Brazilian frigate Constituição
F Constituição (F42) is a Niterói-class frigate of the Brazilian Navy. The Constituição was the fourth ship of the class ordered by the Brazilian Navy, on 20 September 1970. The Constituição was launched on 15 April 1976, and was commissioned on 31 March 1978.[2]
.jpg.webp) F Constituição | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Brazil | |
| Name | Constituição |
| Namesake | Constitution of Brazil |
| Builder | Vosper Thornycroft |
| Launched | 15 April 1976 |
| Christened | 13 March 1974 |
| Commissioned | 31 March 1978 |
| Homeport | Rio de Janeiro |
| Identification |
|
| Nickname(s) | Urso ("Bear")[1] |
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Niterói-class frigate |
| Displacement | 3,200 tons standard, 3,800 tons full load |
| Length | 129.2 m (423 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 13.5 m (44 ft 3 in) |
| Draught | 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) (22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph) diesels only) |
| Range | 5,300 nmi (9,800 km; 6,100 mi) at 17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) |
| Endurance | 45 days |
| Complement | 209 |
| Armament |
|
| 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 |
History
In June 2009, Constituição participated in the recovery mission for the wreckage of Air France Flight 447.[3]
On 20 February 2010, the Constituição brought twelve students, faculty, and crew of the tall ship 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.
In 4 December 2012, she left her homeport in Rio on her first voyage towards Beirut, where she would take up duty as the flagship of the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force. The ship had a complement of 250 men, including 19 Naval Fusiliers from the Asymmetrical Threats Reaction Group and 9 GRUMEC operators. On her voyage, Constituição visited the Canary Islands from 21 to 24 December, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in 27 December and docked at Civitavecchia from 31 December to 4 January 2013. She arrived at Beirut on 10 January, relieving Liberal as the MTF flagship on 13 January.[1]
On 9 February 2013, she reached the milestone of 2,500 days at sea. She visited Mersin from 18 to 21 April, receiving aviation fuel via STS from the Turkish frigate TCG Gaziantep. Constituição's first tenure as the MTF flagship would remain until 17 July, when she was relieved by União.[1] She would once again take up duty as UNIFIL's MTF flagship in 2014, arriving at Beirut to replace Liberal in 14 August.[1]
Gallery
- F Constituição Gallery
The tail fin of the Airbus A330 that crashed as Air France Flight 447 is being loaded onto the frigate%252C_along_with_ships_from_other_countries_participating_in_Exercise_Unitas_Gold%252C_takes_part_in_a_parade_of_ships_just_off_the_coast_of_Jacksonville.jpg.webp)
Constituição taking part in a parade of ships just off the coast of Jacksonville while participating in Exercise UNITAS Gold.
References
- "F Constituição - F 42" (in Portuguese). naval.com.br. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- F Constituição - F 42 Archived June 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Navios de Guerra Brasileiros. Retrieved on June 0, 2009.
- "Bodies of two Air France passengers found." CNN. Saturday June 6, 2009. Retrieved on November 23, 2009.