The Spanish Navy (in Spanish, Armada Española) is the navy of Spain.

History

The Spanish Armada (Old Spanish: Grande y Felicissima Armada, "large and most fortunate fleet"; but called by the British, with ironic intention, la Armada Invencible, "the Invincible Fleet") was a fleet sent by King Philip II of Spain in 1588 in a failed attempt to bring an end to his war with England by forcing the English government to a peace advantageous to Spain. It was the largest battle of the Anglo-Spanish War, the first of several invasion attempts in the course of the war, and one of the most famous episodes in English history. The Spanish fleet was scattered by an English fire ship attack sent in by Francis Drake in the Battle of Gravelines, battered by storm, and driven back to Spain.

Modern navy

Today's Armada is a modern navy with ships as aircraft carriers, modern frigates (F-100 class) with the Aegis system, F-80 frigates, F-70 frigates, Amphibious ships and plenty of other smaller ships, including a oceanographic research ship. Spanish Marine Corps, called Infantería de Marina belongs to Armada too.

Ship classes

• Alvaro de Bazán class frigates

External links

• Official website (in Spanish)
• http://todoababor.webcindario.com/ (Spanish Naval History)
• http://www.revistanaval.com/
• El Arma Submarina Española (unofficial website)
• Andrew Toppan's Haze Gray and Underway page for the Spanish Navy