Senegalese patrol vessel Poponquine

The Senegalese patrol vessel Poponquine is a Senegalese Navy patrol vessel. Poponquine was ordered in 1973 as one of three ships of the PR 48-class patrol vessel, locally known as the Saint-Louis class. The vessel was constructed in France and entered service in 1974. She has served on joint patrols with United States vessels.

Design and description
Poponquine, a PR 48-class patrol vessel, has a displacement of 250 LT fully loaded. The ship is 47.5 m long with a beam of 7.1 m and a draught of 2.5 m. Poponquine is propelled by two SACM AGO V12 CZSHR diesel engines turning two shafts, rated 4340 hp. This gives the ship a maximum speed of 23 kn and a range of 2000 nmi at 16 kn.

The patrol vessel is armed with two Bofors 40 mm/70 guns in a twin turret and single-mounted 7.62 mm machine guns. Poponquine is equipped with a Furuno surface search radar. The ship has a complement of 33 including three officers.

Construction and career
Poponquine was the second of three PR 48-class vessels ordered from French shipyards. The order for Poponquine was placed in 1973 with SFCN at their yard in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, France. The ship was laid down on 20 November 1973 and launched on 22 March 1974. Poponquine was commissioned on 10 August 1974.

In August 2009 Poponquine and USCGC Legare (WMEC-912) of the United States Coast Guard used one another as the target of boarding parties.