Dave Cullen captured the moment Spanish naval support vessel Cantabria made her grand entrance in the port of Leith, Scotland, ahead of Exercise Steadfast Defender 24.
The drone photographs and video footage are fantastic. Give Dave a follow by clicking here, you will not be disappointed.
Cantabria is a replenishment oiler operated by the Spanish Navy. Acquired to provide logistical support for the Spanish fleet, Cantabria was commissioned in 2010.
Cantabria is the second-largest naval ship currently operated by the Spanish, behind Juan Carlos I.
The vessel has a maximum sustained speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), and a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi). The ship’s complement is 122.
The ship’s capacity includes 8,920 cubic metres of ship fuel, 1,585 cubic metres of JP-5 jet fuel, 215 cubic metres of fresh water, 280 tons of ammunition, and 470 tons of general cargo. The fuel storage areas are double-hulled. Cantabria can replenish three ships simultaneously; one on each side, plus a third vis a stern refuelling station. She can carry three Agusta-Bell AB.212, two Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, or two NHIndustries NH90 helicopters to perform vertical replenishment.
Given our current difficulties with solid stores ships it would be interesting to know just how compatible QE class is with other NATO stores ships. Its also one of the things constantly overlooked in the UK debate on having carriers. Everyone in Europe operates a multitude of escorts supply ships. There is nothing wrong with the UK relying on allies to provide capabilities to a NATO CSG as no one else (In Europe) can provide the large carrier. This is even more important on NATO training missions giving these ships the chance to work together rather than us sending 2… Read more »
You’ve spelt your name wrong !
Thanks frank another great comment 😀
That’s because it’s factual….
Generally the expectation is that the underway replenishment be done by ships that are fast enough to keep up with a CSG- i.e. getting on for 30 knots.
I’m unaware of any such vessels capable of 30 knots ….. Could you maybe name some please ?
Normal speed for RAS is usually between 15 and 18 knots. The water even in calm seas between the two ships can get very angry. At thirty knots it would be to dangerous. I won’t say impossible but definitely improbable. Most Warships can travel at speeds in excess of thirty knots but replenishment vessels are very much in the area of this Spanish vessel. A Warship at 30 knots is okay for short distance but very quickly becomes uncomfortable. The noise and vibration at the stern is very unpleasant. Plus the worse the sea state proportionally the slamming into into… Read more »
Your everyone in Europe is a very short list of Nations that have a RAS capability. Norway has one AOR Swedish and Danish nil. Dutch one French a couple of ships. You are basically talking about Blue water navies. At best nearly everyone in Europe is green water navy.
Check out the Italian Navy sometime, daft as it sounds they are very quietly raising the size and capability of their fleet and have been doing so since 2008.
What they do is have a series of Naval Laws which sets out the size of their Navy and the funding for it. Each one these days is higher than the one before.
And yes they have RAS ships and are very much a blue water Navy.
I suppose it depends on your vision of a blue water Navy. One definition is to be able to deploy an expeditionary force worldwide sustain it and protect it from all threats. That would bring you with one answer the USA. For me personally the RN is not a blue water navy in practice possibly in theory. Again depends on your definition. Could we mount a task force as in 1982 definitely not. But to go to your Italian analogy. They have 20 major surface combatants. From memory about 8 or 10 submarines which are very much not Blue Water… Read more »
France can provide the carrier, and the stores ships.
This looks like the same type that are also in service with the RAN. Different layout to the UK Tides and Waves. If the RAN gets quite a bit bigger they might need another one!
That’s because they are the same. All bought from Navantia along with the Hobart’s and LPH’s.
“The ship’s capacity includes 8,920 cubic metres of ship fuel, 1,585 cubic metres of JP-5 jet fuel, 215 cubic metres of fresh water, 280 tons of ammunition, and 470 tons
of general cargopaella, vino tinto and tapas.😃