Malaspina (A-31)

Displacement:1.200 tons

Length: 58 meters.

Beam: 12 m

Crew: 69 (54 reduced crew)

Weapons:

• 2 OERLIKON 20 mm machine-guns
• Portable weapons

Propulsion:

• 2 MWM TBRHS-345-AU diesel engines
• 2 variable-pitch propellers (4 blades each)
• 1 electric pusher in the rudder for auxiliary propulsion and maneuver
• 3 diesel generators  (378 Kw each) and 1200 Kw emergency generator

Sensors:

• 2 VISION MASTER surface and navigation radars (bands X/S)
• Thermosalinograph SBE 21
• Synthetic aperture radar SHADOWS
• Acoustic positioning system GAPS
• Multi-beam echo sounder SIMRAD EM 300-302 (33 Khz)
• Single-beam echo sounder SIMRAD EA 600 (12/219 Khz)
• Doppler NORTEK
• GPS OMNISTAR

Miscellaneous:

• Capacity for 4 vehicles on board
• 2 cargo cranes
• Several winches
• 2 auxiliary craft

Aircraft:VERTREP operations from poop deck

The two ‘Malaspina’-class hydrographic ships are stationed in ‘La Carraca’ Naval Base (Cádiz).

The ships have no vehicles of their own but can embark light vans or sedan-type cars for specific campaigns. They have weapons for self-defense like MG machine-guns, rifles and guns.

They are also armed with two 20 mm mountings.

The Hydrographic flotilla is under the direct command of the Director of the Hydrographic Institute, a Navy Captain.

A standard crew of a ‘Malaspina’-class ship consists of 69 people: 11 officers, 13 NCOs and 45 leading semen and ratings.