Argos-class patrol boat

The Argos-class patrol boat is a model of patrol boat in service in the Portuguese Navy since 1991. This type of ship was designed by the Arsenal do Alfeite, Lisbon, but was built in private shipyards located in Vila Real de Santo António. The ships of the class are mainly employed in the surveillance and control of the Portuguese territorial waters, in Mainland Portugal and in the Madeira Archipelago. The ships are also employed in other missions as the search and rescue, maritime pollution control and force protection of combatant ships in confined waters.

NRP Argos travelling in Algarve coast near Albufeira.
Class overview
Name	Argos
Builders	Estaleiros Navais de Vila Real de Santo António
Operators	Portuguese Navy
Preceded by	Albatroz class
Subclasses	Centauro class
In commission	1991–present
Planned	5
Completed	5
Active	5
General characteristics
Type	Patrol boat[1]
Displacement	97 tons
Length	27 m (88 ft 7 in)
Beam	5.9 m (19 ft 4 in)
Draught	2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	2 diesel-engines MTU 12V 396 TE84 each with 3,500 hp (2,600 kW)
Speed	26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range	1,350 nmi (2,500 km; 1,550 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	8
Sensors and processing systems	1 navigation radar Kodden MDC 2210
Armament	2 12.7 mm MG

Five ships were built, these being named after constellations.

In 2000, an upgraded version of the Argos class entered service in the Portuguese Navy. This new version was initially referred as the Argos (2nd series) class, but it is now usually referred to as the Centauro class.

It is to note, that from 1963 to 1975, the Portuguese Navy employed a class of large patrol boats that was also designated Argos class.