Spanish Patrol Boat Centinela

''Centinela'' (P-72) is a of the Spanish Navy built in 1990. It conducts maritime security operations in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Guinea.

Description

''Centinela'' has a displacement of 1,200 tons. It is long, has a beam of , and a draft of . It is powered by two Bazán-MTU marine diesel engines which provide a total of roughly 4,000 horsepower. The ship's two variable-pitch propellers allow it to cruise at 9.1 knots, and have a maximum speed of 16.2 knots. The ship is also equipped with two cargo cranes, carries two 6.5-meter ''Valiant''-class rigid hulled inflatable boats, and has enough provisions for a 25-day endurance.

''Centinela'''s armament consists of a single 3-inch gun, two mounted 12.7mm Browning machine guns, and an MG-42 machine gun.

The crew of ''Centinela'' consists of 46 personnel, including eight officers, ten non-commissioned officers, and 28 seamen.

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of ''Centinela'' consists of two crossed carbine rifles, flanked by castles connected by a chain. In its center is a '' Dracaena draco'' tree, endemic to the ship's first home port in Las Palmas, Canary Islands.

Mission

''Centinela'' is an oceanic patrol vessel that operates primarily in Spanish maritime sovereignty, especially within the country's exclusive economic zone. It was designed to operate in open ocean even in adverse weather conditions. The ship conducts surveillance and maritime security missions, such as reporting on suspicious activities, combating violations of maritime law, and maintaining national security. In addition to this role, ''Centinela'' also acts as a training ship for naval school Midshipmen, provides a Spanish naval presence in foreign ports, and participates in public affairs missions.

History

''Centinela'' was built in Ferrol by Navantia in 1990. The ship was launched in October of that year and began sea trials on 27 August 1991. Initially, her home port was in Las Palmas, Canary Islands; she received her battle ensign from the town council on 9 July 1995. In 2011, her home port moved to Ferrol, Galicia.

''Centinela'' has been involved with numerous international training exercises, especially with coastal African countries. In 2010, the ship led flight deck training with ships from Senegal and the United States conducting maneuvering, firefighting, and replenishment on board ''Centinela''. Sailors from Togo and Tanzania also participated in the training. In 2015, ''Centinela'' again conducted joint exercises with Senegal, this time in Dakar, focusing on knowledge sharing between Navy divers. On 10 October 2017, the ship joined French and African vessels in anti-piracy training as a part of the Grand African Navy Exercise for Maritime Operations.

In 2017, ''Centinela'' was involved in an incident on 4 July during which it was closely intercepted by HMS ''Sabre'' in British Gibraltar's territorial waters, which strobed lights and instructed the vessel to leave.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Centinela
Patrol vessels of the Spanish Navy
Ships built in Spain
1990 ships