João Belo class frigate

The João Belo class, also known as Comandante João Belo class, is a class of four frigates of French design, identical to the "Commandant Rivière" class, with extra equipment for tropical climates. Ordered by the Portuguese Navy in 1964, the four ships of this class were constructed in Nantes' shipyard.

In the 60s the Portuguese Navy was interested in the acquisition of British frigates of the Leander class, but because of British political opposition against Portugal this acquisition was impossible. Portugal was then forced to buy frigates of an already existing project due the urgency in the acquisition of naval ships for the defense in African, Macau's and Timor's waters.

The replacement of the two remaining frigates of this class in the Portuguese Navy by the "Van Nes" and "Van Galen" frigates of the Karel Doorman class is scheduled for 2008 with the delivery of the first Dutch frigate on December 1, 2008.

Ships

See also

* Portuguese Navy
* Portuguese Colonial War
* "Commandant Rivière" class frigate

References

**Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995
* [http://www.marinha.pt/Marinha/PT/Menu/DescobrirMarinha/MeiosOperacionais/Superficie/Fragatas/JoaoBelo/HermenegildoCapelo.htm "Comandante Hermenegildo Capelo" ship profile] , Portuguese Navy website
* [http://www.areamilitar.net/DIRECTORIO/NAV.aspx?NN=2 "João Belo" class] , "Área Militar"