Spanish intelligence ship Alerta

Alerta is the only intelligence gathering ship operated by the Spanish Navy. It has been so since 1992 when the ship was bought from Germany. Prior to that the ship, then named Jasmund, had been operating for the Volksmarine until the German reunification.^[1][2][3]

Alerta in 2008
History
East Germany
Name	Jasmund
Builder	Neptunwerft
Commissioned	10 May 1985
Decommissioned	1992
Identification	D41
Fate	Sold to Spain in 1992
Spain
Name	Alerta
Cost	€43,200
Acquired	1992
Commissioned	21 December 1992
Identification	A-111
Motto	Quisquam in quo confidere
General characteristics
Class & type	Darss (Projekt 602)
Displacement	2,292 tonnes (full load) 1,800 tonnes (empty)
Length	76.5 m (251 ft 0 in)
Beam	12.3 m (40 ft 4 in)
Propulsion	1 × Bazán-Caterpillar 3606 2,760 hp (2,060 kW) 1 x variable-pitch propeller 1 x auxiliary electric engine
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range	11,000 nmi (20,000 km; 13,000 mi)
Complement	61
Sensors & processing systems	Kelvin Hughes 1106 surface and navigation radar
Armament	2 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Browning machine guns 2 × 7.62 mm (0.300 in) machine guns

According to the Spanish Navy, the ship is currently homed at Cartagena Naval Base, as a member of the Maritime Action Unit.^[4]

Mission

Official communications for the Spanish Navy lists the Alerta's mission as: "Logistic transport between national and international ports, as well as exercising sovereignty and protecting our national maritime interests".^[4]

However, given the nature of the ship's equipment, it is widely known that Alerta also performs eavesdropping missions mainly along the Maghreb analyzing electromagnetic signals between 1 and 40 GHz. Additionally, a modular electronic suit allows the ship to fulfill other missions for different branches of both the Spanish military and allied nations.^[5]

History

The Jasmund in 1986

The ship was the last of the five Darss-class transport ships build by Neptun Werft in East Germany during the 1980s. Later it was refurbished as an intelligence gathering ship for the Volksmarine. After the German Reunification the ship was mothballed and offered for sale or scrap.

Ecuador took interest in the ship but when de deal fell off the ship was offered to Spain who paid €24/tonne. It was brought to Gran Canaria where the ship was refurbished and given its current name. Since then it has been operating as an ELINT ship replacing the patrol craft Alsedo.^[6]

Future

Given the ship's age and technological limitations it has been widely speculated about its replacement in the near future. One particular project considered the refurbishment of a Meteoro-class offshore patrol vessel currently operating for the Spanish Navy into the ELINT and SIGINT roles the Alerta is currently fulfilling.^[7]