AOR "CANTABRIA" (A-15)

Welcome to the website of the auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship ‘Cantabria’. Here you will have the chance to learn about the ship’s features, capabilities and operations.

I trust the information is of use and sufficiently clear. I should like to underline the high level of training of the men and women working in the ‘Cantabria’ with a permanent spirit of service to Spain.

Thank you very much for ‘surfing’ this website with us.

Displacement: 19.550 tons.

Length: 174 m.

Beam: 23 m.

Draft: 8 m.

Propulsion: 2 Diesel engines (10,890 HP each), and a fore propeller for transversal thrust in restricted areas.

Max speed. 21.3 knots and max sustained speed of 20 knots.

Range: 6.000 nm at 13/14 knots.

Aircraft: Hangar for 2 heavy (SH-3D) or 3 light helicopters.

Crew: 164

Weapons: 6 SRBOC Mk-36 Chaff Launchers, four 12.7 mm BROWNING medium machineguns and 4 four MG-42 light machineguns

Sensors:

Tank capacity: 10,000 cubic meters:

Moreover, the ship can transport up to 20 containers with different configurations like accommodation, offices, toilets, etc. resulting in an additional billeting capacity for 96 people.

The ‘Cantabria’ is like a small floating base that provides operational logistic support to a Naval or Expeditionary Force including a Transport or Landing Force. The ship can also provide logistic support in other situations such as humanitarian aid or environmental protection.

To provide logistic support at sea the ship has five replenishment stations, two in each side and one aft for solid and liquid cargo. There is a flight deck and a hangar for medium and heavy helicopters.

Although the ship was delivered to the Spanish Navy in Rota Naval Base (Cadiz), her home port, from July 2010, is Ferrol (Corunna).

The ship is equipped with the modern SCOMBA Combat System, a Spanish Navy R&D project which permits the integration of the A-15 into a Naval Force. The main features of this combat system are: management and processing of all tactical information received from sensors and the distribution of radar video and TV video signals to the tactical console tables. It also provides capabilities to manage and display tactical information, self-defence, aircraft control, operations planning and information exchange with other external systems.

To this end, there are other associated elements:

The ship has also a SPERRY navigation radar.

Ship weapons include:

As regards air capability, the ‘Cantabria’ can operate in all-weather conditions and in a sea-state 5. The ship is a platform for medium and/or heavy helicopters that can be used for VERTREP and for self-defence with organic helicopters. The hangar capacity is for 2 SH-3D/NH-90 or 3 AB-212.

The ship has an indigenous and modern R&D Integrated Platform Control System (SICP) highly automated for the control of the propulsion system, steering, cargo, ballast and all auxiliary devices. This system allows for smaller crews.

There is also a 214 square metre hospital area with for 4 beds; an ICU with 4 further beds, sick bay, sick reception area, a fully equipped operating theatre with telemedicine capability, X-rays, dentist, a sterilization lab and gases station.

For embarking, disembarking and movement of solid cargo, there is a 20 ton crane, two smaller cranes and three cargo lifts. The ship has 2 RHIB boats and two ZODIAC boats, with cranes in both sides to handle these crafts.

The ‘Cantabria’ is ready to operate in environmental protection missions in the maritime sphere, namely:

For storage of polluting elements there are two containers on the 01 deck with side and front doors.

It is worth underlining that, for the first time in the history of naval shipbuilding, a Spanish Navy unit has received the Lloyd’s Register EME certification. The A-15 is a Green Ship that abides by all International laws and agreements in this respect (MARPOL). She is a double hull ship with a sewage treatment plant, water-oil divider and waste processing plants (garbage disposal unit and incinerator).

The ‘Cantabria’ is the first Spanish Navy ship with the name of this northern region of Spain. In the 19th century, a corvette and a schooner had that name, but were postal and not naval vessels.

The ship was launched on July 21st 2008 in Navantia’s Shipyards of Puerto Real and delivered on July 29th 2010. Her hull number is A-15.

A standard crew consists of 164 people with available space for the embarked air unit (20) and a reserve space for a further 20. There are 20 officers and 29 NCOs. The remaining personnel are seamen and ratings. They come from all over the country, especially from Galicia.

During her short but intense history, the ‘Cantabria’ deployed in 2013 for nearly a year with the Royal Australian Navy resulting in the signing of a Declaration of Intent to further mutual support in deployments and other operational activities.

The deployment lasted 353 days, the longest in the history of the Spanish Navy sailing more than 43,200 nautical miles.

The ‘Cantabria’ also operated as flagship of the EU-led Operation ‘SOPHIA’ in the Mediterranean Sea saving the lives of around 1,200 people from drowning.

The A-15 has participated in many national and international exercises like ‘FLOTEX’, ‘POLARIS’ in France, ‘MARE APERTO’ in Italy, ‘JOINT WARRIOR’ in Great Britain, etc. The ship regularly integrates into NATO’s maritime groups.