Minehunter “DUERO” (M-35)

The Commanding Officer of minehunter ‘Duero’ (M-35) welcomes you and invites you to visit this website. This unit is the fifth ‘Segura’-class of the MCM Force with home port in Cartagena (Murcia).

These minehunters are equipped with state-of-the-art systems which makes them most suitable for mine sweeping and hunting. The ‘Duero’ is named after the most voluminous river of Spain that crosses Castile from east to west and waters one of the regions that produces some of the best wines of the world.

Displacement: 583 tons.

Length: 55 m.

Beam: 10,7 m.

Speed: 9 knots in transit.

Max. speed: 13 knots.

Range: 2.000 miles at 12 knots.

Propulsion:

The main task of any minehunter is clearing the entrance to harbors and the detection, identification, and neutralization of bottom and moored mines, as well as sea floor surveying and mapping. NATO and EU missions entrusted to the MCM community include guidance of high value assets and shipping control and mine sweeping.

This is done thanks to the AN/SQQ-32 sonar, MCM divers and the remotely operated PLUTO PLUS.

The ship’s home port is Cartagena Naval Base where the MCM Squadron is stationed.

RADARS:

SONAR: RAYTHEON AN/SQQ-32(SP)

WEAPONS:

UNDERWATER WEAPONS: 2 Underwater vehicles Pluto PLUS + Minesniper

MISCELLANEOUS: Hyperbaric chamber

CREW: 42

The ‘Duero’ (M-35) is the fifth unit of the ‘Segura’-class minehunters built by IZAR (now Navantia) in Cartagena.

She was launched in April 2003 and delivered to the Spanish Navy on July 5 2004. Her sponsor was Mrs. Clara Mulet, wife of the Mayor of Calpe.

The ‘Duero’ is the second Spanish Navy ship with that name: the first ‘Duero’ was a ‘Nalón’-class minesweeper built in United States and transferred to the Spanish Navy in 1953 as part of the so-called Mutual Defense Assistant Program (MDAP).

A total of eight coastal minesweepers were built in the U.S. with Oregon pine wood and later transferred to the Spanish Navy.

The ship's crew is made up of 42 people.

The ship has carried out many international deployments with NATO’s Mine Countermeasures Force (SNMCMG-2) and also with the European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR) participating in many advanced exercises with allied nations like ‘ITALIAN MINEX’ in Italy, ‘ARIADNE’ in Greece and ‘OLIVES NOIRES’ in France.

At national level, the ship has participated in several exercises and maneuvers like GRUFLEX and FLOTEX in Rota, SPANISH MINEX in the Balearic Islands and ROUTE SOURVEY in most Spanish ports.