Allende-class frigate
{{Short description|Class of Mexican Navy frigates}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=Fragatas en Túxpam - panoramio cropped.jpg |Ship caption=All four frigates of the class at Tuxpan, 12 June 2009 }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Allende class |Builders=* Todd Shipyard, Seattle and San Pedro |Operators={{naval|Mexico}} |Class before= |Class after= |Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range= |In commission range= 1998–2016 |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed=4 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active= |Total ships laid up=3 |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired=1 |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type= Multi-purpose anti-submarine frigate |Ship displacement= * {{convert|3011|LT|t|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} standard
|Ship length={{convert|439|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|46|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draught={{convert|24|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} max |Ship power= 2 × Combustion Engineering/Babcock & Wilcox boilers |Ship propulsion=1 Westinghouse steam turbine {{convert|35,000|shp|abbr=on}} |Ship speed= {{convert|27|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range= {{convert|4,300|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|22|kn}} |Ship endurance= |Ship complement=288 |Ship sensors=* SPS-10 or SPS-67 surface search radar
|Ship armament=* 1 × 5"/54-caliber Mark 42 gun DP gun;
|Ship armor= |Ship aircraft= 1 MBB Bo 105 helicopter |Ship aircraft facilities= One helicopter hangar and helipad |Ship notes= Ex-Knox-class US ocean escort frigates }} |
The Allende class is a series of four anti-submarine frigates used by the Mexican Navy. Allende-class frigates are former United States Navy {{sclass|Knox|frigate|0}}-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. All four ships were taken out of service by 2016 and one was sunk as an artificial reef in 2022. In 2024, it was announced the other three hulls would be donated for use as artificial reefs.
Description
The Allende-class frigates are former United States Navy {{sclass|Knox|frigate|1}}s. They have a standard displacement of {{convert|3011|LT|t|0|lk=on}} and {{convert|4,260|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} at full load. The vessels measure {{convert|439|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} long with a beam of {{convert|46|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} and a maximum draught of {{convert|24|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}}. The ships are propelled by a Westinghouse steam turbine rated at {{convert|35,000|shp|lk=on}} turning one shaft using steam provided by two Combustion Engineering/Babcock & Wilcox boilers at a working pressure of {{convert|1200|psi|lk=on|abbr=on}} and a temperature of {{convert|950|F}}. This gives the frigates a maximum speed of {{convert|27|kn|lk=in}} and a range of {{convert|4,000|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|22|kn}} on one boiler. The ships have a complement of 288 including 20 officers.{{sfn|Saunders|2004|p=471}}
The frigates are armed with a reduced version of their American layouts. They mount a single FMC 5"/54-caliber Mark 42 gun 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 {{convert|324|mm|in|abbr=on}} 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.{{sfn|Saunders|2004|p=471}}
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.{{sfn|Saunders|2004|p=471}}
Ships in class
| class="collapsible wikitable" |
| align=center colspan=6| Allende class{{sfn|Saunders|2004|p=471}}{{sfn|Saunders|2009|p=514}} |
| {{nowrap|Pennant No.}}
! {{nowrap|Ship name}} ! Builder ! Acquired ! Commissioned ! Status |
|---|
| F 211 (ex-E 50)
| {{ship|ARM|Allende}} (ex-Stein) | Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company | rowspan=2 | 29 January 1997 | rowspan=2 | 23 November 1998 |
| F 212 (ex-E 51)
| {{ship|ARM|Abasolo}} (ex-Marvin Shields) | Deliberately sunk off Tuxpan, 27 April 2022.{{cite web | first= Gerardo |last= Perea | title=Hunden buque de guerra en costa de Tuxpan |trans-title=Warship sinks off the coast of Tuxpan | website=Expreso de Tuxpan | date=27 April 2022 | url=https://www.expresodetuxpan.com/hunden-buque-de-guerra-en-costa-de-tuxpan/ | language=es | access-date=20 June 2024}} |
| F 213 (ex-E 52)
| {{ship|ARM|Victoria}} (ex-Pharris) | 2 February 2000 | 16 March 2000 |
| F 214
| {{ship|ARM|Mina}} (ex-Whipple) | Todd Shipyards | August 2001 | 1 November 2002 |
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.{{sfn|Saunders|2004|p=471}} Victoria commissioned on 16 March 2000 and Mina on 1 November 2002.{{sfn|Saunders|2009|p=514}} By 2016, all four ships had been taken out of service by the Mexican Navy. One, Abasalo, was sunk as an artificial reef {{convert|35|nmi}} east of Tuxpan, Mexico. The other three vessels were donated by the Mexican government for use as artificial reefs in 2024.
Citations
{{reflist}}
References
- {{cite book |editor-last=Saunders |editor-first=Stephen |year=2004 |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005 |publisher=Jane's Information Group Inc. |edition=107 |location=Alexandria, Virginia |isbn=0-7106-2623-1 }}
- {{cite book |editor-last=Saunders |editor-first=Stephen |year=2009 |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 |publisher=Jane's Information Group Inc. |edition=112 |location=Alexandria, Virginia |isbn=978-0-7106-2888-6 }}
{{Knox class frigate|others}}
{{Active ships of Mexico}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allende-class frigate}}