Tankograd Missions & Manouevres 7022 - Vehicles of the Modern Portuguese Army

Published work - Foreign magazines

Published work in foreign magazines focuses naturally units and equipments operated by the Portuguese Armed Forces. Besides works published with the Brazilian magazine Tecnologia & Defesa and Defesa Net these are some of the main works published since 2007:

Fuerzas Militares del Mundo :: Spain :: monthly

Distributed Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, Peru and USA

Viana do Castelo class, Portuguese-built Offshore Patrol Vessels (April 2011)
The Portuguese fleet of C-295M transport aircrafts (Jannuary 2011)
The new Trident submarine class, U-209PN model (October 2010)
The Brigada de Intervenção, the medium brigade of the Portuguese Army (April 2010)

The Navy Helicopter Squadron (EHM), Portuguese Navy (May 2009)

The CTOE, Center of Special Operations Troops, Portuguese Army (May and June 2008)

The Portuguese Army (November and December 2007)

Tankograd Militärfahrzeug :: Germany :: quarterly

Chaimite, Portuguese-built armoured vehicle (April 2010)  

Chaimite Project: A visit to Escola Prática de Cavalaria

On the first week of February, I have visited the Escola Prática de Cavalaria (EPC, Practical School of Cavalry) as part of the research which I am doing about the Chaimite and the Bravia-VM (please, check my last post). More recently, as part of the new organization of the Portuguese Army, the EPC has been moved from Santarém to Abrantes, where it was located a former infantry regiment.

Besides, this was a good opportunity to photograph some of the armoured vehicles which have served in the portuguese Cavalry (and that are preserved in Abrantes), as well as the present armoured fleet. In fact, the EPC has already in service the new Pandur II 8x8 armoured vehicle.

One of the new Pandur II 8x8 received by the EPC in the right side of the photo. In the left side, we can see a Chaimite V-600 4x4 armoured vehicle [click to enlarge].

The french-built Panhard AML was a light armoured vehicle used in the Colonial War (1961-1974) in missions such as scort and reconnaissance. Some of the vehicles were upgraded in the 1980s with a new engine and systems and, finally, redraw from service in 2001-2002 [click to enlarge].

An impressive M48 A5 Patton main battle tank in the main gate of the EPC. It was used by the 1ª Brigada Mista Independente, now known as Brigada Mecanizada (mechanized infantary). They were replaced by the M60 A3 TTS [click to enlarge].

Though Portugal does not use horse cavalry any longer, the Portuguese Army still has the tradition of learning how to ride a horse [click to enlarge].

Pedro Monteiro

Scale of the USS Eisenhower at Lisbon

Between 12th and 16th May, the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) has made a technical scale in Lisbon, after a six months' mission in the Persion Gulf. Although the presence of an american aicraft carrier in a portuguese port is rare, in last November the USS Enterprise has made a technical scale at Lisbon. With the invitation of the American Embassy, I have made a visit to this ship in representation of Fuerzas Militares del Mundo.

A look at the flight deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) shows several models of aircrafts which operate from the warship, such as the case of the E-2C Hawkeye, the A/F-18 E/F Super Hornet and the EA-6B.

A Super Hornet of the VFA-103 Jolly Rogers.

A long line of Ike's F-18 Hornet fleet. The fighter force of the aircraft carrier has more combat aircrafts than many air forces around the world.

Always impressive is the E-2C, an Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft. Notice its radar antenna on the top of the aircraft.

Pedro Monteiro

Navy Day of 2006

The Dia da Marinha (Navy Day) in 2006 took place, in the city of Sines, on 20th May. This day celebrates the arrival of Vasco da Gama, by maritime travel, to India. The official cerimony included a demonstration of capabilities by the combat surface units and the Corpo de Fuzileiros (marines). The report was made for the Spanish magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo.

A Vasco da Gama class frigate (Meko 200PN) supports with her organic Super Lynx helicopter the projection of the amphibious force. At second plan, the Berrio, the support ship of the portuguese Navy.

A portuguese marine, armed withe G-3 assault riffle with a 7,62mm caliber. The special operations unit uses the modern G-36K.

The official cerimony. In the official speach, the Chief of Navy Staff, Almirante Melo Gomes, has anounced that the third patrol ship (OPV) of the Viana do Castelo class would be named Sines. This ship is the first of the variant for pollution combat - the Navy will recieved two of these ships and other six of the patrol version. Currently, the first two ships of the classe are being constructed at Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo (ENVC) and will be delivery in 2008.

Former Minister of National Defence, Luís Amado, contacts with the unit of marines that made the demonstration.

A model of the U209PN submarine. In fact, this submarine is a U214. It will be armed with Black Shark heavy torpedos, MN 102 Murena mines and anti-ship missiles - probably the UGM-84 Sub Harpoon. It will have an AIP system that allows a higher range and discreteness. The portuguese navy will recieve in 2010, the first of the two submarines.

The anti-aircraft guns of Baptista Andrade class corvettes.

Pedro Monteiro

Rosa Brava 07

The portuguese Army has conducted in April an exercise involving its heavy brigade, the Brigada Mecanizada (Mechanized Brigade). The exercise, called Rosa Brava 07 has mobilized 1.230 men and 267 vehicles. In the same period, and also at Campo Militar de Santa Margarida, where the operational units of the Brigada Mecanizada are based, another exercise - Eficácia 07 - was conducted involving the artillery and fire support units of the portuguese Armed Forces. I made a report on 19th April for the spanish magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo.

A M109 A5 howitzer in firing position.

M60 A3 TTS tanks of Brigada Mecanizada whose operation will probably end by 2008 with the reception of the new Leopard 2 A6, currently operated by The Netherlands.

A M60 main battle tank fires its 105mm gun.

The press received detailed explanations from the military evolved in the exercise. The new century has brought new challenges, such as the need of more cooperation with the press.

The following units have been involved on the operations:
Brigada Mecanizada (mechanized infantary); Brigada de Reacção Rápida (the operational and elite forces brigade, partipated with an unit of para-troops); Brigada de Intervenção (medium brigade, a cavalary unit was deployed); troops and equipment from Escola Prática de Artilharia and Regimento de Artilharia Nº 4; fire support units (mortars) from Regimento de Infantaria Nº 13, Regimento de Guarnição Nº 1 e Regimento de Guarnição Nº 3. The Navy deployed a fire support unit (mortars) of the Corpo de Fuzileiros (marines). In the case of the Air Force, F-16 OCU and Alpha-Jet fighters had made some missions, as the Alouette III helicopters in transport and logistic support role.

Na manhã do dia 19Abr07 realizar-se-á o Distinguished Visitors Day destes exercícios, que incluirá uma demonstração do Pelotão de Aquisição de Objectivos e Pelotão de Defesa NBQ e um exercício táctico com fogos reais, integrando ossistemas funcionais de Combate, Apoio de Combate, Apoio de Fogos e Apoio de Serviços orgânicos das Unidades participantes nos exercícios. Desde 13Abr07 até 20Abr07, decorrem no Campo Militar de Santa Margarida (CMSM) e de forma integrada, os Exercícios “ROSA BRAVA 07” (exercício da Brigada Mecanizada) e “EFICÁCIA 07” (exercício do Comando Operacional do Exército).

Pedro Monteiro