Frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ to integrate into the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two.

Frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ to integrate into the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two.

The farewell ceremony took place at the Ferrol Arsenal, presided over by the Commander of the 31st Escort Squadron, Captain Santiago Vila. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was conducted under a strict series of prevention measures.

The F-105 is scheduled to arrive within a week at the Mediterranean port of Souda (Greece), where she will relieve her sister ship frigate ‘Álvaro de Bazán’ and will also embark the military Staff of the Group, currently under command of Spanish Rear Admiral Manuel Aguirre. The F-105 will act as flagship during the course of the deployment, in which she will carry out several exercises, operations and naval presence throughout the Mediterranean Sea, until April.

During her integration, the F-105 will contribute to the different operations by providing a high capability for defense and aerial detection thanks to her AEGIS combat system and the SPY-1D (V) multifunction radar.

The SNMG-2 is a NATO permanent maritime group where naval units of the different allied nations are integrated. Since last June and until next July 1st, 2021, Spain holds the control of the group under command of Rear Admiral Manuel Aguirre. The function of the Group is to provide NATO with an immediate reaction capability in naval scenarios. The Spanish Navy has been maintaining its presence in these groups for more than thirty years.

About the frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’

The ‘Cristóbal Colón’ is the fifth unit of the ‘Álvaro de Bazán’-class, a series of multipurpose frigates with capability for all types of war scenarios. For this mission, her crew consists of 220 men and women, including a Security Operational Team (Marine Corps) and an SH-60B helicopter. The ship's commanding officer is Commander Juan Bautista Payá Martínez.

Earlier this year, the frigate participated in the national exercise ‘MAR-31’ in Galician waters as well as in the ‘Dynamic Manta 20’, an international exercise organized by NATO off the coast of Sicily. During the month of July, the frigate carried out operational qualification trials in Rota Naval Base to be ready – as of September – for activation in the ‘Eagle Eye’ project of the Aerospace Operational Command.