The
Deployment of Spanish Armada Ship Cantabria to Australia in 2013
The Minister
for Defence, Stephen Smith, today announced that the Royal Australian Navy
(RAN) would participate in a unique deployment to Australia of the Spanish
Armada Ship, SPS Cantabria, with a series of training exercises in Australia
from mid-February until November 2013.
The
Cantabria deployment will strengthen the bilateral relationship between Spain
and Australia, as well as providing important training and capability
assessment outcomes for both the Spanish Armada and the RAN.
The
Cantabria is a modern Auxiliary Oil Replenishment ship, similar to HMAS
Success, which is capable of supplying fuel, food, stores and ammunition to
ships underway.
This will be
the longest deployment undertaken by Cantabria and will allow the Spanish
Armada to trial the ship’s full range of capabilities including through
activities involving both Cantabria and RAN ships and helicopters.
This
training program will also include an exchange program between personnel from
Cantabria and RAN units.
These
exercises with RAN Ships and helicopters will culminate with Cantabria’s
participation in the Australian International Fleet Review in October
2013.
The
Cantabria’s deployment will also provide a valuable opportunity for the RAN to
conduct early training for personnel earmarked for service in the Australian
Navy’s new Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships and Hobart Class
Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD).
Many of
Cantabria’s systems are the same as the LHDs and AWDs, which are based on
Spanish ship designs.
The
deployment will provide a unique opportunity for Defence to undertake an
assessment of the capability offered by Cantabria as Defence considers the
replacement of HMAS Success and Sirius.
The
deployment of Cantabria will also reduce the capability risk during Success’
next major maintenance period in 2013.
Cantabria
will augment the afloat support capability provided by HMAS Sirius. Sirius is currently in maintenance at HMAS
Stirling, which is due for completion next month.
The RAN and
Spanish Armada will work together over the coming weeks to finalise the details
of the deployment.
The Chief of
Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, will travel to Ferrol, Spain, next week to
represent Australia at the launching and naming of the second LHD, the future
HMAS Adelaide.
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