Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Ordered: | 1977 |
| Laid down: | 1979 |
| Launched: | 1982 |
| Commissioned: | 30 May 1988 |
| Decommissioned: | |
| Fate: | Active as of 2006 |
| Struck: | |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 13,400t empty, 17,190t full load |
| Length: | 196 m |
| Beam: | 24.3 m |
| Height: | 9.4 m |
| Propulsion: | 2 × General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines in COGAG configuration |
| Speed: | 27 knots |
| Range: | 6,500 nm |
| Depth: | |
| Complement: | 600 ship crew, 230 air crew |
| Armament: | 4 20 mm CIWS, 12 Oerlikon L120 20 mm guns |
| Aircraft: | 12 AV-8B Harrier II, 12 helicopters |
| Motto: | |
The SPS Príncipe de Asturias (R 11) is the only active aircraft carrier of the Spanish Navy. She is the flagship of the fleet and the third ever Spanish aircraft carrier after the two SPS Dédalo.
The carrier air arm is made up of twelve AV-8B Harrier II Bravo and AV-8B Harrier II Plus and twelve helicopters, usually a mix of Sikorsky and Agusta models. Due to the STOVL aircraft the off-axis flight deck is only 175.3 metres long and includes a characteristic "ski-jump" end section (12° and 46.5 m in length.).
Propulsion is from two General Electric gas turbines, each generating 34.6MW (around 46,000 shp together). Driving a single propellor the ship is capable of a maximum 27kts and can cruise at 20 knots with a range of around 6,500 nm.
Her defensive armament consists of four FABA Meroka Mod 2B close-in weapon systems CIWS, with twelve-barrelled Oerlikon L120 20 mm guns. Counter-measures are provided by a Sippican SRBOC system which can fire either chaff or flares, and there is also a towed torpedo decoy system.
The carrier was built by Empresa Nacional Bazán (now Navantia) in Ferrol, from a design adapted from the US Sea Control Ship plan, the finalized design being completed in 1977. Initially the keel was laid down at the Ferrol yard in 1979 and finally, the completed hull was launched in 1982 (Both the King & Queen of Spain were present in Ferrol to see the launch of the first ever, aircraft carrier, entirely built in Spain) . Changing naval requirements meant that many of the ship systems had to be altered with the addition of a Tritan Digital Command and Control System. She did not enter active service until May 30, 1988 and was returned to the naval yards for refitting as early as 1990.
[edit] New Ship
In 2007, Principe de Asturias will be joined by another Spanish made aircraft carrier capable ship, the Buque de Proyección Estratégica (Strategic Projection Ship) one of functions will be to act as an aircraft carrier but due to the limited number of available Harriers, she will be mainly used as an helicopter carrier in over the horizon amphibious operations for the Infanteria de Marina.
