Álvaro de Bazán (F101)

The Álvaro de Bazán (F101) is the lead ship of the Álvaro de Bazán class of air defence frigates entering service with the Spanish Navy. She is named after Admiral Álvaro de Bazán.

Operational history

In late 2005, "Álvaro de Bazán" was deployed as part of the USS "Theodore Roosevelt" aircraft carrier battle group in the Persian Gulf. This was the first deployment of a Spanish warship as part of an American naval battle group.

In early March 2007, the Álvaro de Bazán was the first Spanish Naval Vessel to visit Australia in 150 years. The ship made several port visits around Australia in conjunction with the Spanish Naval ship builder Navantia's bid to design the Royal Australian Navy's new Air Warfare Destroyer. The ship was also visiting Australia as part of the first circumnavigation of the globe by a Spanish warship in 142 years. [cite web
title =Arrival of Spanish F100 destroyer option
publisher =Australian Department of Defence
url =http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2007/02107.doc
accessdate = 2007-04-17 ]

Specifications

* Builder: IZAR, Astillero Ferrol
* Propulsion: 2 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 2 × Caterpillar 3600 diesel engines
* Shafts: 2
* Length: 147 m (482 ft)
* Beam: 18.6 m (61 ft)
* Draught: 4.75 (15 ft)
* Displacement: 6,250 tons (full load)
* Speed: 29+ knots (54+ km/h)
* Range: 5000 mi
* Cost: 600 million €
* Crew: 240 (35 officers)
* Armament:
** 1 × 5-inch/54 Mk45 Mod 2 gun
** 2 × CIWS FABA 20mm/120 Meroka gun
** 6 × Mk41 8-cell VLS
*** SAM: 32 × Standard SM-2 Block IIIA
*** SAM: 64 × RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile
** SSM: 8 × McDonnell Douglas RGM-84 Harpoon anti-shipping missile
** ASW: 4 × 324 mm Mk32 Mod 9 triple Torpedo launchers with 12 Honeywell Mk46 mod 5 Torpedo
* Helicopter:
** 1 × Sikorsky SH-60B LAMPS III Seahawk
* Electronics
** Sonar: ENOSA-Raytheon DE 1160LF (I)
** Radar: Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-1F 3-D multifunction
** Surface Radar: Raytheon SPS-67(V)4
** Weapon Control: Aegis combat system, 2 × Raytheon SPG-62 Mk99 radar illuminator, 1 × FABA DORNA fire control
** Navigation: Thales Scout
* Countermeasures
** 4 × FMC SRBOC Mk36 flare launchers
** SLQ-25A Enhanced Nixie torpedo countermeasures
** ESM/ECM: Indra SLQ-380
** CESELSA Elnath Mk 9000 interceptor

References