Spanish Navy’s Segura-class minesweeper ESPS Turia will join NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group 2 which operates in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Crewed by 44 sailors and commanded by Captain Enrique Miguel García Morera, the ship set sail from Naval Base Cartagena, Spain on May 12 and is scheduled to stay with the group until August, 2016.
During her deployment, Turia will take part in the Italian-hosted exercise Minex, and Black Sea exercises Sea Breeze and Sea Shield.
SNMCMG2 is one of NATO’s four Standing Naval Maritime Groups, multinational integrated forces that project a constant and visible presence on the world’s seaways. These forces provide NATO a continuous maritime capability for operations and other activities in peacetime and periods of crisis and conflicts.
The Turia (M-34) is the fourth minesweeper of the Segura class and was built by the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia in Cartagena. She was delivered to the Navy in October 2000.
According to Navantia, the 55-meter vessels of the class are propelled by two main magnetic diesel engines, two electrical propulsion engines and two cycloidal propulsors.
Displacing 570 tonnes at full load, the ships’ range is 2,000 nautical miles at a speed of 12 knots.