Audaz class Frigate (1955)

DDEs before 1955: Audaz, Osado, Meteoro, Furor, Rayo, Ariete, Temerario, Intrépido, Relámpago (1953-1982)

The Audaz class had a rather unique story. Built by Bazán for the Spanish Navy they were initially a Spanish version of the French interwar “Le Fier” class torpedo boats. But during their long construction and through redesigns and operational life they were classified successively as Torpedo Boats, Submarine Chasers, Fast Frigates and ASW Destroyers. They formed the 31st Escort Squadron in Ferrol, but were ill-prepared for the Atlantic due to their small size, lack of stability and machinery issues. They took part in many exercises notably later with the US Navy and NATO countries but were all relocated to Cartagena in the Mediterranean after the loss of the Ariete, and gradully saw less service until being decommissioned in the 1970s.

Development

After the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939, Franco started a plan to maintain the interwar fleet he had, including ex-Republican ships captured, and started a modernization and construction program. Among these were the Alava class destroyers, Pizarro class submarines, Bidasoa class minesweepers, and D class submarines. There could not be any negociations with France or Britain given their relative support to the Republican cause to provide a design, and yet the Spanish Navy wanted a class of torpedo boats designed for the Mediterranean in complement to this naval plan. The fall of France gave a new opportunity.

In June 1940 the Germans seized the new Le Fier class TBs in constructon at the time. Three had been already launch, other were in the process to be so? They were eventually scuttled incomplete and falling low in priority and due to shortages for the Kriegsmarine, but full sets of plans obtained at AC de Bretagne and AC de la Loire were provided the Spanish Navy.

The project was however too complicated at that stage for the capacity of Spanish Naval industry still, especially with regard to the machinery. Another issue that rapidly rose was their design, going all the way back to 1937. In the end only four of the class were completed according to the original design, but it took thirteen years of effort in isolation. That is until US attitude changed on Spain due to its strategic location and a Modernization Program was drawn up with the collaboration of the United States after 1953 agreements.

Their modernisation made them relevant on paper with a good ASW suite as escorts, radars, sonars and an adequate anti-aircraft defence. But their original machinery was kept and remained troublesome for their whole service. The loss of Ariete in an Atlantic storm was directly inputed to the machinery’s failure. This led to a relocation to the Mediterranean and a shortened service in the end. Their operational life overall was between 10 and 17 years of service after modernisation. This failure mirrored that of the Alava and Oquendo, and were clear consequence of the industrial backwardness produced by the Civil War, Second World War and postwar Franco’s international isolation. This was also the result of Franco’s government’s lack of foresight, having ambitious plans but means to realize them.

Design of the class

The final Audaz design as exposed ay the Ferrol National Naval Museum.

Hull and general design

The Audaz class originally followed the Le Fiet design, being already large as torpedo boats, at 93.9 metres (308 ft 1 in) long overall for 90.0 metres (295 ft 3 in) between perpendiculars. Their beam was 9.4 metres (30 ft 10 in) and draught 3 metres (9 ft 10 in). Displacement rose to 1,124 tonnes (1,106 long tons) standard (compared to 1010t/1337 for the original Le Fier design) and 1,498 tonnes (1,474 long tons) full load. After 1950s modernization it even rose to 1,247 tonnes (1,227 long tons) standard and 1,570 tonnes (1,550 long tons) full load. This extra tonnage made their top speed plummit down to 31.6 knots (58.5 km/h; 36.4 mph) while their revised complement rose from 178 to 191 in 1971 and even 199 in 1979.

The Le Fier class looked like an elaboration on the 680t Melpomène class launched in 1935-37. Like the former, it had a simple design with twin mounts fore and aft, a forecastle about 1/3 of the overall lenght, an enclosed and open bridge above, two funnels, twin axial TTs, short pole formast and smaller aft mast, small quarterdeck structure on which sat the aft mount and telemeters fore and aft as well as two light projectors.

