Named in honor of the great Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, the Vasco da Gama class is a class of frigates of the MEKO 200 PN German concept. They are the major surface ships of the Portuguese Navy. Portugal operates three ships of this class, which were built in Kiel by Blohm + Voss and later by HDW, using modular construction techniques.
The project for the construction of three frigates of this class was authorized by the Portuguese Government in 1985, five years after the request of the Portuguese Navy for the acquisition of new surface ships. According to Conway's, 60% of the funding for these ships came from NATO military aid. Similar ships have been built for the navies of Greece, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand.
Ships of the class
F330 Vasco Da Gamma
F331 Alvares Cabral
F332 Corte Real
Alvares Cabral is seen here arriving Leith
