Impressive Spanish naval review 500 years after the first circumnavigation of the world

@DefAviation ES 9·06·2022 · 20:33 0

On this day, on September 6, 1522, the Spanish Navy's ship "Victoria" completed the first circumnavigation of the world.

The Air Arm of the Spanish Navy in old photographs of the US National Archives
The 'Isaac Peral' S-81 sails for the first time with another Spanish Navy submarine

That historic milestone was made possible by the expedition started on August 10, 1519 by five ships ("Trinidad", "San Antonio", "Concepción", "Victoria" and "Santiago) commanded by Ferdinand Magellan, and after his death, by Juan Sebastián de Elcano. Spain was not only a pioneer with this expedition, but also for a long time: the second country to circumnavigate the world, England, took more than half a century to achieve this with Francis Drake's expedition between 1577 and 1580. In these 500 years, 15 ships of the Spanish Navy have made this long journey, the most recent in 2019 (the frigate "Méndez Núñez").

On the occasion of this anniversary, this morning the Spanish Navy held a naval review presided over by H.M. King Felipe VI from the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano". Aircraft from the 3rd, 5th, 9th and 10th squadrons and a total of 12 Navy ships have participated:

• The aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61.
• The amphibious assault ship "Galicia" L-51.
• The combat supply ship "Patiño" A-14.
• The frigate "Almirante Juan de Borbón" F-102, of the Álvaro de Bazán class.
• The frigates "Victoria" F-82, "Reina Sofía" F-84 and "Navarra" F-85, of the Santa María class.
• The maritime action ships "Tornado" P-44 and "Audaz" P-45.
• The patrol ship "Vigía" P-73, of the Serviola class.
• The patrol ship "Medas" P-26, of the Anaga class.
• The deep-sea tug "Mar Caribe" A-101.

In addition, a replica of the ship "Victoria" that made the first circumnavigation of the world also participated, as well as numerous civil vessels. The naval parade, which has had as its central point Sanlúcar de Barrameda (where the ship "Victoria" arrived 500 years ago) began at Punta Candor, in Rota, and ended south of Chipiona, at a distance of approximately four miles from the coast. After the naval review, the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano" went to the mouth of the Guadalquivir river, where a tribute was paid to those who died in the Magallanes-Elcano expedition together with the buoy that bears the name of the distinguished Basque sailor.

You can see below some photos of this naval magazine published by the Spanish Navy and by the Royal House.

H.M. the King at the time of his arrival aboard the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano" , before the start of the naval review.

Part of the crew of the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano" lined up on the deck.

The training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano" putting to sea to preside over the naval review.

The crew of the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano" forming up on the deck.

The Flag of Spain waving on the stern of the school ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano".

Crew members of the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano" forming on the masts of the ship.

Felipe VI wore the uniform of the Navy, in which he holds the rank of Captain General.

The King and other authorities greeting from the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano" to the vessels participating in the naval review.

The bow with the Mk.13 missile launcher of one of the "Santa María" class frigates a few moments before the start of the naval review.

The command bridge of one of the Navy ships before the start of the naval review.

An EAV-8B+ Harrier II Plus fighter from the 9th Squadron making a pass next to the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano".

The aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61 passing by the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano", while one of the Harrier II Plus fighters takes off from its flight deck.

An AB-212 Gato helicopter and two SH-60 Sea Hawks from the Aircraft Fleet participating in the naval review air parade. In the background appear, from left to right, the frigate "Navarra", the frigate "Victoria", the combat supply ship "Patiño", the amphibious assault ship "Galicia" and the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I".

Felipe VI aboard the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano", observing the civilian vessels that participated in the naval review.

Some of the civilian vessels that participated in this event.

Paying honors to the King as one of the ships of the naval review passes next to the "Juan Sebastián de Elcano".

In this photo we see two of the replicas of historical ships that participated in the naval review: the galleon "Andalucía" (on the left), a replica of one of the galleons of the 17th century Fleet of the Indies, and the ship "Victoria" (right), a replica of the ship that completed the first circumnavigation of the world in 1522. In the background we see several Spanish Navy ships. From right to left appear the frigate "Reina Sofía", the frigate "Almirante Juan de Borbón", the maritime action vessels "Tornado" and "Audaz" and the patrol ship "Vigía".

The King presiding over the naval review from the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano". One of the "Santa María" class frigates appears in the background.

The amphibious assault ship "Galicia" passing by the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano", followed by the combat supply ship "Patiño". At the stern of the "Elcano" there are replicas of the ship "Victoria" and the galleon "Andalucía".

Felipe VI, aboard the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano", observing the pass of an AB-212 helicopter and two SH-60 helicopters from the Aircraft Fleet. In the background appears the patrol ship "Vigía".

One of the "Santa María" class frigates (the "Reina Sofía", if I'm not mistaken) passing by the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano".

The frigate "Reina Sofía" with its crew trained throughout the length of the ship, paying honors to the King as she passes by the school ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano".

A Harrier II Plus fighter taking off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I", during the naval review.

Four Harrier II Plus fighters from the 9th Squadron making a pass next to the training ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano".

The amphibious assault ship "Galicia", followed by the supply ship "Patiño" and other vessels participating in the naval review.

The naval parade seen from the stern of the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I", with five Harrier II Plus fighters on its flight deck, with the pilots in the cockpits and ready to take off. In the background appear, from left to right, the amphibious assault ship "Galicia"; the combat supply ship "Patiño"; the frigates "Victoria", "Navarra", "Reina Sofía" and "Almirante Juan de Borbón"; and the maritime action ships "Tornado" and "Audaz".

Homage to those who died in the Magallanes-Elcano expedition aboard the school ship "Juan Sebastián de Elcano".