Latin America Naval Shipbuilding Thread (Over 1000 tons)

[Jeff Head]

This thread is about modern naval shipbuilding in Latin America (defined as Central and South America, including Mexico). Specifically it is about indigenous ship design and building of modern (after 1980) ships in Central and South America over 1000 tons. In order to be discussed here, the vessel(s) must meet the above mentioned requirements.

Most people are not aware that there is a very good naval shipbuilding industry in Latin America, where vessels are being wholly designed and built there.

Note: A standard design from another country (ie one of the Damen STAN Patrol Vessel designs) which is given specific Latin America specifications and then built in Latin America qualifies).

So to begin, I thought I would focus on four excellent classes of Off Shore Patrol Vessels that have been designed and built in Mexico for the Mexican Navy:

Holzinger Class OPV (1991-1994)

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Displacement: 1022 tons
Length: 244 ft.
Beam: 34 ft.
Draft: 10.4 ft.
Speed: 22 knots
Crew: 73
Armament:
1 x Twin Mk 1 L60 40mm bofors
Aviation: Pad and Hanger
1 x MBR B0 105 light helicopter

Ships:
ARM Holzinger (PO 131) (1991)
ARM Godínez (PO 132) (1991)
ARM De la Vega (PO 133) (1994)
ARM Berriozabal (PO 134) (1994)

Sierra Class OPV (1995-1997)

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Displacement: 1325 tons
Length: 246 ft.
Beam: 34 ft.
Draft: 11.4 ft.
Speed: 18 knots
Crew: 74
Armament:
1 x Mk 2 Bofors 75mm DP Gun
Aviation: Pad and Hanger
1 x MBR B0 105 light helicopter

Ships:
ARM Sierra (PO 141) (1995)
ARM Juarez (PO 142) (1995) (Damaged by fire and taken out of service)
ARM Preito (PO 143) (1997)
ARM Romerol (PO 144) (1997)

Durango Class OPV (2000-2001)

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Displacement: 1554 tons
Length: 268 ft.
Beam: 34 ft.
Draft: 12.4 ft.
Speed: 20 knots
Crew: 81
Armament:
1 x Mk 3 Bofors 75mm DP Gun
Aviation: Pad and Hanger
1 x Eurocopter Panther light helicopter

Ships:
ARM Durango (PO 151) (2000)
ARM Sonora (PO 152) (2000)
ARM Guanajuato (PO 153) (2001)
ARM Veracruz (PO 154) (2001)

Oaxaca Class OPV (2003-2013)

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Displacement: 1680 tons
Length: 282 ft.
Beam: 34 ft.
Draft: 11,8 ft.
Speed: 20 knots
Crew: 77 + 39 Marines
Armament:
1 x Otobreda 76 mm DP Gun
1 x OTO Melara 30 mm cannon
2 x Mod 517 OTO Melara m2 12.7mm remote-controlled turret
Aviation: Pad and Hanger
1 x Eurocopter Panther light helicopter

Ships:
ARM Oaxaca (PO 161) (2003)
ARM Baja California (PO 162) (2003)
ARM Independencia (PO 163) (2010)
ARM Revolucion (PO 164) (2010)
ARM Tlaxcala (PO 165) (2012)
ARM Zacatecas (PO 166) (2013)

That's 17 very decent OPVs serving in the Mexican Navy that were designed and built in Mexico.

 

[Jeff Head]

b787 and Miragedriver, I thought the two of you and others of our Latin American members would appreciate and enjoy this thread.

 

[Miragedriver]

b787 and Miragedriver, I thought the two of you and others of our Latin American members would appreciate and enjoy this thread.

Gracias Jeff!

 

[Jeff Head]

Here's the Brazilian Corvette, Barroso, V34. It was designed and built in Brazil by Arsenal de Marinha of Rio de Janeiro, launched in 2004 and commissioned in 2008.

