Brazilian frigate Independência
F Independência (F-44) is a Niterói-class frigate of the Brazilian Navy. The Independência was the fifth ship of her class ordered by the Brazilian Navy, on 20 September 1970. The Independência was launched on 2 September 1974, and was commissioned on 3 September 1979.[2][3]
F Independência | |
History | |
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Brazil | |
Name | Independência |
Namesake | Independência |
Builder | Vosper Thornycroft |
Launched | 2 September 1974 |
Christened | 11 June 1972 |
Commissioned | 3 September 1979 |
Homeport | Rio de Janeiro |
Identification |
|
Motto | A Independência de todos depende de cada um de nós English: "Everyone's Independence depends on each one of us"[1] |
Nickname(s) | Léo Pirata |
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 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) |
Endurance | 45 days |
Complement | 209 |
Armament |
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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
The Independência took over command of the Maritime Task Force of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (FTM-UNIFIL) on 28 January 2018, to carry out Operation Lebanon XIII from March to September 2018. The ship captained the FTM-UNIFIL, whose mission is to prevent entry into Lebanese territory, illegal arms and smuggling, as well as providing support for the development of the Lebanese Navy, in terms of training its personnel, in order to make it capable of controlling its territorial waters in the future.[4]
From August to October 2021, she sailed to the Gulf of Guinea in Operation "Guinex-I", which sought to improve joint maritime security capabilities of Brazil with partner African nations situated in the Gulf. Over the course of the operation, Independência visited Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé e Príncipe, Cameroon, Nigeria and Cape Verde, where GRUMEC operators took part in training local forces in anti-piracy and boarding operations.[5]
In 2023, the frigate, accompanied by the frigate União and the submarine Tikuna, conducted joint exercises with the destroyer ARA Sarandí and the offshore patrol vessel ARA Bartolomé Cordero of the Argentine Navy.[6]
Gallery
- Indepência photographed on 2 December 2006
- Indepência's bow and naval gun
- Indepência's mast and radar antenna
- Indepência's naval gun and anti-submarine rocket launcher
- Indepência's anti-ship missile tubes
- Another angle of Indepência's anti-ship missile tubes
References
- "F Independência - F 44" (in Portuguese). naval.com.br. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- Alexandre Galante (31 May 2019). "Akaer revitalizará consoles do sistema SICONTA MkII Mod. 1 de três fragatas classe Niterói". Poder Naval - A informação naval comentada e discutida (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- "NGB - Fragata Independência - F 44". www.naval.com.br. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- Defense, Orbis (25 January 2018). "Orbis Defense: Fragata "Independência" (F44) prepare-se para assumir como Navio Capitânia na Operação "Líbano XIII"". Orbis Defense. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- "Fragata "Independência" realiza Operação "Guinex-I"" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Navy. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- Gonzalo, Mary (9 September 2023). "Cooperación regional en acción: ejercicios combinados de la Armada Argentina". infodefensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2023.