The BAM “Tornado” Patrols in the Operation Against Piracy in the Indian Ocean

One month after the BAM “Tornado” (P-44) departed from its base at the Military Arsenal of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Spanish Navy vessel is fully engaged in its mission. Among the most notable daily activities are friendly approaches or boardings of vessels in the area, aimed at gathering useful information to combat piracy, as well as various missions utilizing the helicopter-ship duo.

Onboard, there is always a work component dedicated to maintaining the training acquired to operate in this mission. This is why exercises are scheduled to simulate the different scenarios that may occur, thus ensuring preparedness for any unforeseen events.

Some of these exercises consist of repelling attacks from fast boats in narrow passages, combating fires in different compartments of the ship, and boarding vessels suspected of illicit activities.

After two weeks of transit to the operational area in the Indian Ocean and a stop in Crete for refueling, as well as passing through the Suez Canal, the BAM “Tornado” is fulfilling its assigned mission, reports the Spanish Navy. The deployment will last until mid-May. During this time, it will protect vulnerable merchant traffic, prevent acts of piracy, monitor fishing areas, and support other European missions.

In addition to the crew that makes up the ship (51, of which 40% are Canarians), the vessel has a flight crew (17) to maintain and operate a “Seahawk” helicopter, the best-equipped in the Navy, and eleven Marines as a security team.

Photo: Spanish Navy