Senegalese patrol vessel Poponquine

Summary

The Senegalese patrol vessel Poponquine is a Senegalese Navy patrol vessel. Poponquine was ordered in 1973 as one of three ships of the PR 48 class, locally known as the Saint-Louis class. The vessel was constructed in France and entered service in 1974. She has served on joint patrols with United States vessels.

USCGC Legare, left, patrols alongside Poponquine during joint operations as part of the Africa Partnership Station
History
Senegal
NamePoponquine
Ordered1973
BuilderSFCN, Villeneuve-la-Garenne, France
Laid down20 November 1973
Launched22 March 1974
Commissioned10 August 1974
StatusIn active service
General characteristics
Class and typePR 48-class patrol vessel
Displacement250 t (250 long tons) full load
Length47.5 m (155 ft 10 in)
Beam7.1 m (23 ft 4 in)
Draught2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
Speed23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)
Range2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement33
Sensors and
processing systems
Furuno surface search radar
Armament

Design and description edit

Poponquine, a PR 48-class patrol vessel, has a displacement of 250 tonnes (250 long tons) fully loaded. The ship is 47.5 metres (155 ft 10 in) long with a beam of 7.1 metres (23 ft 4 in) and a draught of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in). Poponquine is propelled by two SACM AGO V12 CZSHR diesel engines turning two shafts, rated 3,240 kilowatts (4,340 hp). This gives the ship a maximum speed of 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) and a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[1]

The patrol vessel is armed with two Bofors 40 mm (1.6 in)/70 guns in a twin turret and single-mounted 7.62 mm (0.3 in) machine guns. Poponquine is equipped with a Furuno surface search radar. The ship has a complement of 33 including three officers.[1][2]

Construction and career edit

Poponquine was the second of three PR 48-class vessels ordered from French shipyards. The order for Poponquine was placed in 1973 with SFCN at their yard in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, France. The ship was laid down on 20 November 1973 and launched on 22 March 1974. Poponquine was commissioned on 10 August 1974.[1][3]

In August 2009 Poponquine and USCGC Legare of the United States Coast Guard used one another as the target of boarding parties.[4][5]

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c Saunders 2009, p. 718.
  2. ^ Couhat 1986, p. 408.
  3. ^ Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 327.
  4. ^ "Images: U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Legare Patrols With Senegalese Navy Vessel, Poponquine". DVIDSHUB. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2010. The Legare and crew, home ported in Portsmouth, Va., are currently deployed off the west and central coast of Africa in support of the Africa Partnership Station mission, under the direction of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, 6th Fleet.
  5. ^ Susan Schept (14 August 2009). "Legare on patrol off the African coast". Navy Times. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013. During the six-day joint operation, several Senegalese boarding team members embarked Legare and participated in boarding and training exercises along with Coast Guard boarding team members.

References edit

  • Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 978-0-7106-2888-6.