Patrol Boat “AUDAZ” P-45
Ships
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The Commanding Officer and crew of the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) ‘Audaz’ welcomes you and invites you to visit this website. The ‘Audaz’, built by NAVANTIA, is the fifth ‘Meteoro’-class OPV of a series of six. The P-45 was delivered to the Spanish Navy in July 2018.
| DISPLACEMENT | 2,840 tons |
|---|---|
| LENGTH | 93.9 meters |
| BEAM | 14.2 m. |
| PROPULSION | 2 MTU 16 V 1163 Diesel engines and a SIEMENS electric engine. 2 variable pitch propellers. 1 fore propeller for transverse thrust. An electric plant with 4 diesel generators. |
| AIRCRAFT | Flight deck: 24.5 x 13.5 meters Capability to operate AB 212s, NH-90s and SH-60Bs. |
| CREW | 48 |
| WEAPONS | One 76/62 OTO-MELARA gun. Two Mk-38 MOD 2A machineguns. |
| SENSORS | DORNA 2 Fire Control. SCOMBA Combat System. Link-11 – INMARSAT - SECOMSAT Navigation and control radar HC ARIES 2. Navigation radar SPERRY VISION MASTER FT Electronic Warfare: ESM/ECM RIGEL with capability for ELINT modules. INDRA Skyfender – I-band |
The ‘Audaz’ is the first of the second batch of Navantia’s OPVs (BAM in its Spanish initials). The ship will be stationed in Cartagena. These offshore patrol vessels are modern warships with stat-of-the-art technology and a high level of automatism resulting in efficient and smaller crews.
This is the fourth Spanish Navy ship with that name. The first one was a small gunship built in 1891. The second ‘Audaz’ was a destroyer delivered to the Spanish Navy in 1898 which took part in several battles of different Spanish-American wars of independence. The ship was later deployed to the Moroccan coast before being decommissioned in 1924. The third ‘Audaz’ was a Spanish version of the French ‘Le Fier’-class torpedo boats built in Ferrol in 1952.
These ships have been designed to conduct maritime interdiction (MIO) operations. The operations include tasks such as shipping control, merchant traffic protection, intelligence, VBSS (visit, board, search seizure) missions, protection against terrorist attacks and piracy, etc.
Owing to the new and emerging threats and risks, the traditional terms of maritime interdiction have been supplemented by the much more ample and comprehensive concept of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). These operations can be organized and conducted in collaboration with other State agencies with responsibilities in the maritime domain. Tasks such as protection of SLOCs, counter-piracy and counter-terrorist missions, protection of critical infrastructures, SAR, fight against sea pollution, etc.
The crew consists of 48 people: 6 officers, 10 NCOs and 32 seamen and ratings.
The P-45 can embark a medium-sized helicopter (SH-60B or AB-212) with its air personnel (17 people) to enhance the ship’s surveillance and other capabilities.
To reinforce MIO operations and her own security, the ‘Audaz’ can also accommodate a Marine Corps security team.
Since her delivery to the Spanish Navy, the ‘Audaz’ has been engaged in personnel training and sea trials to check all systems, sensors and equipment. Most OPVs of this class have been participating in different NATO and EU operations, among them the counter-piracy Operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean, where Spain has participated with different ships since the very beginning of the mission.