Discover life aboard the submarine S-71 ‘Galerna’

After several days of individual training in Mallorcan waters, the submarine S-71 ‘Galerna’, the first of the Spanish Navy’s ‘Agosta’ class submarines, will make a stop in Palma at the Naval Station of Porto Pí from April 25 to 27.

During its stop in Palma, the ‘Galerna’ is scheduled to hold two open house days: Friday, April 25, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Access is limited, and to visit the interior of the submarine it is necessary to have an attendance pass, which can be obtained through the Naval Command of Palma de Mallorca.

Due to space limitations, visits will be conducted in groups of no more than 15 to 20 people and will last approximately 20 minutes. Access must be made via a vertical ladder, and therefore boarding cannot be authorized for individuals with reduced mobility.

The guided visit will consist of a tour through different compartments of the vessel, where the missions and operational procedures of the submarine will be explained. This includes the exercises recently conducted in the Mediterranean Sea, where the mining of certain geographic areas was simulated in order to block the hypothetical passage of enemy ships, protect friendly access points, or control navigation routes.

Visitors without an attendance pass will be allowed to access the dock area to view the submarine and take photos from the outside. An information booth with brochures will be available at the access ramp.

The ‘Galerna’, based at the Cartagena Naval Arsenal, was built at the Bazán shipyards in Cartagena and carried out its first dive in July 1982. It measures 68 meters in length and 6.8 meters in beam. It can reach a maximum speed of 12 knots on the surface and 20.5 knots when submerged. Additionally, it has a provisions autonomy of 45 days. The submarine operates with a crew of 70 men and women, including 13 Officers, 23 Non-Commissioned Officers, and 34 Sailors.

Among its missions are advanced protection of a naval force against surface and/or submarine threats, intelligence gathering patrols, reconnaissance and early warning patrols, covert infiltration of special operations teams, mining operations, and other tasks related to denying the use of the sea in defense of national sovereignty and interests.

The vessel is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Marcial Gamboa García de Lomas. Lt. Cmdr. Gamboa received his commission as Ensign in 2008. Since then, he has served on the frigate ‘Victoria,’ the submarines ‘Galerna’ and ‘Tramontana,’ the patrol vessel ‘Infanta Cristina,’ and the Evaluation and Certification Agency in Cartagena (CEVACO-EVACART). He also commanded the patrol vessel ‘Tagomago’ in 2017/18.