Patrol Boat "VIGIA" (P-73) - "Vigía" Patrol Boat - Ships - Armada - Ministerio de Defensa

Ships

Número de imágenes — Coat of Arms of the Oceanic Patrol Boat "Vigía" (P-73)

Coat of Arms of the Oceanic Patrol Boat "Vigía" (P-73)

1 / 1

Coat of Arms of the Oceanic Patrol Boat "Vigía" (P-73)

WELCOMING ADDRESS

The Commanding Officer of the Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Vigía’ welcomes you and invites you to visit this website. The OPV is part of the Maritime Action Force and her home port is the Puntales Naval Station (Cádiz).

FEATURES:

Displacement: 1,200 tons.

Length: 70 m.

Beam: 10 m

Aircraft: Capability to operate with medium-sized helicopters.

Crew: 47

Weapons:

One 3"/50 gun.

Two 12.7 mm BROWNING machineguns.

1 MG-42 machinegun.

Sensors:

Surface and air radar “Consilium Selesmar” RTM 30 SIM

Navigation radar “Consilium Selesmar” RTM 25 XIM

FLIR camera

Propulsion:

2 MTU Diesel engines (7,500HP Approx.)

2 variable pitch propellers

2 bilge keels.

An electric plant with 3 diesel generators.

Miscellaneous: 2 semi-rigid craft.

WHAT WE DO?

The ship’s main mission, as a Maritime Action Ship, is the protection of national interests in areas of national sovereignty, especially territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Her capabilities include:

Surveillance of sovereignty areas to detect, deter and prevent possible criminal activities.

Reconnaissance of maritime traffic (shipping).

Search, detection and tracking of suspicious ships.

Support other State agencies involved in the fight against illegal migration, drug-smuggling and other criminal activities.

Maritime interdiction. VBSS missions (Visit, Board, Search and Seizure).

Search and Rescue operations.

WHERE WE ARE?

The ship’s home port is Cádiz, along with other Maritime Action ships and Fleet units.

MATERIEL AND WEAPONS

The ship has a 3”/50 gun, two 12,7 mm ‘Browning’ machineguns, 1 MG-42 machinegun and other portable weapons like CETME rifles, STAR pistols and shotguns.

Two semi-rigid craft are used for boarding suspicious vessels. These visits are conducted by Marine Corps and Special Naval Warfare units, or – if necessary – by Police Forces.

OUR HISTORY

The offshore patrol boat ‘Vigía’ is the third of a series of four ‘Serviola’-class patrol boats built by NAVANTIA (former Bazán) in its Ferrol shipyards. The ship was launched in 1991 and delivered to the Spanish Navy on March 23, 1993.

The ship is part of the Maritime Action Force with base in Cádiz. She is adequately fitted out to carry out surveillance and protection tasks in our EEZ (up to 200 miles). Her range (8,000 nm) permit prolonged periods at sea; more than 30 days.

The ‘Vigía’ (P-73) is the third Spanish Navy vessel with that name. The other ones were gunboats built in 1869 and 1897 stationed in Havana (Cuba)

WHO WE ARE?

The crew consists of 47 people: 8 officers, 10 NCOs and 29 seamen and ratings. This small complement favors comradeship onboard.

MAIN OPERATIONS AND EXERCISES

The OPV ‘Vigía’ has participated in many national and international operations; among them:

The so-called ‘Turbot War’ off Newfoundland in 1995

Naval presence on the occasion of the Perejil Island conflict.

Between 2004 and 2013 the P-73 participated in 9 anti-drug operations seizing several craft and illegal cargo.

Deployment in the Gulf of Guinea in maritime security operations supporting the Spanish trawler fleet and the State diplomatic endeavors.

Her longest deployment was a 26-day anti-drug mission to track and seize the sail boat ‘White Sand’ in the South Atlantic.

Participation in campaigns in the Gulf of Biscay and the Sole Bank.

Participation in operation NOBLE CENTINELA in the Canary Islands (illegal immigration 2006-2007).

The ship has visited many national and international cities including ports in Morocco, Ghana, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Nigeria, Angola, Mauritania and Portugal.