ARM Romero

The four Sierra-class corvettes
History
Mexico
Name	Romero
Builder	Mexican Naval Shipyards
Laid down	23 July 1998
Launched	17 September 1999
Commissioned	17 September 1999
Identification	Pennant number: PO 144
Status	In active service
General characteristics
Class and type	Sierra-class corvette
Displacement	1,366 t (1,344 long tons) full load
Length	70.4 m (231 ft 0 in)
Beam	10.5 m (34 ft 5 in)
Draught	2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	2 diesel Caterpillar 3616 V16 12,394 bhp (9,242 kW)
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	76
Sensors and processing systems	Fire control system: Saab EOS 450 optronic director Surface/air search radar E/F and I-bands Alenia 2 combat data system
Armament	1 Bofors 57 mm gun Mk 3 SA-N-10 surface-to-air missile (Matias Romero only)
Aircraft carried	1 × MBB Bo 105C helicopter
Aviation facilities	One helicopter hangar and helipad

ARM Romero, also referred to as ARM Matias Romero, is a Sierra-class offshore patrol vessel of the Mexican Navy. The ship was constructed at Salina Cruz Shipyard in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, with Romero being launched on 17 September 1999 and entering service the same day.

Description

The Sierra class as built had a full load displacement of 1,366 tonnes (1,344 long tons) and measured 70.4 metres (231 ft 0 in) long with a beam of 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in) and a draught of 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in).[1] According to the Mexican Navy, the vessels have a length of 75.15 metres (246 ft 7 in), a beam of 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in), a draught of 3.18 m (10 ft 5 in) and a normal displacement of 950 t (930 long tons).[2] The corvettes are powered by two Caterpillar 3616 V16 diesel engines turning two shafts creating 9,242 kilowatts (12,394 bhp) total.[1] This gave the vessels a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[1] or 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph).[2] The vessels have two 260 kW (350 hp) and one 190 kW (250 hp) generators for power production.[2]

The Sierra class mount a Saab EOS 450 optronic director for fire control, and radars operating on the E/F and I-bands for navigation, surface and air search. They are equipped with the Alenia 2 combat data system. These ships have an aft flight deck and hangar for one MBB Bo 105C helicopter. The corvettes are armed with one 57-millimetre (2.2 in) Mk3 naval gun on the fore deck to engage air and surface targets. Romero alone in the class is also equipped with an SA-N-10 surface-to-air missile. The ships carry an 11 m (36 ft) interceptor craft capable of 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph).[1] The corvettes have a complement of 75 including 10 officers.[1][2]

Construction and career

The ship was constructed at Salina Cruz Shipyard in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico. The vessel was laid down on 23 July 1998 and launched on 17 September 1999.[1][3] The ship was commissioned into Mexican Navy service on 17 September 1999.[2][a] In 2017, following an earthquake, Romero was dispatched to Salina Cruz with humanitarian relief supplies and supported the local population as it recovered.[4]

Notes

1. Alternatively given as 21 April 2000.[3]

Citations

1. Saunders 2009, p. 518.
2. SEMAR.
3. Saunders 2004, p. 474.
4. "Buque "Romero" llega a Oaxaca con 20 toneladas de víveres" [Ship "Romero" arrives in Oaxaca with 20 tons of food]. El Universal Oaxaca (in Spanish). 14 September 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2023.

References

• "Buque Tipo Patrulla Oceanica Clase "Sierra"" [Ocean Patrol Type Vessel Class "Sierra"] (in Spanish). Secretaría de Marina - Armada de México. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
• Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005 (107 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.
• 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.