former Minister of National Defence, Luís Amado, contacts with the unit of marines that made the demonstration.

A model of the U209PN submarine. In fact, this submarine is a U214. It will be armed with Black Shark heavy torpedos, MN 102 Murena mines and anti-ship missiles - probably the UGM-84 Sub Harpoon. It will have an AIP system that allows a higher range and discreteness. The portuguese navy will recieve in 2010, the first of the two submarines.

The anti-aircraft guns of Baptista Andrade class corvettes.

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