The Galicia class spawned from the joint Enforcer design with Spain's lead ship being authorised on 29 July 1994.

[2] Within the ship there is 1,010 m2 (10,900 sq ft) of parking space for up to 130 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) or 33 main battle tanks (MBTs).

[3] Both ships have capacity for 700 t (690 long tons) of ammunition and stores spread out within the 3,500 m2 (38,000 sq ft) of cargo space between the storerooms, flight deck and hangar.

The Galicia class is equipped with KH 1007 air/surface search radar and AN/TPX-54 (V) Mk-XII (mode 4) identification friend or foe.

The LPD took part in the cleanup following the wreck of the tanker Prestige and the resulting oil spill from December 2002 to February 2003.

[1] In July 2003, Castilla transported the Spanish Legion to Ash Shuahyabah, United Arab Emirates as part of Operation IF, returning in September.

The ship was then sent to provide humanitarian aid to Haiti as part Operation Mar Caribe from October to December 2004.

[4] Castilla participated in the NATO military exercise Operation Loyal Mariner 2005, as the flagship of the sea elements.

[5] Spain sent Castilla to New Orleans as part of NATO's Hurricane Katrina relief operation in Louisiana, in mid-September 2005.

[11] Castilla left Naval Station Rota on 22 January, carrying 423 troops, and 4 helicopters, headed for Petit-Goâve, Haiti.