The Niterói class is a series of frigates of the Brazilian Navy built by Vosper Thornycroft of the United Kingdom and the Rio de Janeiro Navy Arsenal based on the Type 21 frigates.

History These frigates were designated the Mk 10 by Vosper Thornycroft and are the largest of a series of ships built by that shipyard for both foreign buyers and the Royal Navy. All of them were extensively modernized between 1996 and 2005 under the 'ModFrag' program. The projected completion was 2001, but due to lack of funds and sea trials to verify the new software, the entire program had been slipped to 2005.

A total of six ships were built. Two of the anti-submarines (ASW) and both of the general purpose (GP) version were built in England. The remaining two ASW ships were built at the Navy Arsenal in Rio de Janeiro with assistance from VT. The ASW ships had an Ikara missile launcher in Y position aft of the flight deck. This was removed as part of the modernisation programme. The GP ships had a second gun in "Y" position. A seventh ship was built as the navy's main training unit. The ship is identical to the other ships of the class, but is not fitted with weapons or sensors.

From 2025, the class will be gradually replaced in "first-rank" roles by the newest frigates, the survivors will be revitalized and transferred to patrol duties in the fleet.

Ships of the class Name Hull number Builders TypeSaunders 2002, p. 61.Saunders 2002, p. 70. Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned StatusF40Vosper ThornycroftASW8 June 19728 February 197420 November 197628 June 2019Awaiting disposalF41ASW14 December 197227 March 19753 March 1977ActiveF42GP13 March 197415 April 197631 March 1978ActiveF43GP2 May 19757 February 197718 November 1978ActiveF44Rio de Janeiro Navy ArsenalASW11 June 19722 September 19743 September 1979ActiveF45ASW11 June 197214 March 197512 September 1980ActiveU27Training18 September 19812 September 198321 August 1986Active

Gallery

See also Equivalent frigates of the same era

References

Bibliography Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian Navy) Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 Cicalesi, J.C. e Del Gaizo, Cesar: La Marina brasiliana oggi, RiD magazine, Chiavari, June 2006, pag. 50–55 Saunders, Stephen. Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2002. .