Informations about the João Belo class

In the Military Zone I present a brief description of the João Belo class frigates. As I reported, the two remaining vessels will be sell to Uuruguay. The authorities of Montevideo plan to use this two frigates (similar to those they now operate) for about seven years, at a cust of 15 millions of euros.

Constituem juntamente com as fragatas Meko 200 os principais meios de combate da Armada. Inicialmente foram recebidos quatro navios, porém, actualmente apenas se encontram no activo três fragatas. (...) Atendendo aos requisitos da Armada para operar nos combates nas colónias africanas as fragatas foram equipadas para realizar estas missões. (...)
A modernização destes navios apenas ocorreria no final da década de 1990 (quando tinham já uma vida operacional de 30 anos), com a modernização a ocorrer em apenas três dos quatros navios iniciais, visto que a N.R.P. "Roberto Ivens" tinha sido abatida em 1998. A falta de verbas implicou apenas algumas alterações: foram modernizadas as acomodações e instalações para tripulantes, a capacidade para armazenamento de água doce foi aumentada, os sensores e sistemas electrónicos modernizados, e retiraram-se a terceira peça de 100mm (Mod55) e o morteiro anti-submarino. Esta modernização permitiu essencialmente capacitar o navio para o cumprimento de missões de manutenção de paz e prolongar a sua vida operacional.
Actualmente cumprem na Armada as missões de treino e luta ASW, embora mais recentemente tenham participado em missões de paz e em vários exercícios.
Em 2000, no âmbito da missão da UNTAET, parte para Timor-Leste a N.R.P. "Hermenegildo Capelo", tendo como função render a N.R.P. "Vasco da Gama" (Meko 200), prestando auxílio à população timorense durante o processo de transição.
Recentemente, em 2001, a fragata N.R.P. "Sacadura Cabral" integrou a EUROMARFOR uma frota constituída por vasos de guerra de Portugal, França, Espanha e Itália. No âmbito desta missão participou entre outros, nos exercício Trident d'Or e Tapon cujo fim é avaliar as prestações dos navios nas missões de luta ASW.
Espera-se que estes navios continuem a navegar até 2010, altura em que se pensa virem a ser substituídos por unidades novas ou usadas (...)

In the second half of the 1990s, Portugal executed a modernization of the three frigates which were operational (a fourth had been redraw from service). The modernization (fully described on this article) gave allows that these ships accomplish secundary missions on the portuguese Navy, since the modern Vasco da Gama class has become the backbone of the fleet. Actually, the N.R.P. Hermegildo Capelo was deployed in East Timor, in 2000, and, usually, the ships of the class have been assigned to surveillance and instruction missions, but also too international exercises.

[Photo taken with a Nikon F65 cammera and a Nikon AF 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6G lens]

The 1990s' modernization consisted, for example, in the instalation of a new and modern sonar (AN/SQS-510, the same model used by the Vasco da Gama class), Mk32 Mod5 triple torpedo tubes, a new navigation radar and communication and control systems, a new electronic warfare system. The anti-submarine mortar and the third Mod 55 artillery gun were retired in order to reduce the crew. The ships were also prepared to recieve women sailors. This modernization clearly gave to this 1960s ships a new life and increased their capabilities.

[Photo taken with a Nikon F65 cammera and a Nikon AF 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6G lens]

In addition, the João Belo class can recieve a large number of marines to support amphibious operations and other missions. This capability was used, for example, in 1998, in the Guiné-Bissau during the rescue of the portuguese refuges.

During the last decade, the portuguese Navy was studying their replacement. On 2005, it seemed clear that Portugal would recieve two american OH Perry frigates. A brief article which includes some references to the programme is avaible in Defesa Net.

When the socialists returned to the power, in the same year, it become clear that another option could be taken (see another article that I wrote for Defesa Net). In fact, by the year 2000, Portugal had even studied the two Jacob van Heemskerck class frigates. Finally, in 2006, an agreement was signed for the delivery, in 2008 and 2009, of two Karel Doorman frigates. Comparing with the previous option, they are more recent ships, they have several weapon systems and sensors and equipements in common with the Vasco da Gama class (Meko 200PN) and they're multi-role ships. It's true that the portuguese Navy wanted a air-defence ship but a frigate OH Perry with her SM-1 missiles could not accomplish that mission due the new meneaces and anti-ship missiles.

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Portugal Air Show 2007

The main reference for the portuguese aviation enthusiasts is the Portugal Air Show, a biannual airshow. This year, it will happen, as usual at Évora, between 14th and 16th September. In this site you can check the first information (text in portuguese).

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Asas de Portugal

The Asas de Portugal, one of the two acrobatic teams of the portuguese Air Force, is equipped with the Alpha-Jet. Last weekend, at June 9th, they made a demonstration in Setúbal, as part of the official commemorations of Portugal's national day.

This season, they have several demonstrations in international airshows:

22th June: Midnight Sun Airshow, Finland
22th Jully: Sanicole International Airshow, Belgium
1th September: Bex International Airshow, Swiss

For the portuguese readers, we will be abble to see their impressive demonstration in the following occasions:

30th June: Dia da Força Aérea, Beja
15th and 16th Jully: Festival Aéreo, Coimbra
14th and 15th September: Portugal Air Show, Évora

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Army Day

Every year, in October, the portuguese Army commemorates its day. In 2005, the ceremony took place at Coimbra, where the Brigada de Intervenção (the medium brigade, then called Brigada Ligeira de Intervenção) has its command. As usual, there was an exhibition of equipements and, in adition, a military parade happened on Av. Emídio Navarro, near the Mondego, Coimbra's iconical river.

