Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy (in Spanish, Armada Española) is the navy of Spain.
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History
The Armada's roots go back the discovering of America, when three small ships (Caravels) commanded by Admiral Cristóbal Columbus arrived in North America. After that, Hernán Cortés, Pizarro and other conquerers were conducted by the Spanish Armada to America.
One of the most famous Armada's Admirals in history was Álvaro de Bazán, "Almirante de la mar océana" (Admiral of the Ocean Seas) which in 1571 helped conducted the Lepanto battle against the Otoman Empire.
Throughout her history, the Spanish Navy have achieved numerous goals, from the transportation of gold and silver from the colonies in Ameria to the maintenance of the Spanish Empire in Europe, America, Asia and Africa.
Modern navy
In modern times, the Armada Española is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and has taken part in many coalition peacekeeping operations, from SFOR to Haiti.
Today's Armada is a modern navy with ships such as aircraft carriers, modern frigates (F-100 class) with the Aegis combat system, F-80 frigates, F-70 frigates, amphibious ships and plenty of other smaller ships, including a oceanographic research ship. The Spanish Marine Corps, known in Spanish as the Infantería de Marina, is also part of the Armada.
Armada officers attend their education at the Spanish Naval Academy (ENM). They are recruited in two different ways:
- Militar de Complemento: Similar to the U.S. ROTC program, students are college graduates who enroll the Navy. They spend a year at the Naval Academy and then are commissioned as Ensigns. This path is becoming more and more prestigious.
- Militar de Carrera: Students spend five years at the ENM, receiving a university degree-equivalent upon graduation.
Ship classes
- F100 frigates. Alvaro de Bazán class frigates
- F80 frigates
- F70 frigates
- Aircraft Carrier
- S80 Submarines
- S70 Submarines
- Oceanographic Research Ships
- Patrol ships
- Anphibious ships Galicia class
- Anphibious ships Pizarro class
External links
- Official website (in Spanish)
- http://todoababor.webcindario.com/ (Spanish Naval History)
- http://www.revistanaval.com/
- El Arma Submarina Española (unofficial website)
- Andrew Toppan's Haze Gray and Underway page for the Spanish Navy