ARM Oaxaca (PO-161) is the lead ship of the Oaxaca class of patrol vessels, constructed by and for the Mexican Navy.
 ARM Oaxaca | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Oaxaca |
| Namesake | Oaxaca |
| Commissioned | 1 May 2003 |
| Status | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Oaxaca-class patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 1,850 short tons (1,678 t) |
| Length | 282 ft 2 in (86.00 m) |
| Beam | 34 ft 4 in (10.46 m) |
| Draft | 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × Caterpillar 3916 V16 Diesels, 2 props |
| Speed | 20knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Troops | 39 Marines or Special Forces |
| Complement | 77 Sailors |
| Sensors and processing systems |
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| Armament |
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| Aircraft carried | 1 × Panther or Fennec helicopter |
| Aviation facilities | 1helicopter hangar and helipad |
It has a length of 282.2 feet (86.0 m), a draft of 11.8 feet (3.6 m), a beam of 34.4 feet (10.5 m), and displaces 1,850 short tons (1,678.3 t).[1]
Primary armament is a single OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun, with a pair of OTO Melara 12.7 mm remote controlled naval turret Mod. 517 with M2 12.7mm machine guns on each side, and an Oto Melara single 30/SAFS 30 mm cannon aft.
A helipad on the afterdeck has handling capabilities for a variety of helicopters, such as the Panther, Fennec, or the Bolkow Bo 105 Super-5.
The ship has a cruising speed of 20 knots (37 km/h), carries a complement of 77, and has provisions to carry a group of 39 special forces and/or marines for a variety of missions.
ARM Oaxaca participated in UNITAS Gold from 25 April 2009 to 5 May 2009.[2] The ships main guns were tested as well as a BO-105 helicopter from the ship during the sinking of the ex-USS Conolly (DD-975) 29 April. This was the first time Mexico participated in UNITAS Gold, sending ARM Oaxaca and ARM Mina. The ships also practiced fire drills and other exercises.