F-100 frigate ‘Almirante Juan de Borbón’ and AOR ‘Cantabria’ set sail to integrate into SNMG-1.

Last Saturday 6^th, the F-100 frigate ‘Almirante Juan de Borbón’ and the auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship (AOR) ‘Cantabria’ set sail from their home port in Ferrol (NW Spain) in transit towards the North Sea where they will integrate into NATO’s Standing Maritime Group number One (SNMG-1). The frigate will be the flagship of the Group, under command of Rear Admiral Joaquín Ruiz, during the first six months of the deployment.

The two farewell ceremonies were presided over by the Commander of the 31^st Surface Squadron (COMANDES-31), Captain Jesús Viñas, and the Chief of the Ferrol Arsenal (ALARFER), Vice Admiral Ignacio Frutos, who emphasized the high level of readiness and commitment of the Spanish Navy as a whole and these specific crews in particular.

The deployment of the AOR will last two months, and the F-100 frigate six, operating in different areas of the North Sea, Atlantic and Baltic Seas.

Like other naval units in previous deployments in the SNMG-1 and SNMG-2, the ‘Cantabria’ and the ‘Almirante Juan de Borbón’, along with the other ships of the maritime groups, will be tasked with strengthening the deterrence stance and the commitment of the Atlantic Alliance with the collective defense by means of naval presence and the reinforced surveillance activities.

During the scheduled deployment, some of the activities will include the participation in important international exercises like ‘STEADFAST DEFENDER’, where the concept of “reinforcement’ will be implemented in Europe for the first time, ‘DYNAMIC MONGOOSE’ (an ASW exercise in the North of Europe) and ‘BALTOPS’, an exercise of demonstration and force presence in the Baltic area.