History of Naval Station Rota (NAVSTA Rota)

Naval Station Rota (NAVSTA Rota) is a Spanish naval base opened in 1955, commanded by a Spanish Admiral, called Base Naval de Rota in Spanish, and yet fully-funded by the United States of America. Often described by the US Navy as the “Gateway to the Mediterranean,” Rota is headquarters for Commander US Naval Activities Spain (COMNAVACTSPAIN). Under the mutual defense agreement signed by the US and Spain during the Franco regime (Convenio de Defensa y Ayuda Económica Mutua), the US is responsible for maintaining the station’s infrastructure, including a 670-acre (2.7 km²) airfield, three active piers, 426 facilities and 806 family housing units.

Base Naval de Rota.

Rota is home to the Spanish Navy’s Grupo de Acción Naval 2, comprising the aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias (R-11), the LPDs Galicia (L-51) and Castilla (L-52), and the LST Pizarro (L-42). On its transfer to a state of “restrictive standby” (or what the rest of the world calls “decommissioning”), the Príncipe de Asturias will be replaced by the LHD Juan Carlos I (L61).

SPS Príncipe de Asturias (R-11), originally named the ‘Almirante Carrero Blanco’ after one of Franco’s fascist cronies.

SPS Galicia (L-51), lead vessel in her class of LPDs.

SPS Castilla (L-52), a Galicia-class LPD.

SPS Pizarro (L-42), formerly the Newport-class USS Harlan County (LST-1196).

SPS Juan Carlos I (L-61), Spain’s newest LHD capable of operating Harrier AV-8B and F-35B STVOL aircraft.

Rota is also home to the 41ª Escuadrilla de Escoltas, comprising the Santa Maria-class frigates Santa Maria (F-81), Victoria (F-82), Numancia (F-83), Reina Sofía (F-84), Navarra (F-85) and Canarias (F-86). The Spanish vessels are based on the US Navy’s Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates.

SPS Santa Maria (F-81), lead vessel in her class of Spanish frigates, based on the US Oliver Hazard Perry-class.

SPS Victoria (F-82), Santa Maria-class frigate.

SPS Numanica (F-83), Santa Maria-class frigate.

SPS Reina Sofia (F-84), Santa Maria class frigate.

SPS Navarra (F-85), Santa Maria class frigate.

SPS Canarias (F-86), Santa Maria-class frigate.

US tenant units based at Rota include Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Company Europe (FAST Co. Europe), US Naval Hospital Rota, Naval Special Warfare Unit 10 and 725th Air Mobility Squadron.

The strategic location of the base allows it to provide excellent support to US Sixth Fleet units in the Mediterranean and to US Air Force Air Mobility Command units. It is the only base in the Mediterranean which supports amphibious readiness group (ARG) post-deployment wash-downs. The naval station also offers pier-side maintenance and backload facilities. The base complements the ARG unit transfers, and accommodates the sailors and marines of visiting ships.

090702-N-3289E-100 ROTA, Spain (July 2, 2009) Marine Corporal Dustin Shanle Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST), Company Europe stands in front of the Naval Station Rota Spain, flagpole with company mascot Monster during the annual flag raising ceremony. While raising the flag is a daily occurrence on U.S. military bases around the world, because of the Agreement for Defense Cooperation, Naval Station Rota is only permitted to fly the U.S. flag with special permission from the Spanish Admiral-in-Chief. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph Ebalo/Released)

During the Cold War, Rota was home port to Submarine Squadron 16 (SUBRON 16) and the depot ship USS Proteus (AS-19), later USS Holland (AS-32). Submarines assigned to the squadron included the USS Lafayette (SSBN-616) and USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657).

USS Proteus (AS-19), submarine tender for SUBRON 16.

USS Holland (AS-32), submarine tender for SUBRON 16.

Poseidon C-3 (UGM-73A) missile is launched from the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine USS Lafayette (SSBN-616).

USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657) during sea trials off the Atlantic coast.

Turkish Navy eyes Navantia’s F100 class frigates

Spain’s Navantia-built F100-class frigate is the base platform for the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate and the Australian Hobart-class destroyer.

Now it seems the Turkish Navy is interested… which would be in addition to its existing plans for 6 new TF2000-class frigates and 12 new Milgem-class corvettes.

Navantia’s F-100 Class Frigate Sparks Turkish Interest

Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia and the Spanish Navy have displayed the capabilities of the shipbuilding company as a designer and builder of the technologically advanced F-100 class frigates in Istanbul. The F-103 frigate “Blas de Lezo” arrived in the Turkish city on the 25th of July 2013.

The F-103 is leading the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2) from June to October 2013. Members of both the Turkish Under Secretariat for Defense Industry (SSM) and the Turkish Army showed their interest in the F-100 frigates during the technical visit they had previously realized.

The admiral leading the SNMG-2, Eugenio Díaz del Río, welcomed the Turkish delegation headed by the Head of Naval Platforms of SSM, Mustafa Seker. The Spanish Defense Attaché Colonel Julián de Pablo, the Commercial Vice President of Navantia Gonzalo Mateo, the Turkish Branch Office of Navantia General Manager Jorge García Monedero and some representatives from Lockheed Martin were also present during the visit.

The five F-100 class frigates built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy are multipurpose ships equipped with the AEGIS combat system. The F-100 class frigates are capable to lead and operate a multinational maritime force as it is the SNMG-2. This operative is formed by ships of several NATO member countries and it participates in the Ocean Shield operations against piracy in the Indian Ocean and the Active Endeavour operation against terrorism in the Mediterranean.

