Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ‘Juan Carlos I’ has been presented with the Battle Ensign in Cádiz by Spain’s Queen Sofia, the sponsor of the LDH.
The ceremony was attended by military and civilian authorities, among them Spanish Minister of Defense, Pedro Morenés, the Chief of Naval Staff (AJEMA), Admiral Jaime Muñoz-Delgado, and the President of the Andalusian Regional Government, Susana Díaz.
The ceremony commenced with the AJEMA offering the Ensign to Her Majesty after having been blessed by the Spanish Navy Military Chaplain. Subsequently, the Queen handed the Ensign to the Commanding Officer of the ‘Juan Carlos I’, Captain Antonio Piñeiro Sánchez who, following an ancient tradition, knelt down and kissed the flag.
The ships nearby fired a gun salute and, among a ringing of bells, Captain Piñeiro hoisted the Ensign assisted by his Officer and Navigator.
The ‘Juan Carlos I’ is the largest warship built domestically for the Spanish Navy. Her length is 231 meters and beam 32 meters.
The ship was delivered on September 30th 2010 and her home port is Rota Naval Base.
Her main missions include transport, landing and support of a Marine Corps force; force projection ashore, acting as an aero-naval platform and participation in non military operations like humanitarian aid, disaster relief or evacuation of non-combatants in crisis areas.
[mappress] Press Release, September 19, 2013; Image: Spanish Navy