Barrosos Class Corvette : (2008)

Displacement: 2,350 tons
Length: 339 ft.
Width: 37 ft.
Draft: 17 ft.
Speed: 27+ knots
Crew: 154
Armament:
1 × 4.5 in (113 mm) Vickers Mk.8 gun
1 × 40 mm Bofors Trinity Mk.3 gun
4 × MBDA Exocet MM40 SSMs
2 × 3 ARES SLT Mod 400 (324 mm) torpedo launchers for Mk.46 Mod 5 ASW torpedoes
Aviation:
Pad and hanger for:
1 x Westland Super Lynx Mk.21A

​

Four newer, stealth class versions of this vessel are planned to be built in the late 20-teens.

 

[Miragedriver]

Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV 80)

Fassmer OPV 80 is a landmark design in the OPV market, mainly because of its outstanding seakeeping performances and efficiency, which make it perfect for long time o? shore missions, as well as helicopter and fast boat operations. The OPV 80 advanced hull design makes the vessel extremely seaworthy and ideal for multi-missions tasks. The top deck layout features a large flight deck suitable to operate medium size naval helicopters in night and day operations and is fully NVG compatible. The vessel can accommodate up to three interceptor boats, including a stern ramp-launched Special Forces eleven-meter boat. The vessel has the capacity to accommodate up to 100 persons and reaches a maximum speed of 24 knots. It is built in a modular design concept for easy integration of diff erent weapons and sensor systems. Customers can count on the highest safety, quality and environmental standards.

Based on the well-proven OPV 80 hull design the Auxiliary Personnel Hospital APH 80 has been equipped with additional naval functions like, for example, a well equipped hospital directly connected to a fully operable flight deck and additional troop quarters. This large and outstanding sea-keeping vessel operates as an optimum auxiliary fl eet vessel. Its main missions are humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations for which it includes a hospital and upgraded accommodations. Additionally, this all-in-one can execute low intensity patrol tasks such as maritime interdiction, antipiracy, troop transport, SAR and fishery protection.

Chile was the first country to order two 80 m Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV 80) from Fassmer. On December 2011, both the Chilean and Colombian Navies placed orders for additional Offshore Patrol Vessels of the successful OPV80 design. With these additional orders, there are a total of 3 OPV80 in service, 2 under construction and further 9 planned within 3 Navies, making Fassmer's OPV80 one of the most successful OPVs worldwide.

The Chilean Navy has already in service two OPV80 (OPV Piloto Pardo and OPV Comandante Toro) and has plans to extend its fleet up to a total of 5 OPVs. The excellent performance of the first batch, alongside its low operational cost, has been a key factor in the confirmation of the follow up vessels by the Navy. The construction of the third OPV will take place at ASMAR shipyard in Talcahuano, Chile, during 2012.

In the case of the Colombian Navy, the confirmation of the Ministry of Defense to order the second OPV80 came just after successful testing of the first OPV (ARC 20 de Julio) in the Caribbean Sea on December 2011. The Colombian Navy has plans to extend its OPV80 fleet to an undisclosed number of units. The follow-up OPV is scheduled to start construction during the first semester of 2012 at COTECMAR shipyard in Cartagena, Colombia.


Customer / Operator
Armada de Chile, Armada de Colombia

Delivery:
2006, 2008/2009, 2010, 2011

Length over all
80,60 m

Beam moulded
13,00 m

Draft
3,80 m

Displacement
1850 t

Classification
LRoS + 100 A1 + LMC UMS or
GL + 100 N5 AUX-NH + MC AUT

Capacities
Fuel 300 m3
Fresh Water 48 m3

Crew
30 persons
+ 30 passengers

Speed
20 – 23 knots

Range
12.000 nm at 12 knots

Construction
Hull shipbuilding steel
Superstructure shipbuilding steel
Wheelhouse marine aluminium

Propulsion
OPV Piloto Pardo
Main Engines 2 x Wärtsilä 12 V 26,
2 x 4080 kW at 1000 rpm
2 controllable pitch propellers
Bow Thruster 2 x 200 kW

Special Features
Anti rolling tank,
Helicopter hangar,
Deck crane SWL 4 t at 10 m,
Two service boats (RIB’s) under single point davits with wave compensation,
Water ballast 250 m3,
modular platform concept for simple integration of different combat systems,
x-shaped hull to reduce radar cross section.
Special rescue zone.
Option of launching ramp to accommodate interceptor boat.


