The vessel
is a Foudre-class LPD, manufactured by Brest Naval Dockyard (current
DCNS) commissioned in service in 1998. It was one of the two ships in
the class. The first one, TCD Foudre, was sold to the Chilean Navy in
2011.
The mission with the French Navy was to land and support rapid deployment
forces, including upon requirement of a mechanized regiment, provide
logistical; humanitarian and medical support; command and control; counter-piracy
operations, among others.
Its crew in the French Navy was comprised of 210 officers and sailors.
The Brazilian Navy is planning to have a crew of 230. In addition, it
could transport a landing force of 470 infantrymen with 22 armoured
vehicles or up to 1,600 in humanitarian missions. The amphibious force
was supported by either four Cougar-type helicopters, with two or in
certain cases three of them being capable of simultaneous launch, or
up to ten landing crafts.
Portugal was initially going to acquire the vessel but it decided to
cancel the project, opening the way for Brazil to proceed with the procurement
of “Bahia” in order to replace the former landing ship dock
“Rio de Janeiro”. Its first mission will be to transport
the new troops that are taking part in the humanitarian mission in Haiti.
The acquisition cost is estimated at EUR80 mil. paid in four years.
NDM Bahia technical characteristics:
Length: 168 m.
Beam: 23.5 m.
Draught: 5.91 m.
Total displacement: 12,037 ton.
Economic speed: 12 knots
Maximum speed: 21 knots
Maximum range at 12 knots: 13,404 n.m.
Engines (diesel): 2 x SEMT Pielstick (10,400 hp each) and 2 x Wartsilla
auxiliary diesel engines for electric energy.
Armament: 2 x Simbad launchers, 3 x 20 mm guns, 4 x 12.7 mm heavy machine
guns. |
