Oaxaca-class patrol vessel

The Oaxaca class are offshore patrol vessels, constructed and designed by and for the Mexican Navy. The class is named after the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The Mexican Navy has requested six of these ships with 2 already in service, 2 in construction, which were disclosed on June 1. on the Navy anniversary, with the name PO-163 INDEPENDENCIA, which is to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Independence of Mexico. Also, another ship PO-164, named Revolucion, is in the process of raising the Mexican flag in a couple of months. 2 more to be constructed in Navy's Naval Shipyards.

Description
Ships measure are 282.2 ft in length, has a draft of 11.8 ft, a beam of 34.4 ft, and displaces 1680 ST.

Primary armament is a single OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun. They also mount a pair of OTO Melara remote controlled naval turret Mod. 517 with M2 12.7mm machine guns, one on each side. At the rear on helicopter hangar is an Oto Melara single 30 mm cannon. The class has a helipad on the afterdeck with handling capabilities for a variety of helicopters, such as the Panther, Fennec, or the Bolkow B-105 Super-5. It has a top speed of 20+ knots and a cruising speed of 14, carries a complement of 77, and has provisions to carry a group of 39 special forces and/or marines for a variety of missions.

The Oaxaca Class also carries a Patrol Interceptor in its well deck.

For the 2008 fiscal year, the Mexican Congress has approved $68 million in funds to build 2 more Oaxaca class ships, and has pledged an additional $40 million in 2009.

Mission
The objectives for the Oaxaca class are oceanic surveillance, search and rescue operations, support for the civilian population in case of disasters, maritime support and to act as a deterrence against hostile ships and aircraft in low-medium intensity conflicts.