Brazilian frigate Independência

F Independência (F-44) is a Niterói-class frigate of the Brazilian Navy. The Independência was the fifth ship of her class ordered by the Brazilian Navy, on 20 September 1970. The Independência was launched on 2 September 1974, and was commissioned on 3 September 1979.[2][3]

F Independência
History
Brazilian Naval EnsignBrazil
NameIndependência
NamesakeIndependência
BuilderVosper Thornycroft
Launched2 September 1974
Christened11 June 1972
Commissioned3 September 1979
HomeportRio de Janeiro
Identification
MottoA Independência de todos depende de cada um de nós
English: "Everyone's Independence depends on each one of us"[1]
Nickname(s)Léo Pirata
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeNiterói-class frigate
Displacement3,200 tons standard, 3,800 tons full load
Length129.2 m (423 ft 11 in)
Beam13.5 m (44 ft 3 in)
Draught5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) (22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph) diesels only)
Range5,300 nmi (9,800 km; 6,100 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Endurance45 days
Complement209
Armament
Aircraft carried1 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 facilitiesHelipad and hangar

History

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The Independência took over command of the Maritime Task Force of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (FTM-UNIFIL) on 28 January 2018, to carry out Operation Lebanon XIII from March to September 2018. The ship captained the FTM-UNIFIL, whose mission is to prevent entry into Lebanese territory, illegal arms and smuggling, as well as providing support for the development of the Lebanese Navy, in terms of training its personnel, in order to make it capable of controlling its territorial waters in the future.[4]

From August to October 2021, she sailed to the Gulf of Guinea in Operation "Guinex-I", which sought to improve joint maritime security capabilities of Brazil with partner African nations situated in the Gulf. Over the course of the operation, Independência visited Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé e Príncipe, Cameroon, Nigeria and Cape Verde, where GRUMEC operators took part in training local forces in anti-piracy and boarding operations.[5]

In 2023, the frigate, accompanied by the frigate União and the submarine Tikuna, conducted joint exercises with the destroyer ARA Sarandí and the offshore patrol vessel ARA Bartolomé Cordero of the Argentine Navy.[6]

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References

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  1. ^ "F Independência - F 44" (in Portuguese). naval.com.br. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  2. ^ Alexandre Galante (31 May 2019). "Akaer revitalizará consoles do sistema SICONTA MkII Mod. 1 de três fragatas classe Niterói". Poder Naval - A informação naval comentada e discutida (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  3. ^ "NGB - Fragata Independência - F 44". www.naval.com.br. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  4. ^ Defense, Orbis (25 January 2018). "Orbis Defense: Fragata "Independência" (F44) prepare-se para assumir como Navio Capitânia na Operação "Líbano XIII"". Orbis Defense. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Fragata "Independência" realiza Operação "Guinex-I"" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Navy. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  6. ^ Gonzalo, Mary (9 September 2023). "Cooperación regional en acción: ejercicios combinados de la Armada Argentina". infodefensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2023.