Spanish aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias
_during_Dragon_Hammer_92.jpg)
Príncipe de Asturias during the joint exercise Dragon Hammer '92.
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| History | |
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 Spain
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| Name: | Príncipe de Asturias |
| Namesake: | Príncipe de Asturias |
| Ordered: | 29 May 1977 |
| Builder: | Bazán, Ferrol |
| 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 |
| Status: | Sold for scrap |
| Badge: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Príncipe de Asturias-class aircraft carrier |
| Displacement: |
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| 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 in COGAG 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 and processing systems: |
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| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
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| Armament: | |
| Aircraft carried: | 29 fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft |
| Aviation facilities: | 12° ski jump 46.5 m in length |
Príncipe de Asturias, originally named Almirante Carrero Blanco, is an aircraft carrier and was the flagship of the Spanish Navy. She was built in Bazan's Shipyards and delivered to the Spanish Navy on 30 May 1988.
Spain has operated aircraft carriers since the 1920s, initially with the seaplane tender SPS Dédalo and later the multi-role light carrier SPS Dédalo, which was formerly the US Navy's World War II light carrier USS Cabot. Dédalo was replaced as the navy's fleet flagship by Príncipe de Asturias.
The ship was permanently assigned to the Alpha Group, comprising the carrier and six Santa Maria-class frigates (a Spanish version of the USN Oliver Hazard Perry class). Other vessels such as logistic ships, tankers and corvettes are frequently assigned to the Group when required. Príncipe de Asturias and the Alpha Group have participated in peace support operations in the Adriatic Sea.
The ship became a victim of defence cuts, being officially decommissioned on 6 February 2013.
Several countries have reportedly expressed interest in buying Príncipe de Asturias before it is dismantled. Indonesia reportedly showed interest, but then decided not to buy. Unconfirmed sources also indicate the Philippines, several Arab countries, and Angola are trying to purchase the Principe de Asturias.
The design is basically that of the initial US Navy's Sea Control Ship design of the 1970s, modified with a ski-jump ramp added to better enable V/STOL aircraft takeoff and other modifications to fit Spanish specifications. Constructed by the National Company Bazan (then Empresa Nacional Bazán, now Navantia) