MARSUR-20: Training Exercise of Spanish Navy Surface Combat Units.

After four days of intense air and surface activity, the 41st and 31st Escort Squadrons have finally completed exercise MARSUR-20, a reference series of training maneuvers. In the waters of the Gulf of Cadiz and the Strait of Gibraltar, F-80 frigates ‘Victoria’ and ‘Canarias’ and F-100 frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’, as well as the auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship ‘Cantabria’, carried out different drills of progressive difficulty under command of the Commander of the 41st Escort Squadron.

The schedule of activities was focused both on collective training in tactical areas such as air defense, surface warfare, maritime security, or electronic warfare on the one hand, and on the practice of seafaring exercises, platform control, flight operations and damage control on the other.

Marines from the ‘Tercio de Armada’, in charge of security issues, embarked on the ships with the purpose of increasing the level of integration with the crews. They also conducted several maritime interdiction and defense exercises.

The warships participating in MARSUR-20 were supported by aircraft and helicopters from the Navy's Aircraft Flotilla and from EF2000 fighters from the Spanish Air Force, as well as the 4th Coastal Artillery Regiment of the Spanish Army, providing added value to these maneuvers and allowing a high degree of joint interoperability with units from the other Services.