|
( Spanish Navy)
The Spanish Armada (in Spanish, Armada Española) is the maritime arm of the Spanish Military, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is reponsible for notable achievements in the history of civilization such as the discovery of America, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path from the Far East to America (Urdaneta's route). As of 1987, the Armada was made up of 47,300 personnel, including Marines, of which about 34,000 were conscripts,[1]. As of 2002 all branches of the Spanish armed forces were completely professionalized.[2]. The main bases of the Spanish Navy are located in Rota, El Ferrol, San Fernando and Cartagena. See also Structure of the Spanish Navy in the 21st century. Subordinate to the Spanish Chief of Naval Staff, with his headquarters in Madrid, were four zonal commands the Cantabrian Maritime Zone with its headquarters at El Ferrol on the Atlantic coast; the Straits Maritime Zone with its headquarters at San Fernando near Cádiz; the Mediterranean Maritime Zone with its headquarters at Cartagena; and the Canary Islands Maritime Zone with its headquarters at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Operational naval units were classified by mission, and they were assigned to the combat forces, the protective forces, or the auxiliary forces. The combat forces were given the tasks of conducting offensive and defensive operations against potential enemies and of assuring maritime communications. Their principal vessels included two carrier groups, naval aircraft, transports and landing vessels, submarines, and missile-armed fast attack craft. The protective forces had the mission of protecting maritime communications over both ocean and coastal routes and the approaches to ports and to maritime terminals. Their principal components were destroyers, frigates, corvettes, and minesweepers as well as marine units for the defense of naval installations. The auxiliary forces, responsible for transport and for provisioning at sea, also had such diverse tasks as coast guard operations, scientific work, and maintenance of training vessels. In addition to supply ships and tankers, the force included destroyers and a considerable number of patrol craft.
|
Spanish Navy Subcategories
Spanish Navy Articles
|
|
