Lazaga class patrol vessel
Encyclopedia
The Lazaga class consists of a series of midsize patrol vessels for coastal and Exclusive Zone
patrol, built by the Spanish National Bazán shipyards (now Navantia
) for the Spanish Navy
and the Moroccan Navy. Two of the spanish units were later transferred to the Colombian Navy.
Based on the German Type 107 (Lürssen
FBP-57) vessels, the hull of the first unit was built in Germany
and the rest were built in San Fernando, Cádiz, in a similar way to that of the , in 1976-77. A second batch of 4 units was built in 1980-82 for the Moroccan Navy, which were slightly different from the initial units in armament and navigational systems, as they included missile capability (Exocet MM-40), although that was later removed.
about the reasons for their decommissioning; some of the reasons presented included lack of endurance and lack of a helicopter capability. It seems, however, that the navy was using the ships for roles more complex than those initially designed for. Under its initial German design, the ships were designed for fast attack by the Deutsche Marine as fast attack ships using Exocet missiles in the Baltic Sea
, allowing for quick return to their bases. In Spain, that was their initial use as well, and they included a modern targeting system Signaal (now Thales
) WM-22, similar to that used in the (WM-25) and in the (WM-28). Unfortunately, budgetary restrictions did not allow that plan to be fully completed and they were not fitted with missile capability in the end, which left them stripped of one of their most important capabilities.
The creation of the Maritime service of the Civil Guard
only speedied their demise in the Spanish Navy, since many small and midsize boats were decommissioned from the navy as some of the coast guard functions were transferred to the new service.
Some of their systems, including the Oto Melara
76/62 cannon, the diesel engines and the surface search radar were dismounted and used as spare parts for the Descubierta class corvettes which shared those systems.
In 2008, two of the Moroccan vessels were upgraded in Cartagena, Spain
for an estimated amount of 10 million
Exclusive Economic Zone
Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
patrol, built by the Spanish National Bazán shipyards (now Navantia
Navantia
Navantia, formerly Bazán or IZAR, is a Spanish shipbuilding firm, which offers its services to both military and civil sector. It is the fifth largest shipbuilder in Europe, and the ninth largest in the world with shipyards all over Spain....
) for the Spanish Navy
Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
and the Moroccan Navy. Two of the spanish units were later transferred to the Colombian Navy.
Based on the German Type 107 (Lürssen
Lürssen
Lürssen is a German shipbuilding company based in Bremen-Vegesack.Lürssen designs and constructs yachts, naval ships and special vessels...
FBP-57) vessels, the hull of the first unit was built in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the rest were built in San Fernando, Cádiz, in a similar way to that of the , in 1976-77. A second batch of 4 units was built in 1980-82 for the Moroccan Navy, which were slightly different from the initial units in armament and navigational systems, as they included missile capability (Exocet MM-40), although that was later removed.
Spain
Their early retirement from the Spanish Navy prompted an inquiry in the spanish senateSpanish Senate
The Senate of Spain is the upper house of Spain's parliament, the . It is made up of 264 members: 208 elected by popular vote, and 56 appointed by the regional legislatures. All senators serve four-year terms, though regional legislatures may recall their appointees at any time.The last election...
about the reasons for their decommissioning; some of the reasons presented included lack of endurance and lack of a helicopter capability. It seems, however, that the navy was using the ships for roles more complex than those initially designed for. Under its initial German design, the ships were designed for fast attack by the Deutsche Marine as fast attack ships using Exocet missiles in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, allowing for quick return to their bases. In Spain, that was their initial use as well, and they included a modern targeting system Signaal (now Thales
Thales
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus in Asia Minor, and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Many, most notably Aristotle, regard him as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition...
) WM-22, similar to that used in the (WM-25) and in the (WM-28). Unfortunately, budgetary restrictions did not allow that plan to be fully completed and they were not fitted with missile capability in the end, which left them stripped of one of their most important capabilities.
The creation of the Maritime service of the Civil Guard
Civil Guard (Spain)
The Civil Guard is the Spanish gendarmerie. It has foreign peace-keeping missions and maintains military status and is the equivalent of a federal military-status police force. As a police force, the Guardia Civil is comparable today to the French Gendarmerie, the Italian Carabinieri and the...
only speedied their demise in the Spanish Navy, since many small and midsize boats were decommissioned from the navy as some of the coast guard functions were transferred to the new service.
Some of their systems, including the Oto Melara
Oto Melara
Oto Melara is an Italian defence company with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. It was founded in 1905 as a joint venture of Vickers and Terni. During World War I, Vickers Terni produced many weapons with calibre 40 mm and upwards. In 1929 the company was renamed Odero Terni Orlando with the...
76/62 cannon, the diesel engines and the surface search radar were dismounted and used as spare parts for the Descubierta class corvettes which shared those systems.
Morocco
Some of the systems, including the 76/62 Oto melara cannons, their targeting systems were ceded to the Moroccan Navy .In 2008, two of the Moroccan vessels were upgraded in Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
for an estimated amount of 10 million
Colombia
Two of these boats were transferred to the Colombian Navy in 1997, where they served until 2009 when they were finally disposed of and sunk as part of the "Pelícano II" training exercises .Ships of the class
| # | Country | Name | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lazaga (P-01) | Scrapped; | |||
| 2 | Alsedo (P-02) | 1977 | Scrapped | ||
| 3 | Cadarso (P-03) | Sold to Colombian Navy | |||
| ARC Jorge Enrique Márquez Durán | 1997 | 2011 | Retired and awaiting final disposition. | ||
| 4 | Villaamil (P-04) | | 1977 | Scrapped | ||
| 5 | Bonifaz (P-05) | Scrapped | |||
| 6 | Recalde (P-06) | 1977 | Sold to Colombian Navy | ||
| ARC Capitán Pablo José de Porto | 1997 | 2009 | Retired and sunk as part of training exercises | ||
| 7 | Commandant Al Khattabi (304) | Active | |||
| 8 | Commandant Boutouba (305) | Active | |||
| 9 | Commandant El Harty (306) | Active | |||
| 10 | Commandant Azouggarh (307) | Active |