Powerplant

Originally the Le Fier class had two shafts Parsons or Rateau-Bretagne steam turbines fed by three Indret boilers for a 30,800 hp output and 30 knots. Of course when inherited by Spain, the Parsons were out of question and only a few Rateau-Bretagne sets, were available, but not Indret boilers.
The original machinery layout was modified, with alternative boiler and engine rooms to cope with flooding issues. Instead of Indret, Spain went for three FCM La Seyne 3-drum boilers. They generated steam at 3,400 kilopascals (500 psi), 375 °F (191 °C). The turbines sets were not enough for the whole class. It’s likely the ones already fitted on some Le Fier class ships plus spares were recuperated.

Instead of Rateau-Bretagne geared steam turbines,new sets had to be replicated in Spain. SECN was in fact mastering production of French turbines and boilers and construction was delayed and until the mid-1950s they just could not produce a machinery reliable. The new turbines were still rated at 23,000 kilowatts (30,800 shp) for a top speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) presumably on light displacement. They carried 290 tons of oil for a range of 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph). They were down to 900 nautical miles (1,700 km; 1,000 mi) at full speed, 33 knots as calculated after trials. In service while fully loaded they were down to c31 knots. According to photos, the round bridge was typical of French designs of the time. Both funnels were capped and slightly raked. When completed they obtained a German-provided radar according to photos, on top of a newly built lattice foremast.

Original Armament (1945)

The original Le Fier design included two twin gun mounts, one each fore and aft with 3.9 inches (100 mm)/40 DP modele 1930, and four twin Hotchkiss 13.2 mm Heavy Machine guns AA mounts plus two twin 21.7 inches or 550 mm torpedo tubes but no ASW grenades or sonar. This was basically an expansion on the Melpomene design, as the latter had single mounts, sine twin TT bank, two twin AA HMGs and a towed Ginocchio ASW torpedo.

As redesigned by the Germans, they were to be armed with three 105-millimetre (4.1 in)/45 shielded, standard SK C/32 dual-purpose guns all mounted aft. X was on deck, Y was on the rear structure, which was enlarged, superfiring, and Z was located on the same structure, turned forward. The forecastle concentrate AA for stability reasons.
These were four 37 mm (1.5 in)/83 FLAK SK C/30 anti-aircraft guns, shielded, one forward of the ship’s bridge and eight 20 mm (0.79 in)/65 FLAK C/38 anti-aircraft guns, including two on a superfiring arrangement on the forcastle. Instead of twin, they went for six 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes, now in two triple mounts, one between funnels and the other aft of the rear funnel. They aldo had four depht charge launchers aft and one rack at the stern, plus the capacity for 30 mines. Complement was 145 men as planned. Photo of the original design. I will not dwelve into details for this armament, which was short-lived, before they were modernized and rebuit on US standards.

Revised Design and Armament (1959)

From 1959, the US attitude changed towards Spain, notably because of the strategic location of Spain for its own bases and within NATO (this took an even greater importance after De Gaulle left NATO in 1966). US military aid (MDAP) financed the construction of the remaining five ships in limbo at Ferrol, to be completed to a revised and modern design as anti-submarine escorts. This included a completely new armament and sensors.

The four ones already completed, Audaz, Osado and Meteoro (ex-Atrevido), were already delivered and refitted to the new same new standard and thus returned in drydock for quite some time. Rayo was the last one of the old design, completed in 1956, followed by Rayo on the new one in 1960, Ariete in 1961, Temerario in 1964 and Intrépido, Relámpago in 1965. The last lingered in construction for …20 years. The Audaz class became as infamous as the Ocquendo class destroyers.

The design incorporated a brand enw superstructure on the weather deck, running all the way to the stern. The bridge structure was also rebuilt with a new enclosed struture, somewhat lighter than the former one and squared section. There were two utility boats under davits abaft the aft funnel, and stacked life raft in several places. It’s possible aluminium was used in some of these superstructure to spare weight. There were also reinforcement bulges amidships for longitudinal strenght and new counter keels. However they were still to frail for the Atlantic and budget limitations had them keeping their original powerplant, completely obsolete by 1970s standards and remained seriously overloaded.

