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Descubierta vs Santa María

Descubierta vs Santa María at a glance — displacement 1,482 vs 3,160 tons, length 88 vs 138 m, speed 25 vs 29 knots, crew 118 vs 223.

Specifications
Descubierta Santa María
Origin 🇪🇸 Spain 🇪🇸 Spain
Category Corvette Frigate
Type Corvette Guided-missile frigate
Manufacturer Arsenal de Cartagena Bazan
Year introduced 1978 1986
Number built 9 units 6 units
Estimated unit price NA NA
Displacement 1,482 tons 3,160 tons
Maximum speed 25.0 knots 29.0 knots
Range 4,000 nm at 18 knots 5,000 nm
Length 88.8 m 138.8 m
Beam 10.4 m 14.3 m
Crew 118 223
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Descubierta Santa María
Armament
  • 8 - Harpoon SSM (2 × 4)
  • 8 - Aspide SAM (1 × 8)
  • 1 - 76 mm gun
  • 2 - 40 mm guns (2 × 1)
  • 2 - Bofors 375mm Anti-submarine mortar (1 × 2)
  • 6 - 12.75 in anti submarine torpedo tubes (2 × 3)
  • 1 × single-arm Mk 13 Missile Launcher (32 SM-1MR and 8 Harpoon missiles)
  • 2 × triple Mark 32 ASW torpedo tubes with Mark 46 Mod 5 torpedoes
  • 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm/62 cal. naval gun
  • 1 × 20 mm Meroka 12-barrel CIWS system
Propulsion 2 shaft, 4 MTU-Bazán 16V 956 TB91 diesel engines, 16,000 hp (12,000 kW) 2 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines generating 41,000 shp (31 MW) through a single shaft and variable pitch propeller; 2 × Auxiliary Propulsion Units, 350 hp (260 kW) retractable electric azimuth thrusters
Explore further
Descubierta-class Specs, operators & history →
Largest operators · in service
Santa María-class Specs, operators & history →
Largest operators · in service
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Descubierta-class or Santa María-class?
The Santa María-class has greater displacement at 3,160 tons compared to the Descubierta-class's 1,482 tons.
Which is faster, the Descubierta-class or Santa María-class?
The Santa María-class is faster with a maximum speed of 29 knots compared to the Descubierta-class's 25 knots.
Which has longer range, the Descubierta-class or Santa María-class?
The Santa María-class has a longer range at 5,000 nautical miles compared to the Descubierta-class's 4,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Descubierta-class or Santa María-class?
The Santa María-class is longer at 138.8 meters compared to the Descubierta-class's 88.8 meters.
How many crew members do the Descubierta-class and Santa María-class have?
The Santa María-class has a larger crew complement of 223 compared to the Descubierta-class's 118 crew members.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Descubierta-class or Santa María-class?
The Descubierta-class has been built in greater numbers with 9 vessels compared to 6 vessels of the Santa María-class.