ES Hernan Cortez (L-41)
The Former
USS Barnstable County
(LST-1197)

The Spanish Navy ship Hernan Cortez (L-41) at anchor - Circa 1995-1996. Location of photo unknown.

Photo courtesy of Peter Burinskas

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A Satellite view of the port of Rota, Spain.
(Click on northern harbor indicated by red arrow)

Photo courtesy of Craig Baugh

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From Facebook: Hernan Cortez officially decommissioned from the Spanish Navy Chief of Logistic Support, Bay of Cadiz, Adm. Jose Angel Pita Rodrigo, presided over a ceremony in which the disembarkation ship Hernán Cortés was decommissioned. Nov 12, 2009, officially struck from the Spanish Navy Registry. Over the years, Hernán Cortés (L 41) and her sister ship, Pizarro (L 42), have participated in peace keeping operations in the former Yugoslavia and Albania, as well as humanitarian missions in Central America. Hernán Cortés also conducted numerous national and international exercises, such as Destined Glory and Tapón with the Spanish Marines. She has also been part of the Military Naval training cruise and has collaborated with the Spanish Army as support for military logistic transportation. This ship belongs to the Newport class and was built at the National Steel and Ship Building Company in San Diego and commissioned as USS Barnstable County (LST-1197). It was launched in 1971 and in May 1972 was assigned to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet amphibious force. It was transferred August 1994 to the Spanish Navy through the Security Assistance Program, foreign military sale. Cmdr. Alejandro Herrero Pita assumed command May 10, 2008 and is the last of the Cortés’ 10 commanders.

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Photo courtesy of Craig Baugh

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In this photo, all of the ship's aluminum superstructure has been removed.

Photo courtesy of Craig Baugh

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|Top |Return |Rota from Space |Final Decommissioning |

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