Frigate Canarias (F-86)

The Commander of frigate ‘Canarias’ welcomes you and invites you to visit this website.

The F-86 is the sixth frigate (second of her series) of the ‘Santa María’-class escorts, built in Ferrol (NW Spain). They make up the 41st Escort Squadron stationed in Rota Naval Base. The ship is named after one of the two Spanish archipelagoes. The ‘Canarias’ was originally designed for anti-submarine missions and blue-water escort operations, but the changes in the new strategic scenario have prompted modifications in her capabilities to operate in conventional warfare or maritime security operations.

Displacement: 3.900 tons.

Length: 138 m.

Beam: 14,3 m.

Draft: 7,5 m.

Max Speed: 29 nudos.

Range: 5300 miles at 12 knots.

Propulsion: 2 LM-2500 gas turbines (40,000 hp); 1 propeller.

Aircraft: Up to 2 SH-60Bs with ‘Penguin’ missiles, torpedoes or, alternatively, a ‘Scan Eagle’ UAS.

The excellent versatility of this type of frigates, allows them to operate in a wide variety of missions which can be grouped in two main categories:

• Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO): Shipping control in a given area to enforce certain restrictions implemented by international organizations. These operations involve identification, challenging, boarding, inspection and – if necessary – the arrest of suspicious ships. As of the year 2001 the units from the 41st Escort Squadron regularly integrate into operation ‘Enduring Freedom’ showing their capabilities for this type of missions within the framework of international collaboration agreements against terrorism.
• Protection of Valuable Units: This is the original task of this type of frigates. Frigates, destroyers and corvettes are commonly referred to as ‘escorts’ since their main assignment is to provide protection to other units. However, many changes have taken place in the maritime domain since these warships were built. The main task of the ‘Santa María’-class frigates was originally the escort of task groups and merchant convoys in blue waters, where the major threat was the submarine, but also air and surface threats. Nowadays, the scenario of naval operations has moved to the littoral where our frigates have successfully escorted Force Projection Groups (aircraft-carriers and amphibious ships) and protected merchant shipping in focal points like the Strait of Gibraltar and the Red Sea. This mission is especially important to safeguard the sea lines of communication against the threat of international terrorism.

The six F-80 frigates are stationed at Rota Naval Base in the Bay of Cádiz (SW Spain).

Weapons:

• MK-13 Missile launcher for ‘Standard’ (A/A A/S) and ‘Harpoon’ (A/S) missiles.
• OTO MELARA 76/62 mm
• 2 triple torpedo launching tubes for MK-46 Mod.2/5 torpedoes.
• 2 remote controlled ‘Sentinel’ (12.7 mm).

Sensors:

• Air radar: AN/SPS-49 (V4)
• Surface radar: AN/SPS-55
• Fire control: MK-92 Mod.2
• Hull-mounted sonar: AN/SQS-56
• Electronic warfare: ‘Rigel’

Frigate ‘Canarias’ (F-86) is the sixth, and last, of the FFG ‘Santa María’-class units. She was delivered to the Spanish Navy in December 1994.

She was built by Navantia (former Bazán) based on the U.S. design of the ‘Oliver Hazard Perry’ frigates but equipped with indigenous systems to meet Spanish Navy requirements.

The only other Spanish Navy ship with that name was a ‘Washington’-type cruiser built in Ferrol and launched in May 1931. She was a 10,000 ton ship with eight 203 mm guns, eight 120 mm guns and eight 40 mm anti-air guns. She was the flagship of the Spanish Navy for over four decades until her decommissioning in 1975.

The exact complement of the ‘Canarias’ depends on the mission entrusted. It normally amounts to 197 people. In addition to her CO and XO, the crew is made up of 15 officers, 30 NCOs and 150 seamen and ratings.

The F-86 can also embark an air unit with capability to operate either 2 helicopters, or a helicopter and an unmanned air vehicle, as well as a Marine Corps Special Operations’ security squad.