‘The Battle of Vigo Bay, 12 October 1702’ by Ludolf Backhuysen I. Painting in collection of National Maritime Museum Greenwich.
OTDIH 12 Oct 1702 Anglo-Dutch fleet trounces Franco-Spanish at Battle of Vigo Bay
Tag Archives: Spain
Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton appointed Governor of Gibraltar
{cough} I called it back in July. {cough}
Gibraltar post for former Marine chief
Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton, leader of British forces in Afghanistan, will be new governor of disputed territory
Spain has ordered customs officers to go slow at the border with Gibraltar, causing delays lasting several hours. Photograph: Marcos Moreno/AFP/Getty Images
Britain is sending a former Royal Marine commander to be the Queen’s representative in Gibraltar amid continuing tensions between London and Madrid over the future of the overseas territory.
The Foreign Office announced on Thursday that Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton, who led British forces in Afghanistan, will be the new governor of the disputed territory. It said the move was planned “long ago, well in advance of any of the current difficulties we are experiencing”.
“I am delighted and honoured to be going to Gibraltar, especially given its historical connections with the Royal Marines,” he said.
“I hope that my many years of military experience combined now with three years of commercial experience will equip me well to deliver the governor’s role and responsibilities toward Gibraltar and the United Kingdom.”
Spanish fishermen have been protesting against an artificial reef, dumped by Gibraltar in disputed waters, which has prevented them dredging for scallops and other shellfish.
Spain ordered Spanish customs officers to go slow at the border, causing delays lasting several hours. Ministers in Madrid have also threatened to prevent Gibraltar-bound planes from entering Spain’s airspace and to investigate the tax arrangements of thousands of Gibraltarians with homes in Spain.
Gibraltar’s chief minister, Fabian Picardo, compared Spanish tactics to the behaviour of General Franco, North Korea and Argentina in the runup to the Falklands war.
The role of governor is largely ceremonial given that the 30,000-stong territory has its own elected government, but in an unusual intervention, Dutton’s predecessor, Sir Adrian Johns, last month accused Spain of a “serious violation of British sovereignty”.
Madrid sent divers to photograph the reef and placed Spanish flags on it in a move that was “unhelpful” when the UK was seeking to ease tensions, said Johns.
The decision to send the retired commandant general of the marines to the Rock comes after Francisco Javier Pérez Trigueros, the mayor of Callosa de Segura municipality in Valencia, circulated a collage of a formation of Spanish fighter jets trailing red and yellow smoke over Gibraltar and a battalion of saluting Spanish soldiers marching in formation with machine-guns towards the enclave on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsular.
Gibraltar has also accused Spain of breaching human rights rules by causing residents to queue for up to seven hours to cross the border and European Commission officials are to visit the border between Spain and Gibraltar next week to assess the legality of checks on traffic that have exacerbated the row with Britain.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/19/gibraltar-governor-marine-chief
Somali pirates sentenced to 1,222 years
This ‘European Convention on Human Rights’ business has changed things. When I were a lad, piracy with violence could earn you an appointment with Albert Pierrepoint or Jock Stewart. Serving a mere 40-years each (instead of the full share of 203) seems a lucky break for these six.
6 Somali pirates sentenced to total of 1,222 years for kidnap attempt
MADRID, Sept. 10 (UPI) — Spain’s National Court has sentenced six Somali pirates to jail for attempting to kidnap the crew of a tuna-fishing boat, officials said.
The pirates, Adane Yusuf Ali, Abdi Ali Salad, Abdilahi Ise Jama, Yahye Omar Ali Hassan, Ali Mahammed Ali and Ali Mahamed Hirsi, have been imprisoned for a total of 1,222 years.
ThinkSPAIN said the defendants will likely only serve 40 years each.
The pirates targeted the Izurdia in October 2012 while it was sailing in the Indian Ocean.
They attempted to board the boat and opened fire at the crew, thinkSPAIN reported.
