Ships

Frigate "Méndez Núñez" (F-104)

Número de imágenes — Coat of Arms of the Frigate "Méndez Núñez" (F-104)

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Coat of Arms of the Frigate "Méndez Núñez" (F-104)

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Frigate "Méndez Núñez" (F-104)

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Frigate "Méndez Núñez" (F-104)

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Frigate "Méndez Núñez" (F-104)

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Frigate "Méndez Núñez" (F-104)

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Frigate "Méndez Núñez" (F-104)

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Frigate "Méndez Núñez" (F-104)

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Frigate "Méndez Núñez" (F-104)

WELCOMING ADDRESS

The Commander of frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ welcomes you and invites you to visit this website. The frigate has a series of state-of-the-art systems and equipment with committed men and women ready to serve Spain.

The ‘Méndez Núñez’ 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.

FEATURES:

Displacement: 5.853 tons.

Length: 146,7 m.

Beam: 18,6 m

Draft: 8 m

Max. height: 50 mts

Max. Speed: 28 knots.

Range: 4.500 miles at 18 knots.

Propulsion:

CODOG

2 Gas turbines GE LM2500

2 Bazan diesel engines Caterpillar.

WHAT WE DO?

Protection of a Naval Force including the following tasks:

Maritime security.

Force projection.

Crisis management.

Deterrence and defense.

Protection of the national territory integrated into the National Air Defense System.

Integration into NATO’s Air Defense System.

WHERE WE ARE?

Our home base is Ferrol (NW Spain). 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.

MATERIEL AND WEAPONS:

RADARS: AIR/SURFACE: AEGIS SPY-1D/F MULTIFUNCTION. Saarch and navigation

SONAR: DE-1160 LF

COMMS:

SECOMSAT AND INMARSAT

LINK 11 Y 16

GMDSS

WEAPONS:

MISSILES:

HARPOON

LAUNCHER VLS for SM2 and ESSM

GUNNERY:

GUN 5"/54 MK-45

2 OERLIKON 20 mm.

2 RWS (REMOTE WEAPON SYSTEM)

TORPEDOES: TUBES MK 32 MOD 9

HELICOPTER: Capability to embark an SH60B SEAHAWK.

OUR HISTORY

This frigate was built by NAVANTIA in its Ferrol Shipyards. She was launched on November 12th 2004 and delivered to the Spanish Navy on March 21st 2006. Her Battle Ensign was presented in Vigo on July 18th 2010 by her Sponsor HRH Elena de Borbón, daughter of King Juan Carlos I.

This frigate – with its motto “Preferimos honra sin barcos, que barcos sin honra” (We prefer honor without ships, than ships without honor) – is the fourth warship with the name of the Spanish Navy officer Casto Méndez Núñez (1824-1869), hero of the Battle of Callao. The other units were: an armored frigate (1869-1888), a light cruiser (1924-1963) and a destroyer (1973-1992).

WHO WE ARE?

The standard crew of the ship is made up of 19 officers, 1 nurse, 40 NCOs and 145 seamen and ratings, totaling 205 people.

MAIN OPERATIONS AND EXERCISES

The main milestones of frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ have been:

CSSQT in the Pacific Ocean and tracking of ballistic missiles off Hawaii.

Surveillance and maritime security operation in the Indian Ocean.

Participation in Operations UNIFIED PROTECTOR, OCEAN SHIELD, ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR and ATALANTA.

Flagship of SNMG-1 and SNMG-2.

Integration into USN and French Carrier Strike Groups.

A voyage around the world.

Participation in the international EW manoeuvers ‘Nemo Trials 22’ where up to 49 chaff cartridges were fired in November 2022.

Participation in exercise ‘Eagle Eye 21-02’.