1973-74 Spanish Guided Missile Destroyer Project

[Tzoli]

Conway's All the World Fighting Ships 1947-1991 mentions a Spanish destroyer project from the 1970's: 1973/74 but offers very little info about the project:
3 ships to be built
127mm OTO-Malera gun system(s)
Anti ship and Anti air missiles
COGOG propulsion for 34knots
ASW Helicopter(s)

Does anybody heard of this project or know more about it?

 

[Antonio]

Re: 1973-74 Spansh Guided Missile Destroyer Project

According to el grancapitan.org forum, funds for 3 fleet destroyers were requested under Naval Plan Barbudo (1971), but the project never progressed into a detailed proposal.

In 1973 Global Oil Crisis forced a plan revision and Admiral Pita da Veiga proposed a new plan based on 1DDG Class Kidd and 3 FFG Class Perry.

http://www.elgrancapitan.org/foro/viewtopic.php?t=7714
(see page 4)

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anexolanes_navales_de_la_Armada_Española

 

[Arjen]

Re: 1973-74 Spansh Guided Missile Destroyer Project

Conway's All the World Fighting Ships 1947-1995 (a later edition) states these destroyers were part of a package with the other parts being a light cruiser, two corvettes and some PF craft. This package was deferred to 1977-1978, the cruiser morphed into the light carrier Principe de Asturias with the rest materializing as six modified long-hulled FFG-7 frigates with extra beam to allow more top-weight, all built in Ferrol:
- Numancia
- Reina Sofia
- Santa Maria
- Victoria
- Navarra
- Canarias

Asturias laid down in 1979, completed in 1988.
The first FFG-7, Santa Maria, was laid down in 1982, completed in 1986.
The last FFG-7, Canarias, was laid down in 1992, completed in 1994.

 

[Antonio]

Re: 1973-74 Spansh Guided Missile Destroyer Project

In the plan, the CL stated for "A Canarias cruiser replacement" which materialized into an intention to buy an USS Kidd class DDG.


See page 310
http://www.armada.mde.es/archivo/rgm/2012/08/cap06.pdf

 

[Tzoli]

Re: 1973-74 Spansh Guided Missile Destroyer Project

I see so we don't know if these would be indigenous designs or maybe modified British or American proposals?

 

[Antonio]

Re: 1973-74 Spansh Guided Missile Destroyer Project

If, ordered, that class would have been of foreign design for sure. Producing an indigenous DDG, exceeded the capabilities of contemporary Spanish shipbuilders of the moment.

Details from Conway's 1947-91 could came from an interest in the Italian Audace DDG class which shows a coincidence with timeframe and specs?. I haven't found anything about Spanish interest on Audace Class from my available sources.That's my personal hypothesis about the origins of the publication of that data.


Just take a look at the 1965 naval plan: Farragut class flotilla leader, Charles F Adams class destroyers, Knox class frigates and Bronstein class frigates. No indigenous designs considered.
I also remember, from Defensa magazine, to read about Spanish Armada showing interest on Royal Navy designs (County class destroyers and Leander class frigates) but British Government rejected to sell it for political reasons. There was an interest on French designs too, Clemanceau class carrier and SSK, but never found anything about destroyers/frigates.

Production of indigenous combat ship designs started from the 80's.

 

[Archibald]

Re: 1973-74 Spansh Guided Missile Destroyer Project

In the plan, the CL stated for "A Canarias cruiser replacement" which materialized into an intention to buy an USS Kidd class DDG.


See page 310
http://www.armada.mde.es/archivo/rgm/2012/08/cap06.pdf

The old Canarias cruiser, straight out of the Spanish civil war, lasted until the late 70's. This completely blew my mind. And dang, a Kidd class for Spain ? I thought they were for the Shah. Then again, Franco and his beloved Carrero Blanco wanted a powerful navy.

 

[Tzoli]

Re: 1973-74 Spansh Guided Missile Destroyer Project

In the plan, the CL stated for "A Canarias cruiser replacement" which materialized into an intention to buy an USS Kidd class DDG.


See page 310
http://www.armada.mde.es/archivo/rgm/2012/08/cap06.pdf

The old Canarias cruiser, straight out of the Spanish civil war, lasted until the late 70's. This completely blew my mind. And dang, a Kidd class for Spain ? I thought they were for the Shah. Then again, Franco and his beloved Carrero Blanco wanted a powerful navy.

And designed in the late 1920's (1928 to be exact) as modified Counties. Though there were plans to rebuild it as a Light Carrier or was that Baleares?

If I remember correctly, after the Iranian Revolution the Kidds were offered to other countries as well, but in the ended up in US service.

 

[Antonio]

Re: 1973-74 Spansh Guided Missile Destroyer Project

The Canarias lasted 39 years in service, but this doesn't makes the world's longest career for a ship.

It was the Canarias. There are detailed drawings available. Are you interested?


Iran ordered a modified DDG Spruance Class design which was never delivered for political reasons, which were accepted for service with the US Navy as Kidd Class. In 2001 that ships were sold to the Republic of China. They remain in commission today (2018). Spanish Navy expressed interest in a ship of that design, not in the units to be delivered to Iran.

However the most ambitious naval plan for Spanish Armada under Franco Government was that from 1943. Totally out from reality.

 

[Tzoli]

Re: 1973-74 Spansh Guided Missile Destroyer Project

The Canarias lasted 39 years in service, but this doesn't makes the world's longest career for any ship.

It was the Canarias. There are detailed drawings available. Are you interested?


Iran ordered a modified DDG Spruance Class design which was never delivered for political reasons, which were accepted for service with the US Navy as Kidd Class. In 2001 that ships were sold to the Republic of China. They remain in commission today (2018). Spanish Navy expressed interest in a ship of that design, not in the units to be delivered to Iran.

However the most ambitious naval plan for Spanish Armada under Franco Government was that from 1943. Totally out from reality.

I know both the Canarias carrier conversion aka Project 66 and the escort carrier of a cargo ship or passenger ship if I remember correctly as Project 65
Yes Franco's new Armada, 4 new modified Italian Littorio class Battleships, new light and heavy cruisers and a cruiser design trio with either 4 triple 203mm,, 3 twin 283 Scharnhorst cannon or two triple ex Espana 305mm cannons. Both indigenous Spanish designs and Italian Ansaldo export proposals were offered. Not to mention a new heavy destroyer class as well