The Cold War had just ended and Germany was reunited when the frigate "Vasco da Gama" was commissioned by the Portuguese Navy at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg on 18 January 1991. The order for the construction of three Meko 200PN type ships was signed in 1985. The keel for the type ship, the "Vasco da Gama", was laid on 2 February 1989 and the ship was launched on 26 June of the same year.
With a length of 115 metres and a width of just under 15 metres, the ships displace a good 2900 tonnes. Their armament consists of a French-designed 100-millimetre gun, 2x3 Mk32 torpedo tubes, two Harpoon launchers with four containers each and a Mk48 VLS launcher with 16 cells. For self-defence, a Phalanx gun is used to defend against approaching FCs at close range.
Over the past thirty years, the frigate has taken part in numerous missions and operations around the world. In the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Adriatic, she proudly flew the Portuguese flag. During this time, the "Vasco da Gama" travelled 500,000 nautical miles, the equivalent of 23 circumnavigations of the globe. The sisters "Ivares Cabral" and "Corte-Real", which are also celebrating their 30th birthday this year, belong to the same class. The marine forum wishes you all the best for your special birthday.
Text: mb; Photo: Portuguese Navy
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