Durango-class patrol vessel

The Durango class is an offshore patrol vessel class in service with the Mexican Navy. The Durango class, comprising four ships, was designed and constructed in Mexico in 1999–2000. The class entered service in 2000 and is used primarily for drug interdiction and patrol.

Durango class
Class overview
Name: Durango class
Builders: SEMAR
Operators:  Mexican Navy
Preceded by: Sierra class
Succeeded by: Oaxaca class
Planned: 4
Completed: 4
Active: 4
General characteristics
Type: Patrol vessel
Displacement:
  • 1,300 long tons (1,300 t) standard
  • 1,470 long tons (1,490 t) full load
Length: 81.4 m (267 ft 1 in)
Beam: 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in)
Draft: 3.9 m (12 ft 10 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement: 74
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Saab EOS 450 optronic director
  • Surface and air search radar
Armament: Bofors 57 mm/70 caliber gun Mk 3
Aircraft carried: 1 medium helicopter
Aviation facilities: One helicopter hangar

Description

The Durango-class design is based on the Holzinger-class patrol vessels but with a different superstructure.[1] They have a standard displacement of 1,300 long tons (1,300 t)[2] and 1,470 long tons (1,490 t) at full load.[1] The vessels measure 81.4 meters (267 ft 1 in) long with a beam of 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in) and a draft of 3.9 m (12 ft 10 in). The patrol vessels are propelled by two shafts powered by two Caterpillar 3616 V16 diesel engines rated at 6,197 horsepower (4,621 kW).[3] They have a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[2][lower-alpha 1] For electrical power, the Durango class are equipped with two 260 kilowatt generators and one 190 kW generator.[2]

The patrol vessels are armed with a single Bofors 57 mm (2 in)/70 caliber gun Mk 3 mounted forward capable of firing 220 rounds/minute to a range of 17 kilometers (11 mi). The ships mount an Alenia 2 combat data system and Saab EOS 450 optronic director for fire control. They are equipped with air and surface search radar.[3] The Durango class has a complement of 74 including 10 officers with the capability to transport 55 additional personnel.[2] Vessels of the class carry an 11-meter (36 ft) interceptor craft capable of over 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph). The vessels also mount a helicopter deck over the stern and a hangar and are capable of operating one medium helicopter.[3]

Ships
Veracruz (fore) and Guanajuato (rear) at Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico
Durango class[3]
Hull no. Ship name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
PO-151 Durango ASTIMAR 1, Tampico, Tamaulipas 18 December 1999 11 September 2000 Active
PO-152 Sonora ASTIMAR 20, Salina Cruz, Oaxaca 14 December 1999 4 September 2000 Active
PO-153 Guanajuato ASTIMAR 1, Tampico, Tamaulipas 2000 13 December 2001 Active
PO-154 Veracruz ASTIMAR 20, Salina Cruz, Oaxaca 4 September 2000 13 December 2001 17 December 2003 Active

Construction and service

The four ships of the class were ordered as a follow on to the Sierra-class corvettes on 1 June 1998. Their design was derived from the Holzinger class and are slightly larger than the Sierra class. Durango and Sonora were based at Guaymas in 2009 and Guanajuato and Veracruz at Coatzacoalcos.[3] The ships are primarily used for drug interdiction and patrol.[4] In 2017 Durango took part in the multi-national naval exercise UNITAS 2017.[5]

Notes
  1. Jane's Fighting Ships states that the maximum speed is 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).[3]

Citations
  1. Saunders 2004, p. 474.
  2. SEMAR.
  3. Saunders 2009, p. 519.
  4. Medellín, Jorge Alejandro (6 October 2019). "Interceptora antidrogas de la Marina de México, a reparacíon" [Anti-drug interceptor of the Navy of Mexico, to repair]. defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  5. "La Armada de México despliega 138 infantes de marina en el Unitas 2017" [The Mexican Navy deploys 138 Marines at Unitas 2017]. infodefensa.com (in Spanish). 25 July 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2020.

Sources
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005 (107 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 0-7106-2888-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • "Buque Tipo Patrulla Oceanica Clase "Durango"" [Oceanic Patrol Vessel Class "Durango"]. Secretaria de Marina Mexico (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 March 2020.
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