Frigate Numancia (F-83)

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

The F-83 is the third frigate of a series of six units built in Ferrol (NW Spain). They make up the 41st Escort Squadron stationed in Rota Naval Base.

The ‘Numancia’ 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 ‘Numancia’ is the third ‘Santa María’-class unit built by BAZAN in Ferrol. The F-83 is named after the armored frigate ‘Numancia’ built in the 19th century and operational until the beginning of the 20th. The name comes from the Iberian city of Numancia whose citizens bravely defended the city against the Roman invasion.

At the end of the 70’s a new shipbuilding program was envisaged by the Spanish Navy intended to integrate into NATO with modern anti-submarine and anti-air units. The U.S. design of the FFG frigates is selected as it fully met our requirements.

The F-83 was launched in January 1987. Sea trials commenced in December 1987 and the frigate was finally delivered to the Spanish Navy on November 8th 1988.

Her Battle Ensign was presented by the city council of Marín on April 22nd 1989.

The exact complement of the ‘Numancia’ 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-83 can also 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.

Frigate ‘Numancia’ has taken part in many national and international exercises and has integrated into NATO’s standing naval groups: STANAVFORLANT and STANAVFORMED.

Gulf War (1990)

October 1990 was her baptism in a conflict area deploying in the Persian Gulf with two corvettes, to implement the embargo in Iraq before the Gulf War. In the course of this operation she carried out many interdiction missions under UN resolutions.

At the beginning of the hostilities, the ‘Numancia’ actively took part during the first air assaults providing cover to the amphibious groups in the coast of Kuwait.

Operation ‘Sharp Guard’ (1992-1995)

At the end of 1992 the F-83 took part in the embargo operation SHARP GUARD in former Yugoslavia, but a serious engine breakdown while deployed in the Adriatic Sea, forced the ‘Numancia’ to return home for important repairs until August 1993 when she integrated again in SHARP GUARD.

In those years, this embargo operation in Yugoslavia will be the usual assignment for the “Numancia” specifically in tasks of maritime interdiction and air space control. Until September 1995, the frigate challenged 1,500 vessels and boarded around 100.

Operation ‘Enduring Freedom’ (2001)

The ‘Numancia’ took part in several multinational exercises. In the aftermath of the 7/11 attacks, the F-83 took part in operation ENDURING FREEDOM in the Indian Ocean along with her sister ship ‘Santa María’ and AOR ‘Patiño’.

Operation ‘Romeo Sierra’ (2002)

Shortly after her return from this mission, the so-called ‘Perejil’ conflict broke out off the Moroccan coast and was again deployed in support of that mission with air control tasks.

Operation ‘Atalanta’ (2009, 2013, 2020, 2022)

Started in 2008, Operation ‘Atalanta’ contributes to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean with surveillance missions intended to thwart pirate attacks on the one hand and, on the other, monitor fishing activities collaborating with other international organizations operating in the area. Spain has participated since the very beginning in this operation providing naval units and aircraft.

The deployment of the F-83 in this operation is a clear example of Spain’s commitment with this EU-led counter-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean, entrusted with the protection of vulnerable shipping in the area, especially WFP (World Food Program) and AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) ships.

Operation ‘EUNAVFOR MED Sophia’ (2018)

This EU military operation started in 2015 off the coast of Libya. The main objective was to fight illegal migration and prevent the loss of lives at sea. Among other endeavors, frigate ‘Numancia’ contributed to save the lives of 116 people who were adrift on a boat in the Central Mediterranean.