Minehunter “Tambre” (M-33)

The Commanding Officer of the minehunter ‘Tambre’ welcomes you and invites you to visit this website. This unit belongs to the 1st Minehunter Squadron of the MCM Force with home port in Cartagena (Murcia).

Displacement: 570 tons.

Length: 54 m.

Beam: 9.5 m.

Draft: 2.5 m.

Speed: 14 knots

Sensors:

Propulsion:

Miscellaneous:

The ship is very maneuverable thanks to her diesel/electric engines and her electro-mechanical configuration.

The ‘Tambre’ has a reduced acoustic-magnetic signature, a reinforced plastic hull meeting NATO standards, a CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) protection system and an efficient damage control system.

The main task of nay minehunter is the detection, identification, and neutralization of bottom and moored mines, as well as sea floor surveying and mapping.

In peacetime:

• Survey routes and port approaches.
• Guide high value assets and shipping control.
• Control of historical wreckages.

In wartime:

• Mine sweeping.
• Guide other ships through mine-cleared routes.

The ship’s home port is Cartagena Naval Base where the MCM Squadron, COMANDRAG-1 and other Spanish Navy ships are stationed.

The ‘Tambre’ has a VDS AN/SQQ-32 sonar, a remote controlled ‘Pluto Plus’ submarine and MINESNIPER vehicles.

The ship has a sophisticated navigation system and an integrated command and control system for information and operations management like the integrated Platform Control SICP COMPLEX system.

She also has a positioning and manoeuver control system to sail and be able to conduct automatic mine-hunting operations.

Systems and equipment permit to operate in mine infested areas to search, classify and destroy those mines.

MCM WARFARE

• Navigation radar.
• Navigation and positioning sensor.
• Navigation processor.
• Ship control system.
• Tactical console tables.
• Electronic server.
• Remote-controlled vehicles to neutralize all types of mines.
• 20 mm. machine-gun.

The ‘Tambre’ (M-33) is the third unit of the ‘Segura’-class minehunters. She was built by Bazán in Cartagena. She was commissioned in May 1993.

The Battle Ensign was presented in Puebla del Caramiñal by the Mayoress of the city María Dolores Lago on June 22nd 2002.

The crew consists of 42 people: 1 Lieutenant-Commander, 6 officers, 14 NCOs and 21 seamen and ratings.

The ship usually embarks divers from the MCM Diving unit, specifically trained to neutralize, deactivate and destroy all sort of mines, as well as military nurses from the MCM Force.

The ship has carried out multiple international deployments with NATO’s Mine Countermeasures Force (SNMCMG-2) and two further deployments with the former MCMFOURSOUTH.

At national level, the M-33 has taken part in many manoeuvers like GRUFLEX (mainly in Rota waters), SPANISH MINEX in the Balearic Islands and FLOTEX together with other Fleet units.

Other national and international missions and port clearance operations include: ‘Route Survey’, ‘Italian Minex’, ‘Olives Noires’ and ‘Innas Bahr’.