Guaiquerí-class patrol boat
 PC-21 Guaiquerí
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Navantia, Cadiz, Puerto Real Yard |
| Operators |  Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela |
| Planned | 4 |
| Building | 4 |
| Completed | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Corvette |
| Displacement | 2,419 tons |
| Length | 99 m (325 ft) |
| Beam | 13.6 m (45 ft) |
| Draught | 7.2 m (24 ft)Error: has synonymous parameter (help) |
| Draft | 3.8 m (12 ft)Error: has synonymous parameter (help) |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed |
|
| Range | At cruising speed of 18 knots: 3500 Nm |
| Complement | 60 + 32 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Armament | 1 × Oto Melara 76 mm (A position) 2 × machine guns 12,7 mm |
| Aviation facilities | landing pad, hangar |
The Guaiquerí class patrol vessels (Avante 2200 Combatant) are a class of ocean patrol vessels or POVZEE (Spanish: Patrullero Oceánico de Vigilancia de la Zona Económica Exclusiva) in Venezuelan Navy service. The lead ship were originally intended to have the pennant F-31 and name of Guaicaipuro but has since been renumbered.
Design
The POVZEE vessels feature stealth technology with reduced radar and infrared signatures as well as special design to minimize the propulsion system's noise emissions and vibrations. An aft hangar and flight deck enables operation of a single rotary-wing aircraft. The ship carries two small semi-rigid boats RHIB for rescue and transport purposes.
The first ship, PC-21 Guaiquerí was launched by Navantia, Cadiz on the June 24, 2009.[2]
On 3 August 2012, Warao grounded on a reef off Fortaleza, Brazil when arriving for joint exercise "VenBras-2012" with the Brazilian Navy. She was assisted by sister Kariña and refloated by Brazilian tugs.[3] The hull and propulsion system were heavily damaged and it was decided to repair her in Brazil with assistance from Navantia.[4] In March 2013 she arrived at the naval dockyard at Rio de Janeiro aboard Dutch heavy-lift dock Rolldock Sea.[5]
On 31 March 2016, the accidental discharge of a cannon on Guaiquerí left at least one dead and several injured. [6]
Ships of class
| Name | Pennant | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guaiquerí | PC-21 | 11-Sep-2008 | 24-Jun-2009 | 14-Apr-2011[7] |
| Warao | PC-22 | 12-May-2009 | 03-Nov-2009 | Aug-2011 |
| Yekuana | PC-23 | 22-Sep-2009 | 01-Mar-2010 | 9-Dec-2011 |
| Kariña | PC-24 | 17-Feb-2010 | unknown | Jan-2012 |
References
- ^ "Wartsila Propulsion Solutions for OPVs" (PDF).
- ^ "Navantia launches first Venezuelan OPV".
- ^ "Navio de guerra venezuelano encalha no litoral de Fortaleza". Tribuna Hoje, Maceió AL (in Portuguese). 3 August 2012.
- ^ "El patrullero oceánico Warao (PC-22) de la Armada de Venezuela será reparado en Brasil". infodefense.com (in Spanish). 9 January 2013.
- ^ "El patrullero oceánico Warao de la Armada de Venezuela arriba a Río de Janeiro para su eventual reparación". infodefense.com (in Spanish). 7 March 2013.
- ^ http://www.notiactual.com/explosion-buque-patrullero-oceanico-ab-guaiqueri-po-11-la-base-naval-puerto-cabello-deja-muerto-seis-heridos/.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ [1] Navantia entrega a la Armada venezolana el primer Patrullero Oceánico de Vigilancia