| Spanish frigate Canarias (F86) | |
|---|---|
 Canarias (F86) | |
| Career |  |
| Name: | SPS Canarias (F86) |
| Builder: | Bazan |
| Laid down: | 15 April 1992 |
| Launched: | 21 June 1993 |
| Commissioned: | 1995 |
| Homeport: | Rota, Cádiz |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2025[update] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Santa Maria-class frigate |
| Displacement: |
2,851 long tons (2,897 t) light 3,610 long tons (3,668 t) standard 4,177 long tons (4,244 t) full load |
| Length: | 138.8 m (455 ft 5 in) |
| Beam: | 14.3 m (46 ft 11 in) |
| Draft: | 8.6 m (28 ft 3 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines generating 41,000 shp (31 MW) coupled to a single shaft and controllable pitch propeller |
| Speed: | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)+ |
| Armament: |
• OTO Melara Mk 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun • Mk 32 triple-tube (324 mm) launcher for Mark 46 torpedoes • Mk 13 Missile Launcher for RGM-84 Harpoon SSM and SM-1MR Block VIB SAM • 20 mm Meroka CIWS 12 barrel AA system |
| Aircraft carried: | SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS III helicopter |
SPS Canarias (F86), is the last of the six Spanish-built Santa Maria-class frigates, based on the American Oliver Hazard Perry class design, of the Spanish Navy.
Laid down on 15 April 1992, and launched on 21 June 1993, Canarias was commissioned in service in 1995.
The ship features a series of improvements to her previous sisters, with a new Meroka mod 2B CIWS, and upgraded fire control systems with Mk.92 mod6 CORT (Coherent Receiver Transmitter) and SPS-49(v)5 radar instead of previous (v)4.
All of these Spanish frigates have the length of the later Oliver Hazard Perry frigates, and have a wider beam than the US Navy design, and therefore able to carry more top weight. Fin stabilizers are fitted.
Construction and career[]
The sixth and last hull of the Santa Maria class was ordered on 26 December 1989.[1] The ship was laid down on 15 April 1992 by Bazan at their shipyard in Ferrol, Spain. Canarias was launched on 21 June 1993 and commissioned in service on 14 December 1994.[2] Upon entering service, Canarias was homeported at Rota and assigned to the 41st Escort Squadron.[3]
In 2008, Canarias was one of three ships of the class that suffered damage after a crane fell on the frigates while tied up at Rota.[4] In 2009, Canarias was assigned to Operation Atalanta, the international effort to fight piracy off Somalia. On 5 October, Canarias arrested two of the hijackers of the tuna boat Alakrana that had been captured by Somali pirates.[5] Canarias was reinforced by the frigate Méndez Núñez on 26 October.[6] The two Spanish vessels recovered Alakrana on 18 November 2009. Spanish helicopters operating from the ships fired upon a pirate zodiac and skiff during the operation.[7] In early 2011, Canarias was deployed again off the coast of Somalia. On 11 March 2011, Canarias aided the disabled cargo ship RAK Afrikana off the coast of Somalia. The Italian frigate Zeffiro, with the aid of Canarias, assisted the crew of RAK Afrikana in disembarking the vessel before it sank.[8] On 31 March 2011, Canarias captured 11 Somali pirates that attempted to hijack a fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean.[9]
In September 2015, the frigate was assigned to Operation Sophia, the interception of illegal trafficking of migrants across the Mediterranean Sea.[10] Canarias rescued 517 migrants from traffickers in November 2015, destroying their vessel after recovering the passengers.[11][12] Canarias rescued over 1,100 migrants from traffickers before returning to Rota in January 2016.[13] Canarias returned to Operation Sophia in January 2017.[14]
In 2019, Canarias, once again operating off the Somali coast, responded to a distress call from a Somali Navy vessel that had become disabled. Canarias aided the Somali personnel in getting their craft operating again.[15]
Other units of class[]
The original article can be found at Spanish frigate Canarias (F86) and the edit history here.
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_frigate_Canarias#CITEREFGardinerChumbleyBudzbon1995
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_frigate_Canarias#CITEREFSaunders2009
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_frigate_Canarias#CITEREFWertheim2013
- ↑ https://www.diariodecadiz.es/noticias-provincia-cadiz/Cae-fragatas-amarradas-Base-Rota_0_173383047.html
- ↑ https://www.eldiariomontanes.es/20091005/nacional/destacados/fragata-canarias-detiene-secuestradores-20091005.html
- ↑ https://www.diariovasco.com/20091026/mas-actualidad/nacional/fragata-mendez-nunez-releva-200910262113.html
- ↑ https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2009/11/17/espana/1258493244.html
- ↑ https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/indian-navy-to-the-rescue/story-0ZxqRG4aTXpX93lMup8tvL.html
- ↑ https://www.defenceweb.co.za/sea/sea-sea/spanish-navy-captures-11-suspected-somali-pirates/
- ↑ https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20151009/54437132017/fragata-canarias-se-integra-en-la-fuerza-naval-ue-contra-trafico-inmigrantes.html
- ↑ https://www.larazon.es/espana/la-fragata-canarias-rescata-a-517-inmigrantes-en-el-mediterraneo-JD11128760/#.Ttt1avERYa4jw8K
- ↑ https://elpais.com/politica/2015/11/02/actualidad/1446479827_557348.html
- ↑ https://www.diariodecadiz.es/noticias-provincia-cadiz/fragata-Canarias-regresa-Rota-personas_0_994101215.html
- ↑ https://www.diariodecadiz.es/noticias-provincia-cadiz/Canarias-regresa-Mediterraneo-operacion-Sophia_0_1100890561.html
- ↑ http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/23/c_138494308.htm