NRP Vasco da Gama (F330)

NRP Vasco da Gama alongside at Tallinn in March 2008.
Career (Portugal)
Namesake:	Vasco da Gama
Builder:	Blohm + Voss
Laid down:	2 February 1989
Launched:	26 June 1989
Commissioned:	20 November 1990
Status:	Active
General characteristics
Class and type:	Vasco da Gama class frigate
Displacement:	2,920 tons standard 3,200 tons full load
Length:	115.9 m (380 ft)
Beam:	14.8 m (49 ft)
Draught:	6.2 m (20 ft)
Propulsion:	2 shaft CODOG, controllable pitch propellers 2 MTU 20V 956 TB92 diesel-engines, 8.14MW each 2 General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 38MW each
Speed:	32 knots (59 km/h) (gas turbines) 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (Diesel only)
Range:	4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement:	180 19 officers 40 petty-officers 102 enlisted 13 air crew 6 boarding team
Sensors and processing systems:	1 Thales DA08 air search D band radar 1 Thales MW08 air/surface search F band radar 2 Thales STIR 180 fire-control radar 1 SQS510 hull mounted sonar
Electronic warfare and decoys:	1 APECS II/700 ESM Countermeasures: SRBOC launcher
Armament:	1 100 mm Mod68 CADAM polyvalent artillery piece 1 Phalanx CIWS 20 mm Vulcan anti-ship missile defence system 2x3 12.75-inch Mk32 torpedo tubes in triple mountings 2 Mk 141 quad-pack Launcher for a maximum of 8 RGM-84 Harpoon 1 MK 21 Guided Missile Launching System for 8 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
Aviation facilities:	Hangar for 2 Super Lynx Mk.95 helicopters

NRP Vasco da Gama (F330) is the lead ship of the Vasco da Gama class frigates operated by the Portuguese Navy. She was laid down by Blohm + Voss on 2 February 1989, launched on 26 June 1989, and commissioned on 20 November 1990.

Vasco da Gama was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce from 16 November 1999 to 22 February 2000.^[1]

References

1. ^ Stevens, David (2007). Strength Through Diversity: The combined naval role in Operation Stabilise. Working Papers. 20. Canberra: Sea Power Centre - Australia. p. 14. ISBN 978064296764. ISSN 1834-7231. http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Working_Paper_20.pdf. Retrieved 6 September 2010.