F-100 frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ concludes training with the U.S. Navy.

Spanish Navy frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ (F-104) has successfully completed the scheduled integration training with US Navy units. The frigate has participated in the "Composite Training Unit Exercise" (COMPTUEX) certification exercise, which assesses the readiness of the ‘Abraham Lincoln’ Carrier Strike Group.

The ‘Méndez Núñez’ left Ferrol (NW Spain) last January 3 towards the Norfolk naval base (Virginia). During the transit, she conducted internal training in preparation for his participation in the exercise. During her stay in Norfolk in the third week of January, several institutional and protocol activities were carried out. These included the visits on board of the US Secretary of the Navy and the Commander of the Second Fleet, Vice admiral Lewis. Other events included a homage to the Spanish sailors who fought in the Cuban War of 1898 and were buried in the military cemetery of Norfolk. The Programs Office of the United States Navy is currently studying the selection of a new Frigate design and the Spanish shipyards NAVANTIA, designer and builder of the F-104, is offering this model.

The phase at sea of ​​the C2X exercise began on January 25 off the east coast of the USA, with several surface units, submarines and aircraft. During 28 days, the crew of the ‘Méndez Núñez’, together with the other teams of the six units that make up the Carrier Strike Group, implemented the tactics, techniques and procedures according to those scenarios in which they will operate during the coming cooperative deployment in a few months.

The ‘Méndez Núñez’ plans to stop in Charleston (South Carolina) for crew rest before starting her voyage back to Ferrol, where she will complete his readiness prior to the cooperative deployment which, starting in April, will take her to circumnavigate the globe during 2019. She will return to Ferrol by mid-November.