PNA Prefecto Derbes (GC-28)

PNA Prefecto Derbes (GC-28) is a Mantilla-class patrol boat in service with the Argentine Naval Prefecture, built at the Empresa Nacional Bazán shipyards and commissioned in 1984. The vessel is named after Pedro Derbes, a former commander of the “Prefectura de Puerto Madryn” of the PNA; she is the first ship of this service with this name.

Design
Prefecto Derbes is one of five Mantilla-class patrol boats ordered by the Argentine Naval Prefecture (PNA) in 1981, corresponding to the coast guard cutter “Halcon II” type, designed and build by the Spanish Empresa Nacional Bazán shipyard. The design is optimised for long range open seas patrols, for prolonged periods of time away from port.

Prefecto Derbes has a steel hull and superstructure, with a single mast atop, behind the bridge. She is powered by two Bazán-MTU 16V-956-TB91 marine diesel engines of 2500 kW each (maximum intermittent power 3000 kW), driving two Variable-pitch propellers; with a maximum speed of 18kn (19kn at maximum intermittent power). The design has a maximum range of 3650 nautical miles at a cruise speed of 16kn.

She has 3 electrical generators of 185Kva each, powering a varied array of systems: controls and communications system that integrates with other PNA air and surface assets; navigation radar; echosound; direction finder; and helicopter navigation control.

Prefecto Derbes is equipped with two water cannons for firefighting, anti-contamination gear, active stabilizers and a retractable hangar and landing pad with support facilities for an Alouette-sized helicopter. She is armed with a single 40mm L/70 Bofors dual-purpose autocannon in a position at the front of the bridge. She fields a crew of 38 sailors, as do other ships of the Mantilla-class.

History
Prefecto Derbes was ordered by the Argentine Naval Prefecture (PNA) in 1981 as part of the five-ship Mantilla-class, composed by the patrol boats GC-24 to GC-28. She was built in 1981-83 by the Spanish Empresa Nacional Bazán shipyard. She was launched in June 1982, completed and handed over to Argentina in November 1983, and left El Ferrol, Spain, on 15 January 1984, arriving in Buenos Aires on 30 January. She was commissioned on 14 March 1984 and assigned to the Coast Guard Service ( Servicio de Buques Guardacostas}).

In July 1984 she sails on her first patrol of the Argentine Sea. In August 1991 is assigned to the port of Bahía Blanca, reporting to “Prefectura de Zona Mar Argentino Norte”, replacing her sister ship ”Azopardo". In August 2000 is visited by the Argentine President, Fernando de la Rúa, while at Puerto Madryn. In February 2009 she was formally assigned to the port of Puerto Madryn to be based there.

In December 2012 she was revised and upgraded at TANDANOR shipyard, in Buenos Aires.

As of 2016, she is based at Mar del Plata.