1.5 euro - Submarine Galerna

Period: Twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Length: 67.57m Beam: 6.8 m Maximum draught: 5.4 m. Propulsion: Diesel/electric. Weaponry: Four torpedo launcher tubes on the bow, with a stowage capacity for 16 weapons more (torpedoes or mines). Description: The Galerna submarine is the first of a series of four units built at the factory of Empresa Nacional Bazán, now Navantia, in Cartagena. With a view to replacing the Series 30 submarines (Guppy class in the US Navy), the Spanish Royal Navy set up a commission to analyse, amongst others, the German Types 209 and the French Q-259/ Agosta. Finally, the latter was chosen as it was considered to be pre-nuclear and more highly-developed. In 1975, the Spanish Royal Navy ordered the construction of two submarines based on the Agosta class: the S-71 and the S-72; and in 1977, the construction of another two, the S-73 and the S-74. They were all christened with the names of winds: Galerna (strong northwest wind), Sirocco, Mistral and Tramontana (north wind). The figures of the Tower of the Winds at the Agora in Athens provided the devices for their coats of arms (metopes). The keel on the Galerna (S-71) submarine was installed on September 5 1977; the vessel was set afloat on December 5 1981 and delivered to the Spanish Royal Navy on January 21 1983. Its first commanding officer was Álvaro Armada. The decommissioning of the Galerna was scheduled for 2016 but as there was a delay in the construction of Series 80, it was decided to undertake its fifth major careening, thereby lengthening its operative life to 2025. Galernas are assault submarines with the right features and equipment for combat against surface units. As they are extremely quiet, they are suitable for combat with other submarines. Main characteristics: 1,490 tonne surface displacement and 1,790 tonne immersion displacement; 14% floatability index. The number of crew may vary between 50 and 64. Maximum speed: 12.5 knots on the surface and 20 when immersed. Maximum height: 300 m. Sensors: long-range hydrophone group, directional active sonar, acoustic telemeter and radar. Electronic war and communication systems. Surface autonomy 9,000 miles at eight knots; immersion autonomy 350 miles at 3.5 knots with a cruiser engine. Capacity to carry food supplies for 45 days. Key events: The Galerna has taken part in countless national and NATO exercises; in anti-terrorist operations in the Mediterranean; and in multinational submarine salvage exercises. On January 24 1983, it received the battle flag in Barcelona. In 2004, it travelled to Stockholm to attend the commemoration of the Centenary of the Swedish Submarine Corps and participate in a submarine salvage exercise, in which it had to lie on a seabed under fresh water of very low density. For the first time, a Spanish submarine was immersed in the waters of the Baltic Sea.