Brazilian frigate Constituição (F42)

F Constituição (F42)
History
Brazil
Name: Constituição
Namesake: Constitution of Brazil
Operator: Brazilian Navy
Builder: Vosper Thornycroft
Launched: 15 April 1976
Christened: 13 March 1974
Commissioned: 31 March 1978
Homeport: Rio de Janeiro
Status: in active service
General characteristics
Class and type: Niteroi class frigate
Type: frigate
Displacement: 3,200 tons standard, 3,800 tons full load
Length: 129.2 m (424 ft)
Beam: 13.5 m (44 ft)
Draught: 5.5 m (18 ft)
Propulsion:
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) (22 knots diesels only)
Range:
  • 5,300 NM - at 17 knots
  • 4,200 NM - at 19 knots
  • 1,300 NM - at 28 knots
Endurance: 45 days
Crew: 209
Armament:
  • Missile antiship MM-40 Exocet;
  • Anti-aircraft missile ASPIDE;
  • 1 Vickers gun 4.5 inch Mk 8 (114 mm), (22 km range);
  • 2 BAE Systems Bofors Trinity Mk 3 anti-Aircraft single-gun turrets;
  • 2 × 3 torpedo tubes for Mk-46 torpedoes;
  • double-barrel Bofors Boroc anti-submarine rocket launcher
Aircraft carried: 1 Westland Super Lynx Mk.21A (locally designated as AH-11A) or 1 Eurocopter AS-350/355 Squirrel (locally assembled by Helibrás as UH-12/UH-13 'Esquilo')
Aviation facilities: Helipad and hangar

The F Constituição (F42) is a Niteroi class frigate of the Brazilian Navy. The Constituição was the fourth Niterói class frigate ordered by the Brazilian Navy, on 20 September 1970. The Constituição was launched on 15 April 1976, and was commissioned on 31 March 1978.[1]

History

In June 2009, the F Constituição (F42) participated in the recovery mission for the wreckage of Air France Flight 447.[2]

On the 20th of February, 2010, the Constituição brought 12 students, faculty, and crew of the SV Concordia ashore after they were initially rescued by merchant vessels. The Concordia, a tall ship floating classroom operated by the West Island College International's Class Afloat program, was abandoned approximately 300 nautical miles (560 km) south east of Rio de Janeiro with all 64 people aboard making it to life rafts. The remaining 52 students, faculty, and crew were to be transferred from merchant vessels to the Constituição and another Brazilian frigate, but weather and other concerns prevented that.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ F Constituição - F 42 Archived June 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Navios de Guerra Brasileiros. Retrieved on June 0, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Bodies of two Air France passengers found." CNN. Saturday June 6, 2009. Retrieved on November 23, 2009.
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