NRP Gonçalo Velho was a second class Gonçalo Velho-class sloop sloop (aviso de 2ª classe) of the Portuguese Navy. She was designed to operate in the overseas territories of Portugal. The ship entered service in 1933 and was among the core of the fleet until the late 1940s. Following World War II, new ships were acquired and Gonçalo Velho was broken up for scrap in 1961.

Design and description

Gonçalo Velho was a sloop of the Gonçalo Velho-class sloop. They were based on the Royal Navy's Bridgewater-class sloops, but with a heavier armament and omitting the minelaying equipment of the British ships. Gonçalo Velho's hull was 81.69 m long overall and 76.20 m between perpendiculars, with a beam of 10.82 m and a draught of 3.43 m. Two Yarrow boilers fed Parsons geared steam turbines, giving 2000 shp and driving two propeller shafts, with a design speed of 16.5 kn. 470 tons of oil were carried giving a range of 6000 nmi at 11 kn. They had a standard displacement of 950 t and 1414 t at full load. They had a crew of 142 initially, but this was later reduced to 128. Armament consisted of three 120 mm guns in single mounts on the ship's centreline, with two forward and one aft. Four 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft (AA) guns were fitted, while four depth charge throwers provided an anti-submarine armament. In 1943, the 40 mm guns were removed and replaced by five single-mounted 20 mm AA cannon.

Construction and career

In 1930, Portugal set up a ten-year plan to modernise its navy. As part of this programme, a contract was placed with the British shipbuilder Hawthorn Leslie for two sloops, to be named Gonçalo Velho and NRP Gonçalves Zarco. Gonçalo Velho was laid down on 9 October 1931, and launched on 3 August 1932. Construction was completed in May 1933. They were among the ships that formed the core of the fleet until the late 1940s. They were tasked with coastal defence and defence of Portugal's colonial possessions. Following World War II, the ships were reclassified as frigates. Portugal acquired new ships in the postwar era and Gonçalo Velho was broken up for scrap in June 1961.

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