NRP "Arpão" in Cartagena, on the way to two missions

In the port of Cartagena is the Portuguese submarine NRP "Arpão" (S-161), which arrived this morning, as a stopover before joining NATO's Operation Sea Guardian and then the European Union's Operation Irini in the Mediterranean, on an approximate two-month deployment.

Launched on June 19, 2009, and commissioned in December 2010, it is the second submarine of the Tridente class, which is the lead ship (S-160), both built at the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) shipyard in Kiel (Germany). Derived from the German type 214 and ordered in April 2004, it took just over six years until delivery and has replaced the French-origin Albacora class submarines.

With a standard displacement of 1,700 tons and a maximum submerged displacement of 2,020 tons, it measures 67.70 m in length, 6.35 m in beam, and 6.60 m in draft. Powered by a diesel-electric MTU-Siemens propulsion system equipped with Siemens AIP generators, it maintains a submerged speed of 20 knots, 10 knots on the surface, and 6 knots with the AIP system. It has a range of 12,000 nautical miles at eight knots and can reach a depth of 300 m.

The crew consists of 33 personnel (seven officers, ten non-commissioned officers, and 16 petty officers and sailors) and can embark a command of 14 marines.

It is equipped with European electronics – mostly German – and armed with eight 533 mm WASS Black Shark torpedoes and can also incorporate six UGM-84 Sub Harpoon Block II anti-ship and land-attack missiles.

They have been designed to intervene in the protection of combined naval forces, maritime patrol, and selective attacks on strategic interests.

It is the second submarine of the Tridente class

Of German construction, it was commissioned in December 2010

Embarks 33 crew members plus a command of 14 marines

Photos: Diego Quevedo Carmona