F-100 frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ and AOR ‘Cantabria’ participate in exercise ‘POLARIS 21’

The frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ and the auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship (AOR) ‘Cantabria’ are currently participating in exercise ‘POLARIS 21’ in the Mediterranean Sea.

These manoeuvers are being organized by the French ‘Marine Nationale’ and are the largest advanced and high intensity international exercises that have been scheduled in many years in that part of the world.

Apart from the Spanish and French warships, other nations are also contributing with naval units like the United States, Italy, Greece and the United Kingdom summing up to 25 surface vessels, 1 submarine, 65 aircraft and nearly 6,000 personnel which will simulate a conflict in that area, all led by the French aircraft carrier ‘Charles de Gaulle’.

About AOR ‘Cantabria’

The auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship ‘Cantabria’ was commissioned in July 2010 and built by Navantia in Puerto Real (Cádiz). Her modern equipment and state-of-the-art systems make this logistic support ship one of the best units of her kind among world navies.

During her sort by intense life, the ‘Cantabria’ deployed for nearly a year with the Royal Australian Navy in that continent. The ship has also participated in several missions integrated into Operations ‘Active Endeavor’, ‘Sea Guardian’ and many NATO standing maritime groups.

About F-100 frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’

This frigate boasts the motto ‘We prefer honor without ships than ships without honor’, words spoken by the hero of the Battle of Callao, Rear admiral Casto Méndez Núñez (1824 – 1869). Other ships also bore the name of this illustrious sailor like a 19th century armored frigate and two 20th century units: a light cruiser and a destroyer.

This frigate, with hull number F-104, was built by Navantia in its Ferrol shipyards and launched in November 2004, being delivered to the Spanish Navy on March 21st 2006.

The ‘Méndez Núñez’ has participated in many international deployments including the one off the coast of Somalia supporting the liberation operation of two Spanish trawlers that had been hijacked by pirates: the ‘Playa de Bakio’ and the ‘Alakrana’. She has also integrated into different NATO maritime groups and into the US Navy Carrier Task Group No.12 led by the aircraft carrier ‘USS Abraham Lincoln’.