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ARM Tamaulipas (PC-223)
Class overview
Name	Azteca class
Builders	Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Scott & Sons, Bowling; Lamont & Co. Ltd. and Mexican Navy Shipyards
Operators	Mexican Navy
Built	31
In service	20
Active	20
Retired	10
General characteristics
Type	Coastal patrol ship
Displacement	148 long tons (150 t) (full load)
Length	111 ft 10 in (34.09 m) oa 101 ft 4 in (30.89 m) pp
Beam	28 ft 3 in (8.61 m)
Draught	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Propulsion	2 shafts, 2 Ruston Paxman Ventura diesels, 3,600 bhp (2,700 kW)
Speed	24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) (maximum)
Range	2,400 nmi (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement	24
Sensors and processing systems	Surface search radar Kelvin Hughes.
Armament	1 × 40 mm L/60 Bofors gun 1 × 20 mm Oerlikon GAM-B01 cannon 2 × machine guns

The Azteca-class patrol vessel are a class of patrol vessels in service with the Mexican Navy. They were designed and built by the British companies T.T. Boat Designs Ltd; Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Scott & Sons, Bowling; Lamont & Co. Ltd. and Vera Cruz and Salina Cruz Shipyards for the Mexican Navy from 1976 to 1980. They are multi-role patrol craft with good nautical characteristics. Original units were powered by Paxman diesels of either 3,600 hp (2,700 kW) or 4,800 hp (3,600 kW). Original units were named with pre-Hispanic tribal names.

Design and description

The Azteca-class patrol vessels displace 148 long tons (150 t) at full load and are 111 feet 10 inches (34.1 m) long overall and 101 feet 4 inches (30.9 m) between perpendiculars. They have a beam of 28 feet 3 inches (8.6 m) and a draught of 6 feet 6 inches (2.0 m). The ships are propelled by two shafts driven by two Ruston Paxman Ventura diesels creating 3,600 brake horsepower (2,700 kW). This gives the vessels a maximum speed of 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) and a range of 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). The ships are armed with one Bofors 40 mm gun, one 20 mm Oerlikon GAM-B01 cannon and two machine guns. The Azteca class has a complement of 24.

Ships

References

Citations

1. Gardiner and Chumbley, p. 264
2. Saunders 2002, p. 464

Sources

• Faulkner, Keith (1999). Hutchinson, Robert (ed.). Jane's Warship Recognition Guide (2nd ed.). London: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780004722115.
• 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. (2002). Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2432-8.

• Patrol vessels of the Mexican Navy
• Patrol boat classes