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
NameArgos
BuildersEstaleiros Navais de Vila Real de Santo António
Operators Portuguese Navy
Preceded byAlbatroz class
SubclassesCentauro class
In commission1991–present
Planned5
Completed5
Active5
General characteristics
TypePatrol boat[1]
Displacement97 tons
Length27 m (88 ft 7 in)
Beam5.9 m (19 ft 4 in)
Draught2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Propulsion2 diesel-engines MTU 12V 396 TE84 each with 3,500 hp (2,600 kW)
Speed26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range1,350 nmi (2,500 km; 1,550 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement8
Sensors and
processing systems
1 navigation radar Kodden MDC 2210
Armament2 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.

Ships of the class

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Pennant Name Commissioned
P1150 Argos 1991
P1151 Dragão 1991
P1152 Escorpião 1991
P1153 Cassiopeia 1991
P1154 Hidra 1991

References

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