 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Spanish aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(August 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
_during_Dragon_Hammer_92.jpg) Príncipe de Asturias during the joint exercise Dragon Hammer '92. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Spain | |
| Name | Príncipe de Asturias |
| Namesake | Príncipe de Asturias |
| Ordered | 29 May 1977 |
| Builder | Bazán,Ferrol |
| Cost | US$285 million (1993)[1] |
| Laid down | 8 October 1979 |
| Launched | 22 May 1982 |
| Sponsored by | Queen Sofía of Spain |
| Commissioned | 30 May 1988 |
| Decommissioned | 6 February 2013 |
| Homeport | Naval Station Rota |
| Identification | Pennant number: R-11 |
| Fate | Scrapped Aliaga 29 August 2017 |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Príncipe de Asturias-classlight aircraft carrier |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 195.9 m (643 ft) |
| Beam | 24.3 m (80 ft) |
| Draught | 9.4 m (31 ft) |
| Propulsion | 2 × Bazan-General Electric LM2500+gas turbines inCOGAG configuration, one shaft, 46,400 shp |
| Speed | 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) |
| Range | 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement | 830 (total); 600 ship crew, 230 air crew |
| Sensors & processing systems | |
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament | |
| Aircraft carried | 29 fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft |
| Aviation facilities | 12°ski jump 46.5 m (153 ft) in length |
Príncipe de Asturias, originally namedAlmiranteCarrero Blanco, was alight aircraft carrier and formerflagship of theSpanish Navy. She was built inBazán's Shipyards and delivered to the Spanish Navy on 30 May 1988.
Spain has operated aircraft carriers since the 1920s, initially with theseaplane tenderDédalo and later the multi-rolelight carrierDédalo, which was formerly the US Navy'sWorld War II light carrier USSCabot.Dédalo was replaced as the navy's fleet flagship byPríncipe de Asturias.
The ship was permanently assigned to the Alpha Group, comprising the carrier and sixSanta Maria-classfrigates (a Spanish version of the USNOliver Hazard Perry class). Other vessels such as logistic ships, tankers and corvettes were frequently assigned to the Group when required.Príncipe de Asturias and the Alpha Group frequently participated inpeace support operations in theAdriatic Sea.
The ship was retired due to defence cuts, being officially decommissioned on 6 February 2013.[2]
Several countries had reportedly expressed interest in buyingPríncipe de Asturias before she was dismantled. Indonesia reportedly showed interest, but then decided not to buy. Unconfirmed sources also indicate the Philippines, several Arab countries,[3] and Angola had expressed interest in purchasing the Principe de Asturias.[4]In September 2017 it was announced that thePríncipe de Asturias was bought by a Turkish company planning to scrap the vessel.[5]
The design ofPrincipe de Asturias was based on that of the US Navy's 1970sSea Control Ship concept. This was a proposal for a small through deck vessel, capable of operating helicopters and a small number ofSTOVL fixed-wing aircraft, to provide anti-submarine defence for convoys in the event of war with theSoviet Union. While the concept never got off the drawing board for the United States, Spain took an interest in it in the early 1980s when seeking a replacement for its veteran carrier,Dédalo. The design underwent a number of modifications, most prominently being fitted with aski-jump ramp, allowing its fixed-wing aircraft to launch with improved loads, as well as other modifications to fit Spanish specifications. Constructed by the National Company Bazan (then Empresa Nacional Bazán, nowNavantia) in their shipyard atFerrol,Príncipe de Asturias was delivered to the Navy on 30 May 1988. The construction process had begun eleven years previously, on 29 May 1977. The processing of the steel began on 1 March 1978 and the keel was laid on 8 October 1979. On 22 May 1982, in a ceremony presided over byJuan Carlos I of Spain, the launch took place, withQueen Sofía of Spain as the ship's sponsor. The ship made her first sea trials in November 1987.
The Thai warshipHTMS Chakri Naruebet, delivered in 1997, is based on the Spanish ship's design.
The self-defense armament includes four close defenseMeroka systems and sixchaff decoy launchers. For offensive weapons, the ship relies on the capabilities of her embarked aircraft. For anti-submarine defense, she relies upon the detection capacity and attacks of her ASW helicopters and accompanying frigatebattle group.
.jpg)
The ship supports 12AV-8B Harrier II Bravo or AV-8B Harrier II Plus aircraft. The carrier also has facilities to support helicopters, usually 6Sikorsky Sea King SH-3H, 4Agusta-Bell AB-212 and 2Sikorsky SH-3 AEW (Airborne Early Warning) helicopters.
The ship supports a maximum of 29 fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft with up to 12 on deck and 17 aircraft in the hangar. The hangar which measures 2,398 m2 is accessed by two flight deck lifts. The 5,100 square metres (55,000 sq ft) flight deck is 176 metres (577 ft) in length. OperatingV/STOL aircraft, the carrier has the characteristic "ski-jump" (12° here), with the runway slightly off the longitudinal axis, tilted portside.
In May 2012 rumours emerged thatPríncipe de Asturias could be withdrawn from active service and placed in a state of "restrictive standby" along with two of theSanta Maria-class frigates, due to the financial pressures on the Spanish government.[6] Annual operating costs for the carrier and its air group reached €100 million.[7] Any decision on the fate of the vessel would have to be taken at the highest possible level due to the status of the ship as the flagship of theSpanish Navy.[6]
In November 2012, her decommissioning was confirmed. The official decommissioning ceremony was held on 6 February 2013.[7] Aviation capability is being provided by the landing helicopter dock shipJuan Carlos I.[7] On September 29, 2016, the decommissioning was provisionally awarded to the joint venture formed by the Spanish company Surus Inversa and its Turkish partner for €2.4 million, with plans to be scrapped at the Turkish company's facilities inAliağa. On August 9, 2017, she departed for the Turkish port of Aliağa to be dismantled throughout 2018.[8]
