Meteoro-class offshore patrol vessel

The Meteoro-class offshore patrol vessel, also known as Buque de Acción Marítima (BAM), 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.

Rayo (P-42)
Class overview
BuildersNAVANTIA
Operators Spanish Navy
Cost€183 million (2020)[1][2][3] per unit
Planned12
Completed6
Active6
General characteristics
TypeOffshore patrol vessel
Displacement2,860 t (full load)
Length93.9 m (308 ft)
Beam14.2 m (47 ft)
Draft4.2 m (14 ft)
Propulsion
  • 2 diesel engines
  • 4 groups diesel generators
  • 2 electric motors propellers
  • 1 Emergency generator
  • Located 2 cross bow thruster
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)+
Range3,500 nmi (4,000 mi; 6,500 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement46 crew and 30 forces
Armament
Aircraft carried1 × Agusta-Bell 212

Description
Aerial view of Relámpago (P-43)

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.

Building
Naval parade of the Spanish Navy held on 2017. In the image, the BAM Tornado (P-44), the frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón (F-102) and in the background, the flagship amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I (L-61)

The BAM project consists of 12 vessels.[4]

First phase

The first phase included the construction of six patrol boats. This phase was completed in January 2019 after twelve years.

Second phase

Like the first phase, this second is composed of six units. four of them are patrol boats and the two remaining are specialized BAMs, one oceanographic and the other underwater rescue.

Characteristics of the Oceanographic BAM

  • Flight cover for medium helicopter (Lynx) without hangar.
  • Transportation personnel: 20 Scientists.
  • Scientific Premises: Biological, Humid with Cava, Electronic, Geological, Meteorological, Photographic laboratories.
  • Drawing Room, Data Center, Local Electronic Equipment, Electronics Workshop, Diving Room with Hyperbaric Chamber, Probe Local and Transducer Site.
  • Local Gravimetry, Spare Cloths, Oceanography Warehouse, Water Clothing Store.
  • Probe nacelle, transverse propellers in bow and stern.
  • Davits and Chigres: Popa Porch for Oceanography and Sónar Towed, Lateral Davit for Rosettes, Lateral Davit for Plankton Extraction.
  • Possibility of stowing scientific containers in Toldilla Deck.
  • Side Scanning Sónar VDS (Medium / High Frequency) and Sónar / Parametric Probe.

Characteristics of the Underwater Rescue BAM (authorized for construction at a projected cost of 166 million Euros in 2021; construction of the new vessel (named Poseidón) began in July 2023 and she is planned for delivery in 2026)[5][6][7]

  • Rescue and support to the rescue of submarines. The new rescue vessel will be known as the BAM-IS (Intervención Subacuática/Underwater Intervention).
  • Support for diving operations.
  • Intervention and rescue in accidents and shipwrecks.
  • Surveillance and monitoring of the heritage (of growing interest in litigation with the Odyssey by the frigate "Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes" between 2007 and 2012).
  • SAR operations.
  • Transport of personnel and material.
  • Fight against pollution.

Third phase

Two additional offshore patrol vessels (BAM III) were approved for acquisition in 2023 at a cost of 550 million Euros. They are planned for service entry in the mid to latter 2020s and will replace capacity that is being lost with the retirement of the last two Descubierta-class offshore patrol vessels, Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina, in 2023.[8]

History
Launching of Meteoro (P-41)

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).[9]

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.[10] However, the envisaged in service date was subsequently delayed until the mid-2020s.

After the authorization by the Ministry of Finance in 2020 of the investment of 167 million euros,26 at the end of 2021 the Ministry of Defense signed the order to execute the project for the construction of a new BAM, in its intervention version subacuática (BAM-IS).27 In April 2023 it was confirmed that it would receive the name Poseidon and the numeral "A-21".[11]

In June 2023, after the approval of the Treasury, the Council of Ministers began the procedures for the construction of two new BAMs for maritime patrol, with extensive anti-submarine warfare capabilities, for 550 million euros.[12]

Ships
Pennant Number Ship name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Homeport Status
P-41MeteoroNavantia, San Fernando4 October 200716 October 200928 July 2012Las Palmas Naval Base[13]Active
P-42RayoNavantia, San Fernando3 September 200918 May 201026 October 2011Las Palmas Naval Base[14]Active
P-43RelámpagoNavantia, San Fernando17 December 20096 October 20106 February 2012Las Palmas Naval Base[15]Active
P-44TornadoNavantia, San Fernando5 May 201021 March 201119 July 2012Las Palmas Naval Base[16]Active
P-45AudazNavantia, San Fernando29 April 2016[17]30 March 201727 July 2018Cartagena Naval Base[18]Active
P-46FurorNavantia, Ferrol29 April 2016[17]8 September 201721 January 2019Cartagena Naval Base[19]Active
P-47TBD
P-48TBD
A-21Poseidón (A-21)2023[11]2024[11]2025[11]

References

This article contains content from the Spanish Wikipedia.

  1. "La SEPI anuncia la construcción de un Buque de Acción Marítima (BAM) en los astilleros gaditanos". 2014-03-07. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  2. "El Ministerio de Hacienda da luz verde a la construcción del BAM-IS en Puerto Real por 167 millones de euros". 28 July 2020.
  3. "El BAM de intervención subacuática de la Armada tendrá un presupuesto de 183 millones - Noticias Infodefensa España". 26 November 2020.
  4. ""Seaplace" diseña ya el próximo buque rescatador de submarinos de la Armada Española". Por Tierra, Mar y Aire (in European Spanish). 2017-11-23. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  5. "Comienza la construcción del BAM-IS para Armada española en los astilleros de Navantia". defensa.com. 3 July 2023.
  6. Groizeleau, Vincent (2 February 2023). "L'Espagne va mettre en chantier son nouveau bâtiment d'intervention sous-marine". Mer et Marine.
  7. https://www.eldebate.com/espana/defensa/20230106/armada-espanola-rearma-submarinos-fragatas-cazas-helicopteros_84394.html
  8. Palacios, Alonso (28 June 2023). "La Armada española se refuerza con dos nuevos buques de acción marítima". El Debate.
  9. Ministerio de Defensa (September 2011). "Evaluación de los Programas Especiales de Armamento (PEAs)" (PDF) (in Spanish). Madrid: Grupo Atenea. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  10. Ing, David (22 July 2014). "Two new Spanish BAM OPVs to be in service by 2019, says Navantia". IHS Jane's Navy International.
  11. InfoDefensa, Revista Defensa. "El nuevo buque de intervención subacuática de la Armada se llamará Poseidón". Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  12. InfoDefensa, Revista Defensa. "El Gobierno aprueba la compra de dos nuevos BAM para la Armada por 550 millones". Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  13. Spanish Navy. "Meteoro (P-41) - Spanish Navy".
  14. Spanish Navy. "Rayo (P-42) - Spanish Navy".
  15. Spanish Navy. "Relámpago (P-43) - Spanish Navy".
  16. Spanish Navy. "Tornado (P-44) - Spanish Navy".
  17. "Economía/Empresas.- Navantia pone las quillas de dos buques para la Armada española" (in Spanish). BolsaManía. 29 April 2016.
  18. Navantia entrega el BAM Audaz a la DGAM
  19. Infodefensa.com, Revista Defensa (2019-01-21). "Navantia entrega el BAM Furor a Defensa en un acto en Ferrol - Noticias Infodefensa España". Infodefensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-01-24.
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