”We would like to thank the Spanish Navy and specially the crew of the F-103 frigate the extraordinary collaboration offered during the visit”, Navantia said in a release.

http://shipbuildingtribune.com/2013/08/01/navantias-f-100-class-frigate-sparks-turkish-interest/

Spanish Navy acquires first Skeldar V-200 UAV

The Spanish Navy has acquired its first Skeldar V-200 UAV from Swedish company Saab AB at a cost of €2.5 million.

La Armada española adquiere su primer UAV, un “Skeldar V-200” de SAAB, por 2,5 millones de euros

La Armada dispondrá por fin de su primer avión no tripulado embarcado. La Dirección de Abastecimiento y Transportes de la Armada ha anunciado la formalización del expediente 34/13, relativo a la adquisición de un sistema aéreo no tripulado embarcado, por el que, por un monto de 2,5 millones de euros, resulta adjudicataria, con fecha 26 de junio, la firma sueca SAAB AB. Si bien el BOE no especifica el modelo, fuentes de la Armada han confirmado que se trata del “Skeldar V-200”. La fecha de entrega, así como la posibilidad de incrementar el número de pedidos, se desconoce.

Diseñado sobre la base del fuselaje CybAero APID 55, el prototipo Skeldar 5 POC efectuó su primer vuelo en mayo de 2006, pasando a denominarse Skeldar V-200 en 2008. Con capacidad de despegue y toma vertical (VTOL), este helicóptero no tripulado posee un radio de misión de 15 km, una velocidad máxima de 130 km/h y autonomía de hasta cinco horas con una carga máxima útil de 40 kg. Sus dimensiones son de 1,3 m de alto por 1,2 metros de ancho. El diámetro del rotor es de 4,7 m.

El “Skeldar V-200”, programa que comenzó en 2004, se confirma como un modelo óptimo para realizar labores de control y vigilancia, económicamente en términos más rentables que los costes de este tipo de misiones desempeñadas por un helicóptero tripulado. La estación de control de la aeronave incluye un ordenador para coordinar y gestionar las misiones, además de las cargas que lleva incorporadas el avión. En cuanto al número de operadores que necesita, puede variar entre dos y cuatro.

Ya en 2010 la Armada española anunciaba la decisión de equiparse con UAVs embarcados. El objetivo principal era potenciar las posibilidades y facultades del contingente español desplazado en el Índico en el contexto de la “Operación Atalanta”. En un principio, y según confirmara el Jefe de la División de Planes del Estado Mayor de la Armada, José Antonio Ruesta, en declaraciones a los medios de comunicación hace ya tres años, se contaba con un presupuesto de hasta 8 millones de euros para dotarse con este tipo de sistemas. Visto lo visto, a día de hoy, la cantidad asignada se sitúa casi cuatro veces por debajo de lo entonces estipulado.

Entre los dispositivos que habrían presentado mayores posibilidades para hacerse con este contrato se apuntó al “Scan Eagle” de Boeing, prototipo que ya ha sido probado en circunstancias semejantes a las que se quiere destinar el “Skeldar V-200”. Otro de los pretendientes al contrato fue el “Camcopter S-100”, en un proyecto conjunto elaborado por la firma española SENER y la austriaca Schiebel.

http://www.defensa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9548:la-armada-espanola-adquiere-su-primer-uav-un-skeldar-v-200-de-saab-por-25-millones-de-euros&catid=54:espana&Itemid=162

Your starter for ten… When was the Gibraltar Guard Ship withdrawn?

Whenever Spanish vessels (either from the Armada Española, the Guardia Civil, or a piratical fisherman chancing his luck) intrudes upon British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, I am mindful of this last mention of the Gibraltar Guard Ship in the parliamentary record.

Gibraltar Guard Ship
HC Deb 15 April 2003 vol 404 cc52-3W

Mr. Jenkin To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessel last carried out the duty of Gibraltar Guard Ship; and which warship is on station carrying out those duties. [109158]

Mr. Ingram The Royal Navy presence in Gibraltar is provided by The Gibraltar Squadron. The Squadron usually comprises two patrol vessels. This is appropriate to the current assessment of requirements. Currently, on a temporary basis, there are four patrol craft in Gibraltar whilst the task is transferred to vessels reassigned from Northern Ireland. HMS Ranger and HMS Trumpeter are the outgoing patrol craft, HMS Scimitar and HMS Sabre are the incoming patrol craft. No frigate or destroyer is deployed as a Gibraltar Guard Ship.

Note the key element of this reply. “No frigate or destroyer is deployed as a Gibraltar Guard Ship.” Oh, how they must have rubbed their hands with glee in Madrid!

Is it any wonder why, 10-years later, illegal incursions in BGTW occur… and occur again… and again… and with seeming impunity?

A politely-worded diplomatic note from the FCO (“You are being naughty. Please stop. If you don’t stop then we will write you another letter.”) is barely worth the paper they it is written on. Occasional fluffing of feathers by Royal Marine RIBs occurs on those rare occasions (subject to predictable protest from Madrid) that a RN submarine occupies the Z Berth. This is patently insufficient.

As far back as 1798, Nelson wrote of his operations in the Mediterranean, “Was I to die this moment, ‘Want of Frigates’ would be found stamped on my heart.” How little appears to have changed! The Royal Navy is decommissioning frigates and destroyers faster than they can build replacements – even presupposing the political will exists in Whitehall to replace them on a like-for-like basis.

One thing is certain, and that is that displays of weakness only encourage the aggressor. Spain is encouraged by Britain’s perceived weakness. Madrid is encouraged by the weak-kneed response of Whitehall to illegal incursions. Diplomatic note follows diplomatic note. Yet this is insufficient to prevent the illegal incursions. Mild hurumphing from the FCO is not getting the job done. A guard ship might.

HMS Cornwall (F99) off Gibraltar in 2004. Cornwall was one of the Type 22 frigates decommissioned by the British government under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. “WANT OF FRIGATES!”