Their original German-origin armament was dropped for NATO standard ordnance: They were fitted with a brand new Anti-aircraft armament, with the following:
-Two US 76 mm (3 in)/50 Mark 34 guns mounted aft like in the former design in a superfiring pair.
-Two 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors L/70 guns, one forward, one aft of the funnels.
Their ASW suite was completely redone, with the following:
-Two Hedgehog anti-submarine mortars at the prow and aft funnel
-Eight depth-charge throwers located aft along the sides of the new structure
-Two depth charge racks at the stern
-Two launchers 342 mm (13.5 in) Mark 32 anti-submarine torpedoes abaft the fore funnel.

Sensors

The modified ships received a new and larger lattice mast. On it was installed a MLA-1B air-search radar, an SPS-5B surface search radar and an SPG-34 fire control radar (+Mark 63 FCS), as well as a QHBa sonar in the hull.

Career of the Audaz class

All nine ships were originally laid down at the Sociedad Española de Construcción Naval (SECN) shipyard at Ferrol dockyard, in 1945. Financial problems postwar delayed construction. Audaz was not completed until 1953. Three were completed in 1956, the remainder in a revised arrangement from 1960 to 1965 and the first four underwent the same modernisation by the end of 1963. Ariete was famously wrecked in 1966 as she ran aground in a storm. The remaining ships left service after few years of useful service in the Mediterranea from 1972, and the last Intrépido in 1982.

D-38 Intrepido’s bow in heavy weather

Audaz was laid down on 26.9.1945, launched 24 January 1951 and commissioned 30 June 1953. She performed her sea trials between 5 and 6 September 1952 in Ferrol waters. Initially, she was assigned to the 31st Escort Squadron based in Ferrol with her sisters. In February 1955 she made a training cruise with the cruiser Canarias, destroyers José Luis Díez, Alcalá Galiano, Almirante Antequera, Císcar, Churruca and Gravina under Vice Admiral Felipe de Abarzazu y Oliva. In November 1964 during the combined ASW maneuvers “Hispania I” she suffered a radar breakdown, and had to receive spares at sea from the destroyer Liniers. After the loss of Ariete, like her sisters, she was transferred to Cartagena. But here, continuous propulsion and stability problems forced their premature decommission on September 16, 1974 after which she was scrapped.

Osado was laid down on 3.8.1945, launched on 4.9.1951 and completed on 26.1.1955, delivered by the Bazán to the Navy on January 25, 1955, in Ferrol. Initially she was assigned like the others to the 31st Escort Squadron based in Ferrol.
She was modernized under Spanish-American mutual defense agreements, and delivered on December 6, 1961. After the loss of Ariete she was transferred to Cartagena, but suffered like the others from constant propulsion and stability issues at sea. She was prematurely decommissioned on July 2, 1972 and scrapped afterwards.

Meteoro was laid down on 3.8.1945, launched on 4.9.1951 and completed on 30.11.1955. She had sea trials on June 29, 1955 in Ferrol and was commissioned on November 30, 1955. She remained assigned to the 31st Escort Squadron in Ferrol, Atlantic fleet. But like the others she suffered from heavy weather, rolled heavily. After the loss of Ariete like other sisters she was transferred to Cartagena in the Mediterranean Fleet. Howeve rlike her sisters, she was plagued by continuous propulsion issues and was prematurely decommissioned on September 16, 1974, scrapped.

Furor was laid down 3.8.1945, launched on 24.2.1955 and completed on 9.9.1960 under a revised design. She was assigned to the 31st Escort Squadron in Ferrol like her sisters, but after the loss of Ariete she was transferred to Cartagena. Same fate here. She was disappointng in service and their rebuild proved even more problematic at sea, so she decommissioned early, on August 18, 1974 and later scrapped.

