Spanish Navy Submarine Sinks Old Patrol Ship in Live-Fire Exercise
Listen to the story
The Spanish Navy's new submarine S-81 Isaac Peral has sunk an old patrol ship during a training exercise.
The patrol ship, called Infanta Elena, was retired and no longer in active service.
The submarine sank it with just one torpedo, a weapon designed to travel underwater and hit targets.
The exercise took place south of the Canary Islands, which belong to Spain.
This was a live-fire exercise, meaning real weapons were used instead of simulations.
The S-81 Isaac Peral is a new addition to the Spanish Navy's fleet.
Sinking an old ship like this allows the Navy to test real weapons in realistic conditions.
It also shows that the submarine's systems and torpedoes are working correctly.
Old military ships are sometimes used as targets once they are taken out of service.
This saves the cost of destroying them another way, and gives the military useful training.
The exercise is part of the Navy's effort to test its newest equipment.
The S-81 submarine is considered an important step forward for Spain's naval forces.
Vocabulary7 words
- submarine
- a ship that can travel under the water
- torpedo
- a weapon that moves underwater to hit a target
- Canary Islands
- a group of islands belonging to Spain
- live-fire exercise
- military training using real weapons
- fleet
- a group of ships belonging to one country or navy
- target
- something that a weapon is aimed at
- retired
- no longer used for active work
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A live-fire exercise 2. To test weapons and train crews 3. False
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Spanish Navy's new _____ S-81 Isaac Peral has sunk an old patrol ship during a training exercise.
The patrol ship, called Infanta Elena, was _____ and no longer in active service.
The submarine sank it with just one _____, a weapon designed to travel underwater and hit targets.
The exercise took place south of the _____, which belong to Spain.
This was a _____, meaning real weapons were used instead of simulations.
The S-81 Isaac Peral is a new addition to the Spanish Navy's _____.
Sinking an old ship like this allows the Navy to test real weapons in realistic conditions.
Old military ships are sometimes used as _____ once they are taken out of service.
Discussion questions
- Why might a navy choose to sink its own old ships instead of scrapping them?
- What do you think a live-fire exercise shows about a country's military capabilities?
- Do you think testing weapons this way is a good use of old equipment? Why or why not?
- What questions would you ask the Spanish Navy about this exercise?
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