LPD Galicia Program
The project definition phase was a joint undertaking with the Royal Netherlands Navy; the subsequent construction of the ship (Rotterdam and Galicia classes) was funded by the Dutch and Spanish navies independently. In mid-1990, the Spanish government indicated an interest for a ship similar to the Rotterdam. In June 1992, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two countries, entailing, among other matters, development of a joint design that would be wider in order to accommodate the Spanish landing vehicles inside in the dock. Intention of a common communications and radar fit was also expressed. A joint project office was set up in Madrid, handling both the ATS/LPD program and the auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel (AOR) that had been started earlier, and shares some program elements as well as a common philosophy with the amphibious ships.
Project definition began in January 1993 and was completed in December 1993. On 30 June 1993, the Dutch parliament authorized the beginning of contract negotiations with Royal Schelde shipyard, with intention to order one LPD, while Bazan had been earmarked as the Spanish contractor from the beginning of the project. At this time, the project about eight months behind schedule, but it was believed that the delay would be compensated for by quick establishment of a direct partnership between the two shipyards assigned to the project.
Talks between the Dutch marines and the local contractor started at the end of 1993, and a basic agreement was reached in April 1994. The contract was signed on 25 April, kicking off the detailed design and system engineering phase. The Spanish government authorized the purchase of one ship in July 1994. Almost a year later, in April 1995, the first steel was cut on the Dutch version of these LPDs, designating the start of actual production of this ship design.
The first ship built for the Spanish Navy was named the Galicia, which was first used in Spain for the 1927 cruiser Principe Alfonse, also known as the Libertad from 1931 to the end of the Civil War. Decommissioned in 1970, the cruiser was followed a year later by another Galicia, this time being the new name for the ex-USN LSD San Marcos.
By 1996 it appeared that if a second Galicia class unit were built, funding could possibly be obtained from civilian ministries (National Health, Public Works, and the Interior), as opposed to coming from the Department of Defense. This was thought to be feasible by justifying the purchase of the ship through "social" or "humanitarian" reasons, emphasizing the ship's capabilities for non-military rescue and emergency operations. This was prompted by the example of the Italian Navy, which had earmarked its San Giorgio class LPD for civilian relief operations in peacetime, but manned by the Navy. In times of national emergency, the ship is assigned to military service.
In May 1997, the Spanish government authorized the construction of a second ship of this class, the L52. Funding for the second ship (L52) eventually was covered by the sale of nine AV-8S Matador aircraft to Thailand. The cost of the second ship was pegged at only Ptas13 billion (US$78 million), as opposed to the Ptas22.243 billion that had been laid out for the first-of-class. The cost of the ship was divided over the period of four fiscal years (starting 1997) to the completion of the ship.
The Galicia class LPD is constructed by preassembled modular construction technique. The ship is divided into 20 segments, or modules, which are prefitted with the structural elements, equipment, plumbing and wiring. The modular construction method has played a major role in saving overall building costs.
In late 1998, the shipbuilder indicated that it would be able to speed up the construction of the second-of-class to 32 months, from the 44 months it took to build the Galicia, thanks to the advances in the construction technique and the modular structure of the ship. However, while the design underwent changes which partly offset the shortening of the building period, the Navy also said that it was not prepared to advance the payments to accommodate a faster delivery schedule.
The cost of the second ship was estimated at only Ptas13 billion, as opposed to the Ptas22.243 billion (about US$150 million) for the first-of-class. This was presumably due to the uneven distribution of the necessary development and design costs saddled on the first-of-class.
Variants/Upgrades
The 1999 contract included an option for further units for other vessels contingent on trial use. A third ship of either this class, or a modified version of it, was discussed. Bazan has constructed a scale model in which a full-length flight deck has been built on the same basic hull as on the Galicia class ships. No decision was initially made on whether this will be the design that the Spanish Navy will adopt for its third amphibious landing craft. It was apparent, though, that the current trend of increasing capabilities in the littoral range supports the acquisition of a multi-role vessel such as the LHD concept.
Enforcer
A family of similar designs based on the same concept as the Galicia class and its Dutch sister ship, the Rotterdam class. This is being offered by Royal Schelde to export markets. These ships are intended to offer entry-level amphibious lift capability at reduced cost to countries with such requirements. The designs range in displacements from 9,180 to 14,000 tonnes and the transport capability ranges from 501 troops to 613.
LHD
A through-deck amphibious assault ship (LHD) had been designed as a possible successor to the two Galicia class LPDs. The new design would retain the Galicia's well dock but would have a full-length deck with a ski jump, making possible the use of AV-8B Harrier Plus STOVLs. Additionally, there would be four landing spots for helicopters. The concept of such a design was made public in late 1998, with a model being exhibited at Bazan's head office in Madrid.
The ship was expected to carry at least four Harriers and four Sea Hawk helicopters. As for the electronic fit, it is expected to have a 3-D radar and two separate tracking and illumination radars (STIR). There is a possibility that it would thus support a vertically launched Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) system, in addition to the Meroka CIWS.
The LHD would be an amalgamation of concepts realized on both the Galicia class and the Principe de Asturias helicopter carriers, a version of which was sold to Thailand as well. This through-deck design will be the successor to the Galicia class in the Spanish Navy, in lieu of any more Galicias being procured.
Rotterdam Class
In the early 1980s, the Royal Netherlands Navy acknowledged it was facing a need for amphibious transport capacity. Work on a preliminary design began in 1984, and staff requirement for the new vessel was formalized in December 1988. In the short term, the solution was seen as using commercially operated STUFT (Ships Taken Up From Trade) vessels of NATO partner countries. These ships provide to a high degree the amount of flexibility that is required for military transport applications, particularly by the Marines. Meanwhile, NATO began making plans to expand the organization's amphibious transport capacity.
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