Name NRP Gonçalo Velho Decommissioned 1964 Displacement 1,785 t Launched 1932 Weight 1,785 tons | Builder Hawthorn-Leslie (UK) Class and type Gonçalo Velho class Beam 10.8 m (35 ft) Length 82 m Draft 3.5 m | |
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The NRP Gonçalo Velho was a 2nd class sloop (aviso de 2ª classe) of the Portuguese Navy. She was designed to operate in the overseas territories of Portugal.
Construction and design
In 1930, Portugal set up a 10-year plan to modernise its Navy. As part of this programme, a contract was placed with the British shipbuilder Hawthorn Leslie for two sloops, to be named Gonçalo Velho and Gonçalves Zarco. They were based on the Royal Navy's Bridgewater-class sloops, but with a heavier armament and omitting the minesweeping equipment of the British ships.
Gonçalo Velho's hull was 81.69 metres (268 ft 0 in) long overall and 76.20 metres (250 ft 0 in) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 10.82 metres (35 ft 6 in) and a draught of 3.43 metres (11 ft 3 in). Two Yarrow boilers fed Parsons geared steam turbines, giving 2,000 shaft horsepower (1,500 kW) and driving two propeller shafts, with a design speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). 470 tons of oil were carried giving a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph).
Armament consisted of three 120 mm (4.7 in) guns in single mounts on the ship's centreline, with two forward and one aft. Four 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti aircraft guns were fitted, while four depth charge throwers provided an anti-submarine armament.
Gonçalo Velho was laid down on 9 October 1931, and launched on 3 August 1932.