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 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090014-1

'''FIGURE 16. Conde del Venadito, one of three tank landing ships loaned to Spain by the United States under the 1970 base rights renewal agreement (C)''' (picture)

elements of the ministry which provide the necessary support to keep the fleet operational are also placed under his command.

The coastline of Spain is divided into three maritime zones -- Cantabrico (El Ferrol del Caudillo), Estrecho (Cadiz), and Mediterreaneo (Cartagena) -- each under a senior admiral known as the captain general. He controls assigned ships, shore facilities, local seaward defense, training, logistic support of fleet units, coast guard activities, and administration of local port officers and merchant marine personnel. Naval activities in the Balearic Islands are subordinate to the Mediterreaneo Maritime Zone. The Canary Islands constitute an independent naval command. The Estrecho Maritime Zone controls naval matters for Ceuta and Melilla, the Spanish places of sovereignty in North Africa. The Secretary-General of the Navy is also Chief of the Central Jurisdiction, the naval district (headquartered in Madrid) which includes all of interior Spain.

The Chief of the Communications Section, Naval General Staff, is the head of the communication network. Technical problems, installation of new equipment, and research are the responsibilities of the Technical Center for Electricity, Electronics, and Radio Communications. The principal naval radio stations are located at Madrid, La Carrera, El Ferrol del Caudillo, Cadiz, Cartagena, Palma (Majorca), and Las Palmas (Canary Islands). Shore station and ship communication facilities have been greatly improved with US equipment received under the MAP, but they are still comparable to those in use by the US Navy during World War II. The MAP-supported ships have an ultra-high-frequency (UHF) capability. The efficiency of the communication system is limited by a shortage of trained personnel.

Naval shore activities and most naval units are assigned to the four maritime zone commanders. Selected naval units, including the helicopter carrier Dedalo, the heavy cruiser Canarias, 10 destroyers, and most amphibious ships and craft, form a separate command, the Spanish Fleet. Overall operational coordination and military command of the fleet is exercised by the Commander of the Fleet, based at El Ferrol del Caudillo, aboard the cruiser Canarias. The fleet is organized into type commands, with the Escort Command based at El Ferrol del Caudillo and Cartagena, and the Amphibious Command based at Cadiz. Special task forces are organized under the fleet commander as required for operational exercises.

2. Strength, composition, and disposition

Ships of the Spanish Navy include 33 major combatants (one helicopter carrier, one heavy cruiser, 15 destroyers, one guided missile destroyer escort, nine destroyer escorts, and six submarines), 11 patrol ships, 27 mine warfare vessels, and nine amphibious ships. In addition, the navy has 82 minor craft (30 amphibious), eight auxiliaries, 43 helicopters, and four fixed-wing utility aircraft.

Nearly all ships are normally stationed in home waters, major combatant ships basing at El Ferrol del Caudillo and Cartagena. All submarines are based at Cartagena, an amphibious group is at Cadiz, and a motor torpedo boat squadron is based at Tarifa. Minesweepers are based at El Ferrol del Caudillo, Cadiz, and Palma (Majorca). Patrol vessels are based at all principal naval ports, and several are stationed in the Canary Islands. Except for two midget submarines, not included above, the navy has no reserve fleet; all other ships not maintained in an active status are undergoing overhaul, major repairs, or modernization.

Personnel strength is about 43,200 officers and enlisted men, including some 8,600 naval infantry,

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090014-1