F União (F-45) is a Niterói-class frigate of the Brazilian Navy. The União was the sixth ship of her class ordered by the Brazilian Navy, on 20 September 1970. The União was launched on 14 March 1975, and was commissioned on 12 September 1980.[1]
.jpg) F União
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Brazil | |
| Name | União |
| Namesake | União |
| Builder | Vosper Thornycroft |
| Launched | 14 March 1975 |
| Christened | 11 June 1972 |
| Commissioned | 12 September 1980 |
| Homeport | Rio de Janeiro |
| Identification |
|
| 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 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) |
| Endurance | 45 days |
| Complement | 209 |
| Armament |
|
| 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 edit
In 2003, União underwent the modernization process, which provided the vessel with an increase in its operating life. At the time, weapons and submarine detection systems were replaced by state-of-the-art equipment, in view of the obsolescence of the original equipment.
From 14 November 2011 to 14 May 2012, União was the flagship of UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force, leading three ships from Germany, two from Bangladesh, one Greek, one Turkish and one from Indonesia. She was replaced by Liberal, who arrived at Lebanon in 17 May 2012.[2][3]
She had her second tenure as flagship of the UNIFIL MTF in 2013, arriving at Beirut in 11 July to relieve Constituição and remaining until 17 January 2014, when she was relieved by Liberal.[3]
From 18 June to 20 August 2022, União performed Operation "Guinex II", which saw her patrol the waters around the Gulf of Guinea and visit several Western African countries such as the Ivory Coast, São Tomé e Príncipe, Cameroon, Nigeria and Cape Verde, helping train local forces in boarding and anti-piracy operations.[4]
In 2023, the frigate, accompanied by her sister ship Independência and the submarine Tikuna, conducted joint exercises with the destroyer Sarandí and the offshore patrol vessel Bartolomé Cordero of the Argentine Navy.[5]
Gallery edit
- F União Gallery
-
União underway on 18 November 2005. -
União entering port on 11 July 2013.
.jpg)
_atracada_no_L%C3%ADbano_(9261366147).jpg)
References edit
- ^ "NGB - Fragata União - F 45". www.naval.com.br. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Fragata brasileira no Líbano é 'momento histórico', diz comandante". www1.folha.uol.com.br. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ a b "F União - F 45" (in Portuguese). naval.com.br. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Guinex-II: operação no Golfo da Guiné visa aumentar a segurança marítima no Atlântico Sul" (in Portuguese). Navy News Agency (Brazilian Navy). 18 June 2022. 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.