F Defensora (F-41)
History
Brazil
Name	Defensora
Namesake	Defensora
Operator	Brazilian Navy
Builder	Vosper Thornycroft
Launched	27 March 1975
Christened	14 December 1972
Commissioned	3 March 1977
Homeport	Rio de Janeiro
Motto	“Dum defendo, oppugno” (As long as I defend, I attack) “A Deusa” (The Goddess)
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Niteroi class frigate
Type	frigate
Displacement	3,200 tons standard, 3,800 tons full load
Length	129.2 m (424 ft)
Beam	13.5 m (44 ft)
Draught	5.5 m (18 ft)
Propulsion	2 shaft CODOG 2 Rolls-Royce Olympus gas turbines 56,000 hp 4 MTU diesels 18,000 hp
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) (22 knots diesels only)
Range	5,300 NM - at 17 knots 4,200 NM - at 19 knots 1,300 NM - at 28 knots
Endurance	45 days
Crew	209
Armament	Missile antiship MM-40 Exocet; Anti-aircraft missile ASPIDE; 1 Vickers gun 4.5 inch Mk 8 (114 mm), (22 km range); 2 BAE Systems Bofors Trinity Mk 3 anti-Aircraft single-gun turrets; 2 × 3 torpedo tubes for Mk-46 torpedoes; double-barrel Bofors Boroc anti-submarine rocket launcher
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

The F Defensora (F-41) is a Niteroi-class frigate of the Brazilian Navy. The Defensora was the second ship of her class ordered by the Brazilian Navy, on 20 September 1970. The Niterói was launched on 14 December 1972, and was commissioned on 3 March 1977.^[1]

History

F Defensora was modernized in June 2000, receiving improvements particularly in the sensor and armament systems, returning to active service in August 2003. Afterwards the vessel is proudly nicknamed “The Goddess” for its crew.^[2]

The Navy Arsenal of Rio de Janeiro carried out, on July 13, the shipment of the last two propulsion engines in the Defensora, submitted to the W6 review, anticipating the goal by 15 days of the predicted. The event is an important milestone in the General Maintenance Period (PMG) of the ship, which, in 2017, was selected as one of the priority projects of the Navy.^[3]

Gallery

• F Defensora Gallery
• 
  Defensora underway on 22 November 2005.
• 
  Defensora moored next to F Independência on 31 May 2008 in George, South Africa.
• 
  Defensora moored next to F Independência on 31 May 2008 in  George, South Africa.

Further readings

• In depth history of Defensora