41st Escort Squadron

Welcome to the 41st Escort Squadron’s website. As its Commander (COMANDES-41), it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to introduce you to our warships.

The 41st Escort Squadron is part of the Spanish Navy’s Fleet and is integrated into the Surface Combat Force (FUCOM) under direct command of the Fleet Commander (ALFLOT). It is made up of six ‘Santa María’-class FFG frigates stationed in Rota Naval Base.

The FFG frigates were built in Spain from the end of the 80’s to the first years of the 90’s, and have currently completed a midlife modernization process upgrading their systems to enhance their capabilities to continue operating until the commissioning of the new ‘Bonifaz’-class F-110 frigates.

The 41st Escort Squadron is a key element of the Fleet’s projection capability. Its main task is to protect valuable Naval Force units against any type of threat and to exercise sea control. Originally, the frigates were designed for anti-submarine missions and blue-water escort operations. However, and as a result of the changes in the strategic environment, and thanks to their great versatility, they are currently used in maritime security tasks, shipping protection and maritime interdiction operations.

DISPLACEMENT 3,900 tons

LENGTH 138 meters

BEAM14.3 meters

CREW 214

WEAPONS

• Mk-13 Missile Launcher for “Standard” missiles (AA) and “Harpoon” (anti-ship).
• One 76/62 mm OTO MELARA
• One 20 mm MEROKA CIWS
• 2 triple launchers for Mk-46 Mod. 2/5 torpedoes

PROPULSION

• 2 Gas LM-2500 turbines (40,000 HP)
• 1 propeller.

SENSORS

• Air: AN/SPS-49(V4), AN/SPS-49(V5) in the last 2 units of the series.
• Surface: AN/SPS-55
• Search radar for the MEROKA: RAN-12L
• Tracking radar for the MEROKA: VPS-2
• Fire Control: Mk-92 Mod.2 (Mk-92 Mod 6) in the last 2 units of the series.

AIRCRAFT Capability for a Sikorsky SH-60B “Seahawk”, equipped with Penguin missiles and torpedoes.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Hull-mounted (active): AN/SQS-56
• Towed array (passive): AN/SQR-19.

The exceptional versatility of these frigates, allows for a wide variety of missions; most of them can be grouped into two categories:

1. Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO): Maritime traffic control in a given area, in order to implement certain restrictions imposed by international organizations. This is carried out with the identification, boarding, inspection and, if so is the case, arrest of suspicious ships.

   The capabilities of our frigates from the 41st Squadron were made evident during operation “Enduring Freedom” in the Indian Ocean in 2001, carrying out all type of missions within the framework of international collaboration against terrorism. A case in point was the participation of the frigate “Navarra” and the AOR “Patiño” in the seizure of the Korean ship “So San” which tried to smuggle a cargo of SCUD missiles.

2. Protection of valuable assets: Originally this was the primary mission of these frigates. In fact, frigates, destroyers and corvettes receive the generic name of “escort” because that was the mission they were designed for.

Many changes have occurred in the world since those frigates were built. The main threat then came from submarines, without ruling out air and surface threats. Today, most naval operations take place in littoral waters, where our frigates have successfully intervened escorting large Projection Groups (aircraft carriers and amphibious ships), protecting sea lines of communication and chock points like the Strait of Gibraltar or the Red Sea. This task is of paramount importance to safeguard commercial routes against the threat posed by international terrorism.

The six frigates of the 41st Escort Squadron are stationed at Rota Naval Base in the Bay of Cádiz.

The SH-60B helicopter enhances the ship capabilities as regards antisubmarine and surface warfare, maritime surveillance, rescue and medical evacuation.

Although originally designed as an antisubmarine helicopter, the excellent versatility of the SH-60B permits other tasks such as maritime surveillance. Its Data-Link is a first-rate sensor between the helicopter and ship.

The six frigate Commanders are under the command of a Navy Captain, assisted by his Staff.

The complement of the ships consists of 17 officers, 28 NCOs and 169 ratings. The Squadron is divided into two structures: Administrative and Operational.

Administrative organization: It supports all activities related to the ship readiness including training, instruction, maintenance and security.

Operational organization: When the ship is ready to sail two Control departments are put into operation in order to assure the ship can carry out the mission assigned. One of them is the Tactical Control, responsible for the combat system (sensors and weapons) as well as the information and communications systems. The other is the Platform Control, in charge of aspects such as navigation, propulsion, damage control and other combat support activities (replenishment and health).