Below, I present some photographs of the vehicles which were present at the exhibition.

The three types of wheeled armoured vehicles operated by the portuguese Army are shown in the photo. Begining in its left side, a Panhard VBL M-11, a Cadillac Gage V-150 with a Cockerill turret with a 90mm gun and, finally, a Bravia Chaimite V-200.

Another look of the armoured vehicles in the exposition at Coimbra.

Portugal operates HMMWV vehicles. The first vehicles - M1025 A2 version - were bought in 2000 for the peacekeaping mission in East Timor. In 2003, more vehicles - M1097 version - were recieved in order to transport and support the Firefinder system of the portuguese artillery. Currently, some vehicles of the first batch - with an armour kit M-PAV 2 from the israeli Plasan - are operating in Afghanistan.

A M60 A3 TTS main battle tank from the Brigada Mecanizada (portuguese Army's heavy brigade, called Brigada Mecanizada Independente at that time). Portugal recieved about one hundred of these in the 1990s - they replaced the M48 A5 and the remaining M47. The military parade, as in the majority of the last commemorations, did not envolved armoured vehicles.

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Portuguese frigates to Uruguay

According a contact of mine in Montevideo, the portuguese frigates from João Belo class (similar to the french Commandant Rivière, modernized in 1999 with, for example, a new sonar and comunication systems) will be transfered to Urugay. The authorities in Montevideo haven't annouced this fact yet since first the acquisition needs a parliamentary approval.

In the case of the portuguese navy, the two ships will be replace by two Karel Doorman, bought to The Netherlands in last December.

[Photo taken during the Navy Day of 2003, in Ílhavo, with a Nikon F65 and 28-80mm zoom lens and a Fuji Superia ISO 100 film]

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Portugal's National Day

In this year, the official celebrations of the June 10th - Portugal's national day - took place in the city of Setúbal.
Since the last year the programme includes a military ceremony and, in this year, a exhibition of several weapon systems and equipements of the portuguese Armed Forces. In the ceremony - transmited by the public broadcasting television - were present more than 1.200 troops and 100 vehicles (for example, M60 tanks and M113 armoured personnel carriers or the wheeled vehicles Chaimite). During it, EH-101 Merlin helicopters, as well as F-16 and Alpha-Jet fighters flew over the troops. In the port of the city, the President of the Republic inspected the naval fleet, which included the frigate NRP Vasco da Gama and the tall ship NRP Sagres.

Although I didn't had the opportunity of make a report, I hope this photographs (from the Presidency of the Republic - www.presidencia.pt) are interesting for the readers.

The President of the Republic, Cavaco Silva, makes his speech to the troops (Photo: Presidency of the Republic - www.presidencia.pt).

The President of the Republic, Cavaco Silva, during the military parade (Photo: Presidency of the Republic - www.presidencia.pt).

The frigate NRP Vasco da Gama in Setúbal (Photo: Presidency of the Republic - www.presidencia.pt).

M109 A5 howitzers pass in front of the tribune (Photo: Presidency of the Republic - www.presidencia.pt).

This year, the military parade included troops with their combat equipment; it was the case of the Comandos, an assault troops unit, also known as the "red berets" (Photo: Presidency of the Republic - www.presidencia.pt).

For the portuguese readers, I post the speech of the President of the Republic to the armed forces that, this year, focused the peacekeeping missions and the new structure of the armed forces that'll allow a better interoperability between the three branches.

Celebramos hoje, 10 de Junho, o muito que nos distingue como Nação. (...) Ao rever-se, orgulhoso na sua História, Portugal também se revê nas suas Forças Armadas. (...) A associação das Forças Armadas às comemorações do Dia de Portugal sublinha o carácter eminentemente nacional da Instituição Militar, cujo percurso histórico se confunde com o da Nação. (...)

Em apenas 30 anos, as Forças Armadas Portuguesas reduziram o seu efectivo de mais de 300 milhares de homens para pouco mais de 40 mil elementos. Adaptaram a sua doutrina, evoluindo para uma força de projecção e de reacção rápida, incorporaram o serviço militar feminino e abandonaram o serviço militar obrigatório. Nos últimos 15 anos, internacionalizaram-se, projectando cerca de 24 mil militares para o exterior.
As Forças Armadas levaram a cabo uma das reformas mais profundas no âmbito da Administração Central do Estado, mostrando ser uma organização viva, flexível e dinâmica. (...) O reforço da acção conjunta é um objectivo que deve ser alcançado em futuro próximo. (...) Importa definir e concretizar o reforço de competências do Chefe do Estado-Maior General das Forças Armadas, criar um Comando Operacional Conjunto e promover as reformas relativas ao ensino superior militar e aos serviços de saúde. (...) Qualquer processo de transformação implica investimento. A execução das Leis de Programação Militar e de Programação de Infra-estruturas constituem, por isso, peças chave da modernização e operacionalidade do Sistema de Forças Nacional. São investimentos avultados mas necessários, que podem e devem ser rentabilizados, alargando o seu emprego a outras missões de interesse público, para além das de natureza estritamente militar, evitando a duplicação de meios e promovendo o aproveitamento de recursos humanos altamente qualificados. (...)

É assim no Kosovo, em defesa da segurança e da estabilidade na Europa; é assim no Afeganistão, combatendo os flagelos do terrorismo e do narcotráfico; é assim no Líbano, para restabelecer as condições de vida de uma população martirizada pela guerra. É assim em tantos outros locais, onde militares portugueses contribuem para a salvaguarda da paz e da segurança internacional, promovendo os valores da liberdade, da democracia e do respeito pelos direitos humanos. (...)

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