ARM Almirante Francisco Javier Mina at Cozumel
Class overview
NameAllende class
Builders
Operators Mexican Navy
In commission1998–present
Completed4
Active4
General characteristics
TypeMulti-purpose anti-submarine frigate
Displacement
  • 3,011 long tons (3,059 t) standard
  • 4,260 long tons (4,330 t) full load
Length439 ft 6 in (133.96 m)
Beam46 ft 8 in (14.22 m)
Draught24 ft 8 in (7.52 m) max
Installed power2 × Combustion Engineering/Babcock & Wilcox boilers
Propulsion1 Westinghouse steam turbine 35,000 shp (26,000 kW)
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range4,300 nmi (8,000 km; 4,900 mi) at 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Complement288
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Aircraft carried1 MBB Bo 105 helicopter
Aviation facilitiesOne helicopter hangar and helipad
NotesEx-Knox-class US ocean escort frigates

The Allende class is a series of anti-submarine frigates used by the Mexican Navy. Allende-class frigates are former United States Navy Knox-class-ships which were acquired beginning in 1997. They form the Mexican Gulf Fleet of the Mexican Navy. They are used for anti-submarine and offshore patrol duties.

Description

The Allende-class frigates are former United States Navy Knox-class frigates. They have a standard displacement of 3,011 long tons (3,059 t) and 4,260 long tons (4,330 t) at full load. The vessels measure 439 ft 6 in (133.96 m) long with a beam of 46 ft 8 in (14.22 m) and a maximum draught of 24 ft 8 in (7.52 m). The ships are propelled by a Westinghouse steam turbine rated at 35,000 shaft horsepower (26,000 kW) turning one shaft using steam provided by two Combustion Engineering/Babcock & Wilcox boilers at a working pressure of 1,200 psi (8,300 kPa) and a temperature of 950 °F (510 °C). This gives the frigates a maximum speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) and a range of 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) on one boiler. The ships have a complement of 288 including 20 officers.[1]

The frigates are armed with a reduced version of their American layouts. They mount a single FMC 5-inch (127 mm)/54 caliber Mk 42 dual purpose gun mounted forward. For anti-submarine warfare (ASW), the frigates are equipped with an ASROC Mk 16 octuple launcher with a reload system sited between the superstructure and the 5-inch gun. Two cells were re-configured to fire Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles in American service, but this ability was not transferred to the Mexican Navy. The Allende class also mounts two twin Mk 32 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo launchers in fixed tubes for 22 Mk 46 torpedoes. The launchers are sited on the midships structure, angled outward at a 45° angle. Allende retains the Mk 25 launcher for the Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles that the vessels mounted in American service.[1]

The class is equipped with fixed Mk 36 SRBOC 6-barreled decoy launchers for infrared and chaff, SLQ-25 Nixie towed torpedo decoys and SLQ-32CV2 electronic support measures. They mount a Mk 68 Mod gunfire control system for the 5-inch guns, a Mk 114 Mod 6 control system for the ASW armament, a Mk 1 target designation and a MMS target acquisition system. For radar, the Allende class have SPS-40 air search and SPS-10 or SPS-67 surface search. The vessels are equipped with SPG-53D/F fire control radar and SRN-15A TACAN. The Allende class have a SQS-26CX bow-mounted sonar capable of active search and attack. The frigates have a helipad located over the stern of the ship and a hangar capable of storing the MBB Bo 105 helicopter that operates off the vessels.[1]

Ships in class

Allende class[1][2]
Pennant No. Ship name Builder Acquired Commissioned Status
F 211 (ex-E 50) ARM Allende (ex-Stein) Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company 29 January 1997 23 November 1998 In service
F 212 (ex-E 51) ARM Abasolo (ex-Marvin Shields) Todd Shipyards In service
F 213 (ex-E 52) ARM Victoria (ex-Pharris) Avondale Shipyards 2 February 2000 16 March 2000 In service
F 214 ARM Mina (ex-Whipple) Todd Shipyards August 2001 1 November 2002 In service

Service history

The first two ships were acquired by the Mexican Navy on 29 January 1997 and underwent refits for Mexican service. Both ships were commissioned on 23 November 1988. The third ship was acquired in 2000 and the fourth in 2001. Mina is based at Manzanillo, the other three at Tampico.[1] Victoria commissioned on 16 March 2000 and Mina on 1 November 2002.[2]

Citations

References

  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005 (107 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 978-0-7106-2888-6.
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