SPANISH BAZAN (F-100) CLASS FFG LAST UPDATE: June 6, 2012     
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| SPECIFICATIONS | PHOTOGRAPHS (Click on the pictures for an enlarged photo) |
 Designation: FFG Length: 482 ft (147m) Beam: 61 ft (19m) Draft: 15 ft (5m) Displace (Full Load): 6,250 tons Propulsion: 2 GE LM2500, CODAG; two shafts Speed: 29+ knots Range: 5,000 nautical miles (20 knots) Crew: 240 Helicopter(s): 1 SH-60 Seahawk Sensors: - AN/SPY-1F Radar - AN/SQQ-89 Sonar Suite - AN/SQQ-28 LAMPS III Armament: - 48 cell Mk-41 VLS SM-2, ESSM - 8 Harpoon ASM - 1 X 20mm Phalanx CIWS - 1 X 127mm MK-45 DP Gun - 12 X Mk-46 LW Torpedoes Ships in class: 5 F101 Alvaro de BazanIn the early 1990s Spain began investigating providing a robust, upgraded escort vessel for their high value assets, which include the Principe de Asturias Carrier, and the soon to be launched Strategic Projection Ship that will be a multi-purpose Sea Control and Amphibious Assault vessel. In order to accomplish the task, Spain entered into a consortium with Germany and the Netherlans in 1994 who were looking to develop similar strong air defence and multi-purpose escort vessels for their own fleets. The result has been the F-100, Bazan, AEGIS frigate for the Spanish, the De Zeven AEGIS-like frigate for the Dutch, and the F-124, Sachsen AEGIS-like frigate for the Germans. The first F-100, the Alvaro de Bazan, was launched in October 2000, and commissioned in September 2002. Since then, three other vessels have been built and the fifth and final frigate is currently under construction. Spain entered into an agreement with the United States to produce a version of the AEGIS battle management system that would be suitable and sized for a frigate, which resulted in the AN/SPI-1F version of the system. Spain was the first European nation to be licensed the AEGIS system, and only the third nation overall after the Japanese. The frigates are heavily armed with a 48 cell VLS forward on the ship carrying 32 SM-2 missiles and 64 Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles for closer air defense. The ESSM are carried in quad packs in each of 16 of the VLS cells. The vessel is also heavily armed for surface combat duties with 8 Harpoon missile in two quad launchers, and a 127mm main gun. They are also well armed for sub-surface combat, carrying a SH-60 LAMPS III helicopter and 12 Mk-467 light weight torpedoes in four, three torpedo mounts. |
     
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Jeff Head is a member of the US Naval Insitute who has many years experience in the power, defense, and computer industries. He currently works for the federal government helping maintain regional infrastructure. He is the author of a self-published military techno-thriller called, "Dragon's Fury," that projects a fictional third world war arising out of current events. Learn more about that series by clicking on the picture of the novel cover below:
 DRAGON'S FURY-World War against America and the West |
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