The Spanish mini-aircraft carrier Juan Carlos, after co-training with the Greek Armed Forces as first revealed by the Pentapostagma, is now heading to Alexandretta, Turkey, in order to assist operations in the earthquake-stricken areas of the neighboring country.
It is typical that the Turkish media write about it: "ANADOLU's brother, Juan Carlos, is on his way to support Turkey. The Spanish Navy's amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I is its way to Turkey for support. On the other hand, Spain also provides air support to Turkey.
While the wounds of the 2 earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, the largest natural disaster the Republic of Turkey has experienced, are trying to heal, many countries are sending search and rescue personnel and humanitarian aid material to Turkey. International aid is generally sent to Adana by military transport planes.
Spain, which has sent search and rescue personnel with 2 military transport aircraft, one of which is an A400M, to Turkey, announced that the amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I and the amphibious operations ship Galicia are heading to Turkey.
Launched from Spain, the Juan Carlos I is quite similar to the Amphibious Assault Ship TCG ANADOLU, which was recently acquired by the Turkish Navy but is still undergoing trials. The design of the TCG ANADOLU is heavily based on the Juan Carlos I ship.
Therefore, it is estimated that the Juan Carlos I, complete with operating rooms and a flight deck where aerial vehicles can take off and land, will be sent to Alexandretta.
In the meantime, the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, confirming the news revealed by Pentapostagma in a related announcement, states: "From Friday 03 February to Saturday 04 February 2023, the first phase of co-education under the name "DEDALO 23" took place in the wider marine area northwest of Crete by the Hellenic Armed Forces with the Spanish Navy (Spanish Navy Expeditionary Strike Group – SP ESG), which consists of the Amphibious Operations Aircraft Carrier ESPS JUAN CARLOS I, the Frigate ESPS BLAS DE LEZO, the Amphibious Operations Ship ESPS GALICIA and the General Support Ship ESPS CANTABRIA.
This joint training is part of the wider planning of the Greek Armed Forces in terms of the international cooperation of the Hellenic Armed Forces and contributed to the promotion of the level of operational readiness, combat capability, interoperability and cooperation between the participants in a bilateral and allied context.
The Hellenic Armed Forces participated in the joint training with personnel and means of the three Branches of the Armed Forces, as well as the newly created Special Warfare Command (SWCA) of the Greek Armed Forces, as below:
From the Army with 2 AH-64A Attack Helicopters, 1 CH-47D Transport Helicopter and 1 UH-1H Helicopter.
From the Navy with 1 Submarine, 1 Frigate with its organic Helicopter and 1 Unorthodox Warship.
From the Air Force with 4 F-16 Fighter Aircraft.
From the Faculty with 1 Special Operations Department of the Naval Special Operations Department (TNEE).
From the Warships of the Spanish Navy attempted 8 Fighter Aircraft AV-8B.
During the co-training, complex interdisciplinary advanced operational scenarios were performed as follows:
Air Combat between different types of Aircraft (Dissimilar Air Combat Training – DACT).
Surface Warfare Exercise (Surfex).
Combined Anti-Submarine Exercise (CASEX).
Naval Advanced Maneuver Exercises (Miscellaneous Exercise – MISCEX).
Execution of Slow Mover Protection (SLOMO PROTECT) air scenarios.
Naval High Schools of communications and supply at sea.
Execution of Close Air Support (CAS) scenarios by F-16 and AV-8B Fighter Aircraft with indication from Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC)".
The Juan Carlos will return to the Aegean towards the end of the month for new joint training with the Greek armed forces.