Rayo was laid down on 3.8.1945, launched on 4.9.1951, completed on 26.1.1956. After trials in Ferrol, she was assigned to the Atlantic 31st Escort Squadron, based in Ferrol. Like her sisters, the loss of Ariete meant she was transferred to Cartagena. Like her sisters, her constant propulsion issues saw her decommissioned on August 12, 1974, scrapped.

Ariete was laid down on 3.8.1945, launched on 24.2.1955 and completed on 7.2.1961. She was delivered to the Navy on 7 February 1961, in Ferrol. She was assigned to the 31st Escort Squadron based in Ferrol likeher sisters. On 25 February 1966 however as she sailed from Ferrol to Cartagena, she was caught by a suddent storm with 12-metre (40 ft) waves. Trying to reach safety, she managed to reach the Cíes Islands off Vigo. But the wind shifted and she had an engine breakdown. Loosing powered, she was pushed back to Carnota, 60 kilometres to the north.

At this point, an oil tanker tried to two her but a crew member fell and drawn during attempts to attach the cable. The frigate Legazpi (F-42) also tried to tow her but failed, and one sailor lost an arm due to the shifting cable. Ariete, helpless, was eventually pushed ashore, runing aground 200 metres from the coast, from Ardeleiro Beach. The crew was evacuated and the ship abandoned. Later as the weather abated, she was visited and examined. But in betwee, tossed on the reefs, her hull broke in two. She was considered unrecoverable and a total construction loss. The city of Carnota brought help, saving the crew, and this erned recoignition by a government’s decree of 29 December 1966. The ship was stricken. It was clear afterwards the class was at risk in the Atlantic and this led to the relocation if the entire class in 1967 in the Mediterranean, whereas the 31st Escort Sqn. was dissolved.

Temerario was laid down on 14.7.1945, launched on 29.3.1960 and completed on 16.3.1964. She was delivered to the Navy in Ferrol and completed her sea trials. She was assigned to the 31st Escort Squadron, in Ferrol. In May 1969, she took part in rescue operations for the crew of a Grumman Albatross of the Air Force which crashed in the waters of Cabo de Gata. After the loss of the Ariete she was transferred to Cartagena like her sisters. The same issues having identical results, she was prematurely decommissioned on December 31, 1975 and scrapped.

Intrépido (D-38)’s stern while at anchor in Coruna Harbor

Intrépido was laid down on 14.7.1945, launched on 15.2.1961 and completed on 25.3.1965. She had her sea trials at Ferrol and like the others she was assigned to the 31st Escort Squadron in Ferrol. After the loss of the Ariete she was transferred to Cartagena but was the last to be decommissioned, on March 15, 1982 and later scrapped.

Relámpago was laid down on 14.7.1945, launched on 26.9.1961 and completed on 7.7.1965. She was assigned at first to the 31st Escort Squadron in Ferrol. After the loss of the Ariete she was transferred to Cartagena and was prematurely decommissioned on December 31, 1975, scrapped afterwards. By June 1976 while she was stripped down, several components were donated to Villanueva y Geltrú at the Casal del Mariner where they are still exhibited today.

Read More/Src

Books

Blackman, Raymond V. B. (1960). Jane’s Fighting Ships 1960–61. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.
Blackman, Raymond V. B. (1962). Jane’s Fighting Ships 1962–63. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.
Blackman, Raymond V. B. (1971). Jane’s Fighting Ships 1971–72. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.
Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1922–1946.
Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen, eds. (1995). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1947–1995.
Moore, John, ed. (1979). Jane’s Fighting Ships 1979–80. London: Jane’s Yearbooks.

Links

on alojados.revistanaval.com/
on todoavante.es: Relampago
on en.wikipedia.org/
web.archive.org navypedia.org
on secretprojects.co.uk

Model Kits

None found

3D

None found