Frigate Victoria (F-82)

The Commander of frigate ‘Victoria’ welcomes you and invites you to visit this website.

The F-82 is the second frigate of a series of six units built in Ferrol (NW Spain). They make up the 41st Escort Squadron stationed in Rota Naval Base and under command of the Fleet Commander (ALFLOT).

The ship has been in service for more than 30 years but she has been updated and upgraded to increase her operational capabilities adapting them to the current strategic scenarios. The ‘Victoria’ was primarily designed for anti-submarine missions and blue-water escort operations, but the changes in the new strategic scenario – and given their versatility – have prompted modifications in her capabilities. Nowadays all F-80 ships can be employed in other tasks such as support in the projection of a Naval Force, shipping protection, maritime interdiction, integration in the territorial air defense system, surveillance and escort missions in far-off scenarios.

Displacement: 3.900 tons.

Length: 138 m.

Beam: 14,3 m.

Draft: 7,5 m.

Max Speed: 29 nudos.

Range: 5300 miles at 12 knots.

Propulsion: 2 LM-2500 gas turbines (40,000 hp); 1 propeller.

Aircraft: Up to 2 SH-60Bs with ‘Penguin’ missiles, torpedoes or, alternatively, a ‘Scan Eagle’ UAS.

The excellent versatility of this type of frigates, allows them to operate in a wide variety of missions which can be grouped in two main categories:

• Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO): Shipping control in a given area to enforce certain restrictions implemented by international organizations. These operations involve identification, challenging, boarding, inspection and – if necessary – the arrest of suspicious ships. As of the year 2001 the units from the 41st Escort Squadron regularly integrate into operation ‘Enduring Freedom’ showing their capabilities for this type of missions within the framework of international collaboration agreements against terrorism.
• Protection of Valuable Units: This is the original task of this type of frigates. Frigates, destroyers and corvettes are commonly referred to as ‘escorts’ since their main assignment is to provide protection to other units. However, many changes have taken place in the maritime domain since these warships were built. The main task of the ‘Santa María’-class frigates was originally the escort of task groups and merchant convoys in blue waters, where the major threat was the submarine, but also air and surface threats. Nowadays, the scenario of naval operations has moved to the littoral where our frigates have successfully escorted Force Projection Groups (aircraft-carriers and amphibious ships) and protected merchant shipping in focal points like the Strait of Gibraltar and the Red Sea. This mission is especially important to safeguard the sea lines of communication against the threat of international terrorism.

The six F-80 frigates are stationed at Rota Naval Base in the Bay of Cádiz (SW Spain).

Weapons:

• MK-13 Missile launcher for ‘Standard’ (A/A A/S) and ‘Harpoon’ (A/S) missiles.
• OTO MELARA 76/62 mm
• 2 triple torpedo launching tubes for MK-46 Mod.2/5 torpedoes.
• 2 remote controlled ‘Sentinel’ (12.7 mm).

Sensors:

• Air radar: AN/SPS-49 (V4)
• Surface radar: AN/SPS-55
• Fire control: MK-92 Mod.2
• Hull-mounted sonar: AN/SQS-56
• Electronic warfare: ‘Rigel’

Frigate ‘Victoria’ is the second unit of the ‘Santa María’-class frigates built in Ferrol, launched on July 23rd 1986 and delivered to the Spanish Navy on October 29th 1987.

The ship is named after the vessel ‘Victoria’, the remaining ship of a flotilla of five which sailed around the globe for the first time under command of Juan Sebastián de Elcano from September 20th 1519 until September 8th 1522 after sailing 46,270 miles. The vessel was named after the Seville church of ‘Santa María de la Victoria’ where Ferdinand Magellan swore loyalty to King Charles I.

Only 18 men survived out of the original complement of 234 in the five-ship flotilla. The other four vessels were: ‘Trinidad’ (110 tons and 55 sailors under the command of Magellan); ‘San Antonio’ (120 tons and 60 sailors); ‘Concepción’ (90 tons and 45 sailors) and ‘Santiago’ (75 tons and 32 sailors).

Other Spanish Navy ships had the same name:

• Frigate VICTORIA (1719)
• Warship VICTORIA (1730-1738). Built in Guarnizo with 50 guns. Sank near Veracruz.
• Frigate VICTORIA (1755-1762). Built in La Carraca with 26 guns. Lost off the Isle of Farallón.
• Frigate VICTORIA built in 1806 but never launched.
• Frigate VICTORIA (1865-1904). Built in Great Britain with 30 guns. She took part in the uprising of Cartagena in 1873.

The exact complement of the ‘Victoria’ depends on the mission entrusted. It normally amounts to 222 people. In addition to her CO and XO, the crew is made up of 15 officers, 30 NCOs and 170 seamen and ratings.

The F-82 can embark an air unit with capability to operate either 2 helicopters, or a helicopter and an unmanned air vehicle, as well as a Marine Corps Special Operations’ security squad.

Since her delivery to the Spanish Navy in October 1987, frigate “Victoria” has sailed throughout most oceans and has participated in the following activities: