TSAMTO, October 14. The French Naval Group announced the handover ceremony of the third (out of four ordered) OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) coastal patrol ship – (53) Storni, which took place on October 13 in Concarneau.
Before delivery, the crew of the Argentine Navy, numbering 44 people, was trained in the operation and maintenance of the ship.
As reported by TSAMTO, on February 13, 2019, after receiving an initial payment of 112.454 million euros, Naval Group announced the entry into force of the contract signed on June 22, 2018 in Buenos Aires for the supply of four patrol ships to the Argentine Navy. The total value of the sale agreed in 2018 is estimated at 319.034 million euros ($363 million).
The contract provides for the delivery after repair and adaptation in accordance with the requirements of the Argentine Navy of the ship "L'adrois" built in 2011 (from the French Navy), as well as the construction in France of three new patrol ships OPV-87 (Govind) according to an improved project. They are designed to patrol the territorial waters of Argentina, ensure safety at sea, protect fishing and solve other tasks.
The construction of three new ships is carried out by Kership (a joint venture of Naval Group and the French shipbuilding company Piriou). Naval Group acts as the general contractor for the delivery.
The repaired L'adrois was transferred to the command of the Argentine Navy on December 6, 2019 and renamed (51) Bouchard. The new ships should be delivered to the customer during 2021-2022. They are similar to the "L'adrois", but have received a number of modifications to improve performance. The first new OPV-87 ship, (P-52) Piedrabuena, was transferred to the Argentine Navy on April 13, 2021 and arrived in Argentina in June 2021.
The launch of the second ship of the new construction, (53) "Storni" (Storni), took place on May 10, 2021. Delivery of the last ship, (54) "Bartolome Cordero" (Bartolome Cordero), is scheduled for April 2022.
The length of the OPV-87 ship of the Argentine Navy is 87 m, the maximum width is 14 m, the displacement is 1,650 tons. The ship is equipped with two Anglo Belgian Corporation V12 diesel engines (5.6 MW) and develops a maximum speed of 21 knots, a cruising range of 7.5 thousand nautical miles at a speed of 12 knots, autonomy - more than three weeks, crew - 30-40 people. Up to 20 paratroopers can also be accommodated on board.
The ship is equipped with a take-off platform for the use of a 10-ton helicopter. Two 9-meter rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) can be placed on board.
All four ships will be equipped with Leonardo's remotely Controlled MARLIN-WS (Modular Advanced Remotely-controlled Lightweight Naval Weapon Station) weapon module with a 30 mm cannon and two 12.7mm machine guns. The hull of the ships is reinforced for sailing in the cold waters of the southern seas.
