Spanish frigate returns home from 3-month NATO deployment

Spanish Navy F100 frigate Álvaro de Bazán (F-101) has returned to the Ferrol Naval Base following a three-month deployment to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1.

During her deployment, Álvaro de Bazán sailed more than 16,000 nautical miles and visited seven countries.

In mid-April, the frigate set sail for northern waters of Scotland to join the SNMG1 together with Denmark’s HDMS Niels Juel, Turkey’s TCG Gediz and Germany’s FGS Erfurt.

After her first stop in Glasgow, the ship took part in the multinational exercise Joint Warrior. The frigate then sailed through waters of Europe and Morocco to maintain the naval presence of the NATO countries in the area, visiting the ports of Casablanca, La Coruña and Amsterdam.

At the beginning of June, the Spanish frigate also stopped at the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda to participate in the international drill BALTOPS 2018, led by the US Navy.

In addition, Álvaro de Bazán was hosted by Kiel Week 2018, one of the largest sailing events in the world taking place in Germany in the last full week of June.

Finally, the ship sailed to the north of Norway and participated in the NATO-led anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2018 which concluded on July 6.

The Spanish Navy’s frigate traveled 1,700 miles to get home to the Ferrol Naval Base where it will remain docked during the summer months, according to the navy.