Back to bottling my Grenache

 

[Miragedriver]

The Chilean Fassmer 80 OPVs have a Sperry Marine integrated Bridge System, an integrated communication system and an unmanned machinery space, remotely controlled. They are also equipped with the Mobile Maritime Command and Control System “SMC MM” and the ARIES fire control system for the 40 mm gun. Both systems are developed locally by SISDEF and DESA CHILE. It is most probable that the “Fuentealba” will be equipped with the SAETA fire control system, developed by DESA CHILE for the Chilean SA’AR missile boats armed with 76 mm guns.

The Chilean OPVs are operated by the Dirección General del Territorio Marítimo (DIRECTEMAR), a special branch within the Chilean Navy. The missions carried out by this ships are: coast guard, fishery protection, search and rescue, contamination control, training and support of isolated communities. Nevertheless, the first two ships have also deployed to international exercises and operations, such as UNITAS, PANAMAX and MARTILLO, the last one in combination with forces of the US Southern Command for fighting drugs smuggling in the Caribbean. The Colombian navy has received 2 slightly modified ships build locally by COTECMAR and has contracted a third ship, planning to build as many as 6, for operating 3 in the Pacific and 3 in the Caribbean (Argentina is also planning at least four-Chuck). Main modifications are a different mast, a different 40 mm gun, a telescopic hangar for a Bell 412 helicopter and a stern ramp. The stern ramp was considered less important for the Chilean Navy, which opted for improved towing capacity of towing ships and additional space for supporting isolated communities rather than the improved ability to deploy a boat quickly when chasing “go-fast” boats, since this is not a threat in Chilean waters. The OPV “Fuentealba” will be deployed to the Third Naval Zone, with homeport in Punta Arenas, on the Magellan Strait.


Back to bottling my Grenache

 

[Jeff Head]

The Chilean Piloto Pardo class of Offshore Patrol vessels were built in Chile to Chilean design specifications. Design help was furnished by the German company, Fassmer GmbH & Co. KG. The vessels were built by ASMAR, a Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Company in Chile wityh theree separate yards.

Three vessels were built for Chile, two vessels have been built for Columbia with a third currently building. Agentina has also expressed interest in up to five of the vessels.

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Piloto Pardo Class OPV: (2008-2014)

Displacement: 1,850 tons
Length: 265 feet
Width: 42.5 feet
Draft: 12 feet
Speed: 22 knots
Crew: Up to 60
Armament:
1 x 40 mm/70 calibre DP gun
2 x 12.7mm MG
Aviation:
Hanger and PAd for:
1 x AS.365 Dauphin N2 helicopter

Piloto Pardo 81 Commissioned 2008
Comandante Policarpo Toro 82 Commissioneg 2009
Marinero Fuentealba 83 Commissioned 2014

 

[Jeff Head]

Oops...hehehe...Mirage, you beat me to the draw on the Chilean OPV!

 

[Miragedriver]

Oops...hehehe...Mirage, you beat me to the draw on the Chilean OPV!

Good minds run in the same gutter

 

[Miragedriver]

The Fassmer 80 OPVs would be a much better selection for the Argentine Coast Guard (prefectura naval argentina), in terms of economy of operation and life cycle of the vessel. However, there is now a fascination for the Chinese P18 export corvette/frigate.

The P18 vessel packs a larger punch offensively and has passed the scope of a OPV and into that of a frigate combatant.


Back to bottling my Grenache