USS Noble

USS Noble is a memorial anchor standing in Colmenar Viejo, marking the story of a United States Navy vessel that later sailed under the Spanish flag.

What Exactly Is This Landmark?

The name "USS Noble" actually belongs to two different ships in US Navy history. The first entered service in 1861 and became part of the so-called Stone Fleet, a group of aging sailing vessels deliberately scuttled in 1862 to block Confederate harbor entrances during the American Civil War. The second ship to carry the name, designated APA-218, entered service in 1944 as an attack transport built to carry troops and equipment during amphibious operations in the closing years of World War II.

Once its American career ended, APA-218 was not scrapped. In 1964 the US Navy transferred the ship to Spain, where it continued in service under a new name, Aragón, with the hull designation TA-11. The anchor now displayed in Colmenar Viejo comes from this very vessel — a concrete, physical trace of a history that spans two navies and two continents.

How Do You Get There?

Colmenar Viejo sits in the northern part of the greater Madrid region, connected to the capital by interurban bus lines and the M-607 road. The anchor stands in a public space within the town, so the easiest way to reach it is on foot as part of a walk through the town center, where it forms a natural stop on a route linking other local sites of historical interest.

What Will You See?

The centerpiece is the ship's metal anchor, set up as an open-air memorial. It is typically accompanied by an information plaque explaining the object's origin and its connection to a vessel that served under both the American and Spanish flags. It is an unusual find: a local memento of a large World War II-era landing transport, displayed far from any coastline, in an inland town of the Madrid region.

When Is the Best Time to Visit?

Since the anchor stands outdoors and is accessible year-round, there is no season that rules out a visit. Spring and autumn tend to be the most pleasant, when temperatures in the Madrid region are milder than during the peak of summer, making a walk through town more comfortable.

Worth Knowing

The story of this anchor shows how ships built for one conflict can go on to serve other navies for decades afterward. Attack transports of the type USS Noble belonged to were mass-produced during World War II for amphibious operations across the Pacific and in Europe, and many were later handed over to allied navies once the war ended — as happened here, when the ship continued serving Spain for years under the name Aragón.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was USS Noble (APA-218)? It was an American attack transport commissioned in 1944 and used to carry troops and equipment during amphibious operations.

Why was the ship transferred to Spain? In 1964 the US Navy handed the vessel over to Spain, where it continued in service under the name Aragón, with the hull designation TA-11.

Was this the only ship named USS Noble? No. An earlier American ship of the same name existed between 1861 and 1862, serving as part of the Stone Fleet.

Is there a fee to see the anchor in Colmenar Viejo? No. As an open-air monument in a public space, it can be visited free of charge at any time.