Engineering:Centauro-class patrol boat
 NRP Centauro
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Centauro |
| Builders: | Arsenal do Alfeite, Estaleiros Navais do Mondego |
| Operators: |
 Portuguese Navy |
| Preceded by: | Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. |
| In commission: | 2000–present |
| Completed: | 4 |
| Active: | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Patrol boat |
| Displacement: | 94 t (93 long tons) fully loaded |
| Length: | 28.4 m (93 ft 2 in) |
| Beam: | 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Cummins KTA-50-M2 diesel engines, 2,700 kW (3,600 hp) |
| Speed: | 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) |
| Range: | 1,350 nmi (2,500 km; 1,550 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement: | 8 |
| Armament: | 1 × Oerlikon 20 mm (0.79 in) gun |
The Centauro-class patrol boat is a series of four patrol boats in service with the Portuguese Navy. It is an evolution of the preceding Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist.. This class is meant for fisheries inspection and control duties mainly in the Mainland Portugal shores – with some sporadic presence in the Madeira Archipelago. The Centauro class is Portuguese-designed and built at the Arsenal do Alfeite (Almada) and Estaleiros Navais do Mondego (Figueira da Foz).
Design and description
The Centauro-class patrol boats are an evolution of the Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist., constructed of aluminium instead of the Argos' glass reinforced plastic design. The Centauro class measure 28.4 metres (93 ft 2 in) long with a beam of 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in) and a draught of 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in).[1][2][lower-alpha 1] The patrol boats have a standard displacement of 82 tonnes (81 long tons) and 94 t (93 long tons) fully loaded.[2][3][lower-alpha 2] The vessels are powered by two Cummins KTA-50-M2 diesel engines turning two shafts creating 2,700 kilowatts (3,600 hp). This gives the vessels a maximum speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph), though they did make 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) during sea trials.[2] They have a range of 1,350 nautical miles (2,500 km; 1,550 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)[3] or 640 nmi (1,190 km; 740 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[1][2] The Centauros are equipped with two Cummins 6BT5.95(M) diesel generators producing 150 kW of electricity. The ships can operate in sea state 3.[1]
The patrol boats mount a single Oerlikon 20-millimetre (0.79 in)/70 Mk 4 gun for anti-air defence.[2] The ships were equipped with navigational radar only.[2][3] They also carry a 4 m (13 ft) launch carried on a launch-and-recovery ramp on the stern and the boat can be recovered at speeds up to 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[1][2] The vessels have a complement of eight, including one officer.[1][3][lower-alpha 3]
Construction and career
The class were ordered in 1998 as an improved version of the Argos class.[2] They were designed and built in Portugal.[4] Upon entering service, the vessels were deployed for fisheries protection, search and rescue and general patrol. The Centauros take part in some naval exercises and some training.[3] In 2006, one boat of this class, NRP Sagitário, became the first Portuguese warship with a female commander, the second lieutenant Gisela Antunes.[5][6]
Ships
| Pennant | Name | Builder | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1155 | missing name | Arsenal do Alfeite[1][4] | 21 March 2000[3][lower-alpha 4] | Active |
| P1156 | missing name | 27 March 2001[4][lower-alpha 5] | Active | |
| P1157 | missing name | Estaleiros Navais do Mondego[7][8][lower-alpha 6] | 27 March 2001[7] | Active |
| P1158 | missing name | 27 March 2001[8] | Active |
Notes
- ↑ The Portuguese Navy website has the draught at 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in).[3]
- ↑ Saunders has the vessel's fully loaded displacement as 89 t (88 long tons).[1]
- ↑ Wertheim has the complement at ten with two officers.[2]
- ↑ Saunders has the date as 20 March[1] and Wertheim, 1 February.[2]
- ↑ Saunders has the date as 20 March 2000[1] and Wertheim, 3 April 2000.[2]
- ↑ Wertheim has the two ships constructed by CONAFIL in Vila Real de San Antonio.[2]
Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Saunders 2009, p. 634.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Wertheim 2013, p. 553.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 NRP Centauro.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 NRP Orion.
- ↑ "Primeira mulher a comandar navio da Marinha faz balanço positivo" (in pt). 8 March 2007. https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/primeira-mulher-a-comandar-navio-da-marinha-faz-balanco-positivo_n41549.
- ↑ @MarinhaPT (16 May 2020). "No dia 16 de maio de 2006". https://twitter.com/MarinhaPT/status/1261608694279790592.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 NRP Pégaso.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 NRP Sagitário.
References
- "NRP Centauro" (in pt). Portuguese Navy. https://www.marinha.pt/pt/os_meios/lanchas/Paginas/nrp-centauro.aspx.
- "NRP Orion" (in pt). Portuguese Navy. https://www.marinha.pt/pt/os_meios/lanchas/Paginas/nrp-orion.aspx.
- "NRP Pégaso" (in pt). Portuguese Navy. https://www.marinha.pt/pt/os_meios/lanchas/Paginas/nrp-pegaso.aspx.
- "NRP Sagitário" (in pt). Portuguese Navy. https://www.marinha.pt/pt/os_meios/lanchas/Paginas/nrp-sagit%C3%A1rio.aspx.
- Saunders, Stephen, ed (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112th ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc.. ISBN 978-0-7106-2888-6.
- Wertheim, Eric, ed (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (16th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9-7-815911-4954-5.
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