AOR ‘Patiño’ returns home after her integration into the Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG-2)

AOR ‘Patiño’ returns home after her integration into the Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG-2)

The auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship (AOR) ‘Patiño’ has just returned to her base in Ferrol (NW Spain) after completing a two-month deployment with the Standing NATO Maritime Group Number 2 (SNMG-2) in waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The welcoming ceremony was presided over by the Commander of the 31st Surface Squadron (COMANDES 31), Captain Santiago Vila Barrón. After docking, COMANDES 31 embarked on board the ship to address a few words to the crew.

Throughout her deployment, AOR ‘Patiño’ took part in exercises ‘Dynamic Mariner 20’ organized by France, ‘Dynamic Guard 20’ organized by Spain and ‘Mavi Balina 20’ by Turkey, as well as in opportunity exercises (PASSEX) with various Greek, German, Italian, Turkish and United Kingdom naval units. The ship has completed a total of 20 fuel replenishments at sea (RAS), as well as supplies of solids goods. She also improved her logistic and precision firing missions with the Spanish Navy SH-3D helicopter on board.

Navigation

The ‘Patiño’ has sailed more than 11,000 nautical miles and made 7 calls during these two months at the ports of: Rota Naval Base (Spain), Toulon Naval Base (France), Mahon Naval Station (Spain), Cartagena Naval Base (Spain), Aksaz Naval Base (Turkey), Souda Bay Naval Base (Crete Island, Greece) and Catania Port (Sicily Island, Italy).

This year, and due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the crew and marines on board have not been able to disembark beyond some isolated places that the different visited Naval Bases made available. As far as possible, leisure on board was encouraged by holding culinary activities, sports competitions and contests, watching soccer matches, and some sport activities in limited areas in port.

After making a logistic stop in Rota to disembark the Embarked Air Unit (UNAEMB) and the Marine Corps Security Operational Team (EOS), she started the transit back to her base in Ferrol.

The Standing NATO Maritime Group Number 2 (SNMG-2)

SNMG-2 is one of two NATO’s Permanent Maritime Groups, which normally operate in the Mediterranean. The deployments of these standing maritime forces guarantee the existence of a force ready to intervene at a given moment and transmit the Alliance's determination to respond to the needs of the collective defense. Spain, through these integrations, demonstrates its commitment to NATO and contributes to safeguarding International peace and security.

AOR ‘Patiño’

Designed following requirements of the Spanish Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy in a joint shipbuilding project, the ship has participated in many national and multinational operations and exercises.

As a combat replenishment ship and true to its motto ‘I did not come to be served, but to serve’, the mission of the ‘Patiño’ is to maintain the combat capability of a naval force deployed in a distant theater of operations for extended periods of time. She was designed to support a ‘carrier strike group’ made up of an aircraft carrier, five frigates and up to twenty aircraft at sea for 21 days, thus increasing the range and presence of the fleet of a maritime nation such as Spain in distant areas.

On this occasion the ‘Patiño’ was under command of Cdr. Rafael Delgado Carpenter.