Spain’s submarine sinks former navy ship with one torpedo

Spain’s newest submarine has sunk a former Navy patrol ship with one torpedo, in a striking test of the country’s long delayed submarine programme.

The S 81 Isaac Peral hit the decommissioned Infanta Elena during the Spanish Navy’s SINKEX 26 exercise in Atlantic waters near the Canary Islands. The torpedo struck the ship’s stern and sent it beneath the surface. The exercise gave the Navy a chance to test the submarine’s weapons in a live firing operation.

A major milestone after years of delays

Built by Navantia in Cartagena, the Isaac Peral is the first submarine in Spain’s S 80 class. The programme was approved in 2003, with the first submarine originally expected to be delivered in 2011. Design problems, budget issues and supply delays pushed the schedule back, and the Isaac Peral entered service at the end of 2023.

The submarine did not act alone during the exercise. It worked alongside two frigates, a patrol ship, three Harrier aircraft, a helicopter, a surveillance drone and a maritime patrol aircraft. The operation tested how the S 81 could coordinate with other Navy units in conditions close to a real mission.

There is also a British link to the programme. UK company Babcock supplied weapon handling and launch equipment for Spain’s S 80 submarines. The successful test has therefore drawn interest from British defence coverage as well as Spanish media.

The target ship was cleaned before sinking

The Infanta Elena had been taken out of service before becoming the target. Spain’s Navy says it removed fuel, oil and other potentially polluting materials before the exercise. The area was assessed in advance, with monitoring intended to protect whales, dolphins and other protected species. armada.defensa.gob.es

The test adds a new chapter to the S 81’s operational record. EWN previously reported on the submarine’s return to Cartagena after its first NATO mission.