Sps Cristóbal Colón F 105
The F100 Alvaro de Bazan Class is
a 5,800t multipurpose frigate built by the Spanish shipbuilder, Izar (formerly
E.N. Bazan). In February 2005, the naval shipbuilding activities of Izar were
spun off into a new company, Navantia.
The first batch of four ships was
ordered by the Spanish Navy in January 1997. The first, Alvaro de Bazan (F101),
was launched in October 2000 and commissioned in September 2002. The second,
Almirante Juan de Borbon (F102), was launched in February 2002 and commissioned
in December 2003.
The third, Blas de Lezo (F103)
was launched in May 2003 and commissioned in December 2004. The fourth, Mendez
Nunez (F104), was launched in November 2004 and delivered in March 2006.
In June 2005, the Spanish
Government announced plans to procure a fifth Alvaro de Bazan Class vessel, Cristóbal
Colón (F105). Procurement of the new vessel was authorised by the government in
May 2006. Construction began in June 2007 and the keel was laid in February
2009. The ship was launched in November 2010 and entered sea trials in June
2012. A sixth vessel, Juan de Austria (F106) is also planned, to commission in
2013.
Cristóbal Colón is seen departing
Leith on the 18th October 2014
