Centauro-class patrol boat

The Centauro-class patrol boats are an evolution of the , constructed of aluminium instead of the Argos glass reinforced plastic design. The Centauro class measure long with a beam of and a draught of . The patrol boats have a standard displacement of and fully loaded. The vessels are powered by two Cummins KTA-50-M2 diesel engines turning two shafts creating . This gives the vessels a maximum speed of , though they did make during sea trials. They have a range of at or at . The Centauros are equipped with two Cummins 6BT5.95(M) diesel generators producing 150 kW of electricity. The ships can operate in sea state 3. The patrol boats mount a single Oerlikon /70 Mk 4 gun for anti-air defence. The ships were equipped with navigational radar only. They also carry a launch carried on a launch-and-recovery ramp on the stern and the boat can be recovered at speeds up to . The vessels have a complement of eight, including one officer. ==Construction and career==

The class were ordered in 1998 as an improved version of the Argos class. They were designed and built in Portugal. Upon entering service, the vessels were deployed for fisheries protection, search and rescue and general patrol. The Centauros take part in some naval exercises and some training. In 2006, one boat of this class, NRP Sagitário, became the first Portuguese warship with a female commander, the second lieutenant Gisela Antunes. ==Ships==