Rio Damuji-class frigate

Rio Damuji n° 390 in Havana in July 2011
Class overview
NameRio Damuji class
BuildersAstilleros Construcciones, Spain
Operators Cuban Revolutionary Navy
Built1970s
Active2
General characteristics
TypeConverted Frigate
Displacement3200 t
Length106.86 m (350.6 ft)
Beam14.61 m (47.9 ft)
Draft5.63 m (18.5 ft)
Propulsiondiesel
Speed15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement40
Armament
Aircraft carriedTBD - (likely Mil Mi-14 from naval aviation unit)
Aviation facilitieslanding area located in the aft area of the vessel

The Rio Damuji-class frigates are the largest warships in the Cuban Navy built from former Spanish-built fishing trawlers. Built between 1975 and 1979, they are variously classed as frigates, corvettes, or offshore patrol vessels. The ships' armament consists of Styx missile launchers, 25 mm guns, and the turret of a ZSU-57-2.[1][2][3][4] Originally, three conversions were planned, the third ship being called Rio los Palacios, though likely only two were completed.[5]

The class is named after the Damují River in Cienfuegos Province.[2]

Ships

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Name Pennant number Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Homeport Status
Rio Damuji BP-390 Astilleros Construcciones, Meira, Vigo, Spain 1972 1975 (as trawler for Flota Cubana de Pesca
2007 (as frigate)
Havana Active
Rio Jatibonico BP-391 Astilleros Construcciones, Meira, Vigo, Spain 1977 1979 (as trawler)
2013 (as frigate)
Havana Active
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Wertheim, Eric (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 16th Edition. United States Naval Institute. p. 151. ISBN 978-1591149545.
  2. ^ a b "Rio Damuji class". GlobalSecurity. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  3. ^ Sutton, H. I. "5 Unique Weapons Of Cuba's Garage-Built Navy". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  4. ^ Badri-Maharaj, Sanjay (2017-01-18). "The Decline of the Cuban Armed Forces". Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  5. ^ "MGR Rio Damuji OPV391 - IMO 7387823 - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos and Ship Tracker". www.shipspotting.com. Retrieved 2020-04-24.