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China to export P18N Offshore Patrol Vessel with stealth performance to Nigeria Navy

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Naval Forces News - Nigeria
 
 
 
China to export P18N Offshore Patrol Vessel with stealth performance to Nigeria Navy
 
The first unit of a new class of offshore patrol vessel that China plans to export to Nigeria has been launched. It will be delivered in the middle of 2014 as scheduled. It will become the first ship of the Nigerian navy's P18N project. During an interview, Major General Yin Zhuo made particular mention of the vessel's stealth performance.
     
The first unit of a new class of offshore patrol vessel that China plans to export to Nigeria has been launched. It will be delivered in the middle of 2014 as scheduled. It will become the first ship of the Nigerian navy's P18N project. During an interview, Major General Yin Zhuo made particular mention of the vessel's stealth performance.
Launch of the first P18N OPV for Nigerian Navy in Wuhan, China
     
On the stealth performance of F91, Yin Zhuo pointed out that the ship's bows lean slightly inward, and bevels are superimposed on the upper part of the deck; as a result, the radar reflection points are few and the radar image is small. He pointed out that an 1,800-ton ship with stealth capacity will have the radar reflection area of a ship of about 500 tons; it can be discovered only when it is very close to the radar of enemy, and cannot be observed if an appropriate distance is kept from the enemy radar.
     
On January 27, 2014 the first of two P-18N offshore patrol vessels (OPV) ordered by the Nigerian Navy was launched at the China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company (CSOC) at Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan, China. CSOC is part of the part of the State Shipbuilding Corporation, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC).
The ceremony at Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan, China with officials from Nigeria
     
In April 2012, Nigeria signed a contract with China to build two P18N OPVs. Under the contract, the lead ship was to be built in Wuhan with construction starting in October 2012, while the second unit is expected to be partially built in Nigeria.

P18N Offshore Patrol Vessels have a displacement 1,800, a length of 95 m, width of 12.2 m and beam of 3.5 m. It is powered by two MTU 20V 4000M diesel engines. The maximum speed is 21 knots.

The endurance of the vessel is 20 days at sea for a crew of 70 sailors. These OPVs are fitted with a H/PJ26 76mm main gun mount and two H/PJ14 30mm gun mounts. The class may accomodate a Z- 9 helicopter thanks to its helipad and hangar at the stern.