The frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ leaves Rota to become command ship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2)

The F-100 frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ set sail this morning from Rota Naval Base and headed for Aksaz (Turkey) where she is scheduled to arrive on the 15th. The Spanish Navy rear-admiral Eugenio Díaz del Río will relieve the Italian rear-admiral Antonio Natale as Chief of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2) in the Mediterranean until June 2014. RA Díaz del Río is the fifth Spanish flag officer to take command of a Standing NATO Naval Force.

SNMG-2 is a naval group made up of different frigates and logistic ships from several NATO nations. During the period assigned, the ‘Blas de Lezo’ will participate in operation ‘Ocean Shield’ against piracy in the Indian Ocean, and ‘Active Endeavour’ against terrorism in the Mediterranean Sea.

This deployment (June-October 2013) will be the first of three scheduled rotations during the Spanish command of SNMG-2. The ‘Álvaro de Bazán’ (F-101) and the ‘Cristobal Colón’ (F-105) are the other warships selected for the subsequent two rotations.

The ‘Blas de Lezo’ has a complement of 180 men and women. Further personnel on board include the International Staff, the UNAEMB (Embarked Air Unit) to support SH-60B helicopter operations, medical personnel and a Marine Corps Security Team.