The security guards on board the tuna boat fired back at the pirates, who eventually fled the scene.
A Dutch NATO ship tracked down the pirates the next day, and the defendants surrendered and handed over their arms, thinkSPAIN said.
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.
VIDEO: Royal Navy task force arrives at Gibraltar
Giving Gibraltar the Obama treatment
Royal Navy hard-pressed to defend Gibraltar
The Royal Navy, stretched thin by budget cuts, ship decommissioning, delayed replacement vessels, and increased operational demands, would be hard-pressed to deploy significant assets to Gibraltar.
Navy ‘can’t do a lot’ about Gibraltar
Defence cuts mean the Royal Navy would struggle to send warships to Gibraltar amid tensions with Spain over the Rock, it was claimed today.
The warning comes amid a dispute with Madrid over Gibraltar’s sovereignty.
Relations between the British territory and Spain have deteriorated in recent months in a row over fishing grounds, with Spanish ministers raising the prospect of imposing a £43 levy on vehicles crossing the border and the possibility of closing airspace.
Mike Critchley, a former naval officer and book publisher from Gosport, told The News: ‘In times past the navy would have had a presence down there, but now the navy is tremendously reduced.
‘The navy can’t meet all its commitments.
‘Ships do go there, submarines go there, and there are some small patrol vessels.
‘But it is a difficult situation, we’re talking about two NATO countries, two EU countries, so obviously the government is just going to be watching what happens at the moment.
‘The navy can’t do a lot about it. This has been going on for a while Someone has got to bang heads together.’
The government has insisted there will be no compromise over the sovereignty of Gibraltar, and foreign secretary William Hague has vowed to stand shoulder to shoulder with its citizens in response to heightened pressure and increasingly belligerent rhetoric from Madrid.
Last night, Mr Hague reiterated the UK’s commitment to the people of Gibraltar after speaking to Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo.
He said: ‘I emphasised to Gibraltar’s elected Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, that the UK stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Gibraltar at this time of increasing Spanish pressure and rhetoric.
‘I also highlighted that we will respect Gibraltar’s 2006 Constitution and the commitments the UK has repeatedly made not to compromise on British sovereignty over Gibraltar.
‘We discussed the need for a political solution to the current tension with Spain, which would be firmly in the interests of communities on both sides of Gibraltar’s border with Spain.
‘I call upon Spain to respect the agreements made at Cordoba and to avoid actions which could increase tension further.
‘We agreed that it was important to respond to actions, not rhetoric, and I confirmed that we would continue to raise our concerns with Spain.’
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/navy-can-t-do-a-lot-about-gibraltar-1-5358162
What price a guard ship?
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/
Gibraltar has its apes, but Spain loves monkey business
Perhaps British fishermen could join with their Moroccan brethren and play silly buggers in the waters off Ceuta and Melilla?
Tense standoff in British waters as reef project is completed
A major operation involving Gibraltar police and Royal Navy vessels yesterday prevented Spanish fishermen and the Guardia Civil from hampering work to lay an artificial reef in Gibraltar waters off the runway.
The police and naval vessels created a maritime cordon around the locally-based tug Eliott and the barge MHB Dole as dozens of purpose-built concrete blocks were dumped into the sea. But there was high tension on the sea, particularly in the morning when the Guardia Civil vessel Rio Tormes carried out a high-speed manoeuvre close to the tug.
The Spanish launch weaved through British vessels and swerved to create a large wake, despite attempts to cut it off.
“There is no doubt that it was a dangerous manoeuvre on their part,” one source told the Chronicle. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss operational matters.
That initial incident late morning was followed by chaotic scenes as two Spanish fishing boats – the Alejandro and the Divina Providencia – sailed dangerously close to the barge as it continued to lay blocks.
By this time there were three Guardia Civil boats at the scene, the Rio Tormes, the Rio Cedeña and a rigid-hull inflatable boat. The Royal Gibraltar Police, the Gibraltar Defence Police and the Royal Navy’s Gibraltar Squadron had seven boats there in total. There was a frenzy of activity as the British vessels tried to prevent the fishermen from approaching and the Guardia Civil tried to shield them, creating a volatile and potentially dangerous situation.
It was those safety concerns that eventually led to the British and Spanish vessels extracting the fishermen from the meleé.
Three high-level sources in Gibraltar, one of them closely involved in the operation, told the Chronicle that Spanish vessels assisted at this stage in order to remove the fishermen. All three sources also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to do so openly.
In a statement last night, the Gibraltar Government said there were “conflicting reports” about the role played by the Guardia Civil.
The tussle over, an RGP vessel and a Guardia Civil vessel approached the fishing boats to speak to the fishermen, who eventually left the area.
Throughout the day, the tug and the barge continued to load blocks in port and return to the site off the runway to drop them at sea to create the reef.
They were watched by the Guardia Civil but the Spanish vessels held back, save for one incident toward the end of the day when the Rio Cedeña moved in for a closer look but was blocked by the British vessels.
“During this afternoon, the tug and barge were able to carry out their work without interference,” the Government statement said.
The Gibraltar Government said the reef would encourage marine life and help regenerate the seabed. But in marking the boundary of British Gibraltar territorial waters in that area, the line of cement blocks will also stop Spanish fishermen from raking the seabed for conch in breach of Gibraltar laws.
That fact was not lost on Francisco Gómez, the captain of the Divina Providencia.
“It’s the end of that fishing ground,” he said.
‘King of the Junglies’ Sea King ZA 298 immortalised on canvas
Superb painting of a true legend.
If you have an hour to watch ‘The Sea King – Britain’s Flying Past’ then you should do so.
King of the Junglies immortalised on canvas
A recently completed painting of Sea King ZA 298 by accomplished military artist and army veteran Tony Byrne from Bideford in Devon was presented to 845 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset.
Sea King ZA 298, or King of the Junglies as it is colloquially known is no stranger to the world of media.
It was the central focus of a BBC documentary, The Sea King – Britain’s Flying Past presented by the renowned television correspondent Jon Sergeant.
This particular aircraft, which is still fling today, has seen service in all of the major conflicts since the Falkland’s war and has been hit by enemy fire on a number of occasions.
The most recent was in Afghanistan where it was hit and badly damaged by an RPG round fired by the Taliban.
On completion of the presentation to 845 Squadron’s Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Punch, Tony explained:
“I approached 845 Squadron some time back to see if they would be happy for me to produce a painting of this iconic aircraft.
“It was a tremendous honour and privilege to be told they would be delighted for me to do so.
“The work took over 3 months to create and was an incredible challenge, especially as it was my first painting of a Junglie Sea King.
“The response to the finished product has been fantastic and at times overwhelming.”
Lt Cdr Punch added:
“In many ways ZA298 epitomises the Junglie Ethos.
“She has travelled the world, been to the frontline of most conflict regions over the past 30 years and, when at home, continued to work tirelessly for training and exercises, all this with a smile on her face. There is good reason she has become known as the King of the Junglies.
“Tony is clearly an extremely talented individual doing excellent work for many service charities. We are pleased that he has captured ZA298 in such impressive fashion. I, and 845 Naval Air Squadron, thank him for his excellent gift.
“The Squadron will be using it as a feature in our future charity auction and expect it to bring in a very good price for a good cause.”
Unlike many artists, Tony has considerable first hand experience of painting military aircraft as he had served with the Army Air Corps working on Scout, Gazelle and Lynx helicopters although he has painted a variety of aircraft from Concorde to the Vulcan bomber.
This painting along with 10 limited edition prints signed by Junglie Aviators will soon be displayed within the Squadron before being sold at auction to support a number of Service charities.
Mr Tony Byrne presenting his painting of Sea King ZA298 to 845 NAS’s Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Punch.
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/July/24/130724-King-of-the-junglies
Naval Matters 