Frigate "Almirante Juan de Borbón" (F-102)

The Commander of frigate ‘Almirante Juan de Borbón’ welcomes you and invites you to visit this website. Here you will learn about the capabilities, missions and tasks of this versatile and efficient naval platform.

The F-102 is stationed in Ferrol (NW Spain) and is the second unit of a series of five multi-purpose frigates that make up the 31st Surface Squadron that can operate in low, medium or high intensity scenarios.

The frigate boasts a series of state-of-the-art systems and equipment, but her main potential is her crew. Its team work permits this warship to be in the frontline to defend Spain.

Displacement: 5.853 tons.

Length: 146,7 m.

Beam: 18,6 m

Draft: 7,5m

Max. height: 50 mts

Max. Speed: 28 knots.

Range: 4.500 miles at 18 knots.

Propulsion:

The ‘Almirante Juan de Borbón’ is a multi-purpose escort and one of the most advanced warships in Europe. Although the F-100 frigates are mainly anti-air units thanks to their AEGIS combat system, they have also the capability of participating in the following missions or tasks: force projection ashore, management and prevention of crises, defense in asymmetric conflicts, humanitarian aid operations, implementation of UN resolutions and any other challenges given the current strategic scenarios.

Our home base is Ferrol (Corunna), a modern compound refurbished to be able to provide logistic support to 21st century units. While ashore, the ship’s crew has two tasks: on the one hand, carry out the necessary maintenance and repair works in the ship’s systems and equipment to be always in readiness, and on the other, continuous training in all naval warfare aspects and procedures.

The frigate has many state-of-the-art sensors to successfully accomplish the mission entrusted. Namely, the Air/Surface AEGIS SPY-1D radar which can detect air targets 400 kilometers away and can even track ballistic missiles. For navigation the SPERRY Band I radar is used. Surface: DRS SPS-67 (RAN 12S). For submarine detection the hull-mounted RAYTHEON DE-1160 LF (I) sonar. For ESM and ECM the ship has the Aldebaran and Regulus plus the Link-11 and Link-16.

As regards weapons the F-102 has 48 vertical launching system cells for Standard SM-2, ESSM and ‘Tomahawk’ missiles. Also ‘Harpoon’ missiles launchers, a 5” gun, two 20 mm ‘Oerlikon’ machine-guns, four 12.7 mm ‘Browning’ machine-guns (2 of them RWS) and two Mk-46 torpedo launchers.

All sensors and weaponry are integrated into the AEGIS Combat System. The ship has modern HF, VHF, UHF and satellite communication systems for efficient Command and Control tasks within a task group.

The frigate is the ship number 201 built by NAVANTIA (former BAZAN). The ship was launched on February 28th 2002, acting as sponsor Her Royal Highness Pilar de Borbón, sister of King Juan Carlos I and daughter of Admiral Juan de Borbón.

The hull number of frigate “Almirante Juan de Borbón” is F-102. She was delivered to the Spanish Navy on December 3rd 2003 in a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Aznar.

Her Royal Highness Pilar de Borbón presented the Battle Ensign to the Commanding Officer of the ship, Cdr. Manuel Garat, on November 7th 2004 in a ceremony in Barcelona presided over by the King and Queen of Spain, other members of the Royal Family and national and local authorities.

ORIGIN OF THE SHIP'S NAME:

His Royal Highness Juan de Borbón y Battenberg, Earl of Barcelona, was born on June 20th 1913 in the Palace of La Granja in Segovia, the fifth son of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia.

In 1930 he joined the Spanish Navy. Upon the advent of the Second Republic, the Royal Family went into exile, and Juan de Borbón finished his naval studies in the UK Naval Academy.

In 1935 he married HRH María de las Mercedes de Borbón, Princess of the Dos Sicilias and resided in Estoril, Portugal. They had four children: HM King Juan Carlos I, HRH Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz, HRH Margarita, Duchess of Soria and HRH Alfonso, who died in 1956.

In 1987 his father the King appointed him Honorary Admiral of the Spanish Navy. Subsequently, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Admiral Staveley appointed him Honorary Admiral of the Royal Navy on behalf of Queen Elisabeth II. On December 4th 1988 the Government appointed him Honorary Admiral of the Fleet.

He died in Pamplona on April 1st 1993 and is buried in El Escorial with the name JUAN III.

The ship’s coat of arms includes the emblem of HRH Juan de Borbón, with two crossed anchors, oak leaves (symbol of the Admiralty), the order of Golden Fleece beneath, the Royal Crown on top, and a wreath around the coat with the words: “Sobre todo España”. (Above all, Spain!)

Its motto is “¡Sobre todo, España!” words used by HRH in the transfer ceremony of the Dynastic Rights onto his son King Juan Carlos I on May 14th 1977.

A standard crew consists of 201 people. There is further accommodation space for up to 236, so the crew adapts her space depending on the missions entrusted. Thus, the ship can embark other personnel like a Staff when operating as a Command Ship of a task group, flight crews to operate and maintain the SH-60B, or a Marine Corps special operations and security detachment. Other servicemen that can embark are a medical doctor and an air traffic controller.

The F-102 has participated in many national and international exercises. Among them, in 2007 the ship participated in exercises GALIBER-07, TAPON, NIIRIS and EWTRIALS. She also integrated into EUROMARFOR. In 2010 the ship was assigned to the NATO Response Force (NRF) and the Rapid Reaction Joint Force (FCRR), ready to operate in high intensity scenarios.

In January 2011 the ship took part in several exercises in the East coast of the United States with the U.S. Navy Carrier Group ‘George H. W. Bush’ (CVN-77). The exercises were aimed at integrating the Spanish frigate into the carrier group which deployed in the Mediterranean in May and June.

Other operations include: SEA BREEZE in the Black Sea, NOBLE MARINER-14, BALTOPS-19 and JOINT WARRIOR-21 off the coast of Scotland. At the beginning of 2022, frigate ‘Almirante Juan de Borbón’ integrated into a French carrier strike group. More recently, in the summer of 2022, the F-102 deployed in the Mediterranean Sea once again, first integrated into the Spanish Navy Carrier Strike Group ‘Juan Carlos I’ to take part in the manoeuvers ‘Adriatic Strike’, and subsequently integrated into NATO’s Standing Maritime Group number 2.