The ship and the helicopter that provide support to a Spanish rock in North Africa

For centuries, Spain has maintained sovereignty over various territories located in North Africa, along with present-day Morocco.

The military contingent of Melilla shows its means to defend that Spanish city
The Spanish Army increases its arsenal in Ceuta with eight Santa Bárbara SIAC howitzers

Of these territories, three are attached to the coast. They are the autonomous city of Ceuta (the largest Spanish territory in Africa), the autonomous city of Melilla and the Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, which is the smallest territory of these three.

The Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera is located between the two cities mentioned above, specifically 117 kilometres east of Ceuta and 126 kilometres west of Melilla. This site has an area of ​​about 19,000 square metres and a maximum height of 87 metres.

This rock has belonged to Spain since 1564, although it had already been Spanish territory before that date. In the following centuries, the Moroccans tried to take it by force several times, sending armies that considerably outnumbered the Spanish garrison there, but they were always defeated and the Spanish flag has continued to fly there to the present day.

It should be noted that the Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera was once an island, but an earthquake in August 1930 connected this rock to the northern coast of Morocco. However, access to this Spanish square from the Moroccan side is closed. The rock has a helipad on its upper part, where there are also accommodations for the soldiers who guard this place.

The Rock of Vélez de la Gomera is closely linked to the 52nd Melilla Regular Group, as this unit of the Army is the one in charge of its custody. The emblem of this unit can be seen at the top of the rock. Organically, the rock depends on the General Command of Melilla (COMGEMEL) of the Army.

The Army's Airmobile Forces (FAMET) also play an important role here, specifically with the CH-47 Chinook heavy helicopters of the Helicopter Transport Battalion V (BHELTRA V), which are responsible for transporting the heaviest supplies and material to the rock.

This support work by the FAMET Chinooks is not done alone. The Spanish Navy periodically sends its auxiliary ship "Mar Caribe" A-101 to this rock, being the main unit in charge of providing everything necessary for the subsistence of the Spanish garrison of Vélez de la Gomera.

The photos that you can see in this post have been published in recent years by the Spanish Navy, and show the important task of support and supply by the Army and the Navy to that rock, a task that, together with the constant vigilance of the Regulars of Melilla, allows the Spanish Flag to continue flying there.

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Photos: Armada Española.