Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | December 7 – Spanish Navy’s newest submarine, Israeli Navy attack craft launch and more

The Spanish Navy takes delivery of a new submarine as a future Israeli Navy patrol boat is launched into the water for the first time. The US Navy christens an amphibious assault ship. Finally, a Dutch-German partnership begins construction of a new frigate for the German Navy.

Lead boat of new submarine class delivered to Spanish Navy

Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has handed over a new diesel-electric submarine to the Spanish Navy.

Isaac Peral is the first S-80 Plus-class submarine as well as the fourth Spanish Navy vessel to be named in honour of Isaac Peral, a Spanish naval officer and engineer credited with designing the first successful electric-powered submarine in 1889.

The submarine has an LOA of 80.8 metres, a hull diameter of 7.3 metres, and a submerged displacement of approximately 3,000 tonnes. An air-independent propulsion (AIP) system will supply the boat with electrical power at any depth so that it can remain underwater for longer periods.

Armament will include torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

Future Israeli Navy fast attack craft hits the water

Israel Shipyards has launched the first in a new series of fast attack craft ordered by the Israeli Navy.

The vessel is an example of the Shaldag Mark V, a variant of the Shaldag-class patrol boats built initially for export customers. This will be the first Shaldag Mark V in Israeli service.

Once completed, the craft will have an LOA of 32.65 metres, a beam of 6.2 metres, a displacement of approximately 95 tonnes at full load, and space for 12 crewmembers. Two diesel engines will propel each vessel to a maximum speed of 43 knots while a range of 1,600 nautical miles can be achieved at a cruising speed of 15 knots.

US Navy christens amphibious assault ship Bougainville

The US Navy and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division formally named the third America-class amphibious assault ship (LHA) in a ceremony in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on Saturday, December 2.

The future USS Bougainville commemorates the Bougainville Campaign that took place during World War II wherein Allied forces secured a strategic airfield from Japan in the northern Solomon Islands. It is the second US Navy ship to bear the name.

LHA 8 will retain the aviation capability of the America-class design while adding the surface assault capability of a well deck, which can house and launch two landing craft air cushion (LCAC) hovercraft or one landing craft utility (LCU) as needed.

Other additions to the vessel will include a larger flight deck configured for F-35B Lightning II strike fighters and V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

Construction starts on future German Navy frigate

Netherlands-based Damen Naval and German naval shipbuilder the NVL Group recently held a steel-cutting ceremony to mark the start of construction of the first F126 frigate slated for the German Navy.

Construction will take place entirely in Germany with final outfitting to be undertaken at the Hamburg facilities of Blohm + Voss.

Upon completion, the frigate will have a length of 166 metres, a displacement of approximately 10,000 tonnes, and a crew of 110. Operations will be possible even in polar regions.