Frigate "Navarra" (F-85)

The Commander of frigate ‘Navarra’ welcomes you and invites you to visit this website.

The F-85 is the fifth frigate (first of her series) of the ‘Santa María’-class escorts, built in Ferrol (NW Spain). They make up the 41st Escort Squadron stationed in Rota Naval Base. The ship is named after one of the two Spanish archipelagoes.

The ‘Navarra’ was originally designed for anti-submarine missions and blue-water escort operations, but the changes in the new strategic scenario have prompted modifications in her capabilities to operate in conventional warfare or maritime security operations.

Displacement: 3.900 tons.

Length: 138 m.

Beam: 14,3 m.

Draft: 7,5 m.

Max Speed: 29 nudos.

Range: 5300 miles at 12 knots.

Propulsion: 2 LM-2500 gas turbines (40,000 hp); 1 propeller.

Aircraft: Up to 2 SH-60Bs with ‘Penguin’ missiles, torpedoes or, alternatively, a ‘Scan Eagle’ UAS.

The excellent versatility of this type of frigates, allows them to operate in a wide variety of missions which can be grouped in two main categories:

• Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO): Shipping control in a given area to enforce certain restrictions implemented by international organizations. These operations involve identification, challenging, boarding, inspection and – if necessary – the arrest of suspicious ships. As of the year 2001 the units from the 41st Escort Squadron regularly integrate into operation ‘Enduring Freedom’ showing their capabilities for this type of missions within the framework of international collaboration agreements against terrorism.
• Protection of Valuable Units: This is the original task of this type of frigates. Frigates, destroyers and corvettes are commonly referred to as ‘escorts’ since their main assignment is to provide protection to other units. However, many changes have taken place in the maritime domain since these warships were built. The main task of the ‘Santa María’-class frigates was originally the escort of task groups and merchant convoys in blue waters, where the major threat was the submarine, but also air and surface threats. Nowadays, the scenario of naval operations has moved to the littoral where our frigates have successfully escorted Force Projection Groups (aircraft-carriers and amphibious ships) and protected merchant shipping in focal points like the Strait of Gibraltar and the Red Sea. This mission is especially important to safeguard the sea lines of communication against the threat of international terrorism.

The six F-80 frigates are stationed at Rota Naval Base in the Bay of Cádiz (SW Spain).

Weapons:

• MK-13 Missile launcher for ‘Standard’ (A/A A/S) and ‘Harpoon’ (A/S) missiles.
• OTO MELARA 76/62 mm
• 2 triple torpedo launching tubes for MK-46 Mod.2/5 torpedoes.
• 2 remote controlled ‘Sentinel’ (12.7 mm).

Sensors:

• Air radar: AN/SPS-49 (V4)
• Surface radar: AN/SPS-55
• Fire control: MK-92 Mod.2
• Hull-mounted sonar: AN/SQS-56
• Electronic warfare: ‘Rigel’

Frigate ‘Navarra’ (F-85) is the fifth of the FFG ‘Santa María’-class. She was delivered to the Spanish Navy in December 1993.

She was built by Navantia (former Bazán) based on the U.S. design of the ‘Oliver Hazard Perry’ frigates but equipped with indigenous systems to meet Spanish Navy requirements.

There were other ships with that name: The first ‘Navarra’ was launched in 1881, already converted into a cruiser and as part of a Training Squadron. The ship served as training ship for sailors and later as a coal barge in Cádiz until her decommissioning in 1898.

The second ‘Navarra’ was a cruiser that was launched with a different name and characteristics. The ship was originally named ‘Reina Victoria Eugenia’, then ‘República’ and finally ‘Navarra’. The ship was delivered to the Spanish Navy in 1923, and due to new naval developments the ship was the first Spanish Navy unit fitted with anti-air artillery.

The exact complement of the ‘Navarra’ depends on the mission entrusted. It normally amounts to 229 people. In addition to her CO and XO, the crew is made up of 16 officers, 28 NCOs and 168 seamen and ratings.

The F-85 can also embark an air unit with capability to operate either 2 helicopters, or a helicopter and an unmanned air vehicle, as well as a Marine Corps Special Operations’ security squad.

Dec-1995 – March 1996 the ‘Navarra’ participated in operation SHARP GUARD and from Sep to Dec 1997 became flagship of the STANAVFORMED. In 1998 she participated in NATO exercises STRONG RESOLVE and DESTINED GLORY.

In May-Jul 1999 she integrated again in STANAVFORMED. In April-September 2000 she integrated into EUROMARFOR as flagship and participated in Exercise LINKED SEAS 2000. In October she took part in exercise DESTINED GLORY.

In July 2002 the ‘Navarra’ took part in operation ROMEO-SIERRA (Isle of Perejil conflict), playing a key role in the operation.

From September 2002 to February 2003 she participated in operation ENDURING FREEDOM patrolling the Gulf of Aden. In August 2003 she took part in operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR. In those years the North Korean ship SO SANG which transported weapons, was boarded.

From Nov 2005 to Mar 2006 the F-85 integrated in NATO’s SNMG2 as flagship. In February there was a PASSEX exercise with Russian Navy ships ‘Moskva’, ‘Azov’, ‘Goryn’ and ‘Iman’. On February 15th an important milestone occurred when a Russian KA-27 HELIX helicopter from the ‘Moskva’ landed on our frigate as part of a VERTREP exercise; in turn, our SH-60B helicopter engaged in a vertical replenishment over the Russian ship. It was the only occasion when a Russian aircraft landed on a Spanish ship.

In November 2007 the F-85 took part in exercise DOGU AKDENIZ in Turkish waters of the Aegean Sea.

In September 2008 she participated in exercise LANMIS-SINKEX 08 where STANDARD missiles were launched against air targets and HARPOON missiles against the ex-frigate ’Andalucía’.

In April 2010 the frigate was deployed in the Indian Ocean to take part in operation ATALANTA.

One of her last deployments was Operation SOPHIA in the Mediterranean Sea from September 2016 to January 2017. This EU-led mission was designed to thwart illegal migration and save the lives of migrants at sea. Specifically, the ‘Navarra’ saved 2,675 people and one of the women rescued gave birth to a baby on board.