Buque de Acción Marítima
 Rayo (P-42) | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | NAVANTIA |
| Operators: |
 Spanish Navy |
| Cost: | €166.74m (US$224m)[1] |
| Building: | 2 |
| Planned: | 9 |
| Completed: | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Offshore patrol vessel |
| Displacement: | 2,670 t (full load) |
| Length: | 93.9 m (308 ft) |
| Beam: | 14.2 m (47 ft) |
| Draft: | 4.2 m (14 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)+ |
| Range: | 3,500 mi (3,000 nmi; 5,600 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement: | 46 crew and 30 forces |
| Armament: |
|
| Aircraft carried: | 1 × NH-90 |
The BAM (Buque de Acción Marítima) ships are new modular offshore patrol vessels of the Spanish Navy adapted to different purposes from a common base, manufactured by Navantia. The BAMs combine high performance with mission versatility, a high commonality with other ships operated by the Spanish Navy. Acquisition and lifecycle costs are reduced.
Description
The BAMs are a common platform for a variety of missions, used to develop whole families of types of ships that meet the diverse needs of the Navy.
Its main missions are:
- Protection and escort of other ships in low intensity/asymmetric warfare situations
- Control of maritime traffic
- Control and neutralization of terrorism and piracy
- Operations against drug trafficking and human trafficking
- Search and rescue
- Support for crisis situations and humanitarian aid
- Control of fishing laws
- Control of environmental legislation and anti-pollution.
Modular design enables the ships to be modified for purposes outside main missions such as hydrographic research, intelligence gathering, diving support and salvage operations.
History
Construction began on 4 October 2007 with the cutting of the first sheet and was placed on the stands the first on 13 March 2009, in the shipyard San Fernando. The budget was €352m but the final cost was €488.4m for four units (~US$160m each).[2]
In June 2009, the Secretary of State for Defence and Congress confirmed the construction of a second batch to replace older patrol boats of the Anaga (3), Toralla (2), Descubierta (4) and the now-retired Barceló (6) and Conejera (4) classes. In September 2010, the Ministry of Defence said a contract would be signed with Navantia for four additional vessels to be delivered by 2015, but the contract has yet to be signed. Navantia has indicated that the Batch 2 vessels will be more modular, with the potential to switch between oceanography, intelligence gathering and search-and-rescue. One will be a diving support vessel, and one will be a research vessel for hydrography and logistical support in the Antarctic. The acquisition of two vessels, to enter service in 2019, was formally approved by the Spanish cabinet on 18 July 2014 at a cost of €166.74m (US$224m) each.[1]
Units
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The first six ships were assigned these names and numbers:
- BAM Meteoro (P-41) (in service)
- BAM Rayo (P-42) (in service)
- BAM Relampago (P-43) (in service)
- BAM Tornado (P-44) ( in service)
- BAM Audaz (P-45) (building)[3]
- BAM Furor (P-46) (building)
References
This article contains content from the Spanish Wikipedia.
- 1 2 Ing, David (22 July 2014). "Two new Spanish BAM OPVs to be in service by 2019, says Navantia". IHS Jane's Navy International.
- ↑ Ministerio de Defensa (September 2011). "Evaluación de los Programas Especiales de Armamento (PEAs)" (PDF) (in Spanish). Madrid: Grupo Atenea. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ↑ "Spain names next two BAM patrol vessels". www.janes.com. 11 August 2015.
External links
- BAM Buque de Acción Marítima - Página Oficial Armada Española
- BAM P-41 Meteoro - Página Oficial Atenea SYD
- BAM Navantia - Página Oficial Defensa.com
- Buques de Acción Marítima (BAM) - (English)