AOR ‘Patiño’ (A-14) returns home after participating in NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2).

The arrival of the ‘Patiño’ (A-14) at her homeport on June 26th rounds up the participation of this auxiliary oiler and replenishment (AOR) ship in Operation NOBLE SHIELD as part of the rapid reaction force of the SNMG-2. This contribution underlines, once again, Spain’s commitment with the Atlantic Alliance. The ‘Patiño’ also took part in Exercise FLOTEX-23 conducted in Mediterranean waters off the Balearic Islands between the 2nd and 16th of June.

With the Group under command of the US Navy Rear Admiral Scott Sciretta, the ‘Patiño’ has contributed to extend the endurance at sea of the participating ships thanks to her ample logistic support capability.

During this period, and in addition to the Spanish AOR, the SNMG-2 has been made up of the following units: the US destroyer ‘James E. Williams’, the ITS ‘Carabiniere’ and the HMCS ‘Fredericton’.

This 2-month integration in FLOTEX-23, and before that in FORMIDABLE SHIELD 23, has helped to increase the training of the ship at all levels. It has also enhanced the interoperability of the AOR with units from friendly and allied nations, among them: Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Canada, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Portugal and the United States.

By way of summary, in these two months of deployment the ‘Patiño’ has carried out around 50 replenishments at sea (RAS) to more than 30 different units supplying more than 12 million liters of DFM fuel and 300,000 liters of JP5 for aircraft. Worth mentioning, for it is unusual, is the fact that the AOR was also recipient of aircraft fuel from the LHD ‘Juan Carlos I’ to be able to continue supplying JP5 to other units during FLOTEX-23.

As part of FLOTEX-23, a series of drills were carried out with drones along with frigate ‘Victoria’, LHD ‘Juan Carlos I’ and LPDs ‘Galicia’ and ‘Castilla’.

The AOR ‘Patiño’, under command of Cdr. Francisco Díaz Rodríguez was welcomed by the Chief of the 31st Surface Squadron, Captain Gonzalo Leira Neira accompanied by family members of the ship’s crew. All in all, the ship has participated in Exercise FORMIDABLE SHIELD, NATO’s Operation NOBLE SHIED and FLOTEX-23.

The AOR ‘Patiño’, during this rapid deployable/high readiness period, is scheduled to integrate again into the SNMG-2 at the end of September.