ARM Oaxaca

ARM Oaxaca (PO-161) is the lead ship of the of patrol vessels, constructed by and for the Mexican Navy.

It has a length of 282.2 ft, a draft of 11.8 ft, a beam of 34.4 ft, and displaces 1850 ST.

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 kn, carries a complement of 77, and has provisions to carry a group of 39 special forces and/or marines for a variety of missions.

UNITAS Gold
ARM Oaxaca participated in UNITAS Gold from 25 April 2009 to 5 May 2009. The ships main guns were tested as well as a BO-105 helicopter from the ship during the sinking of the ex-USS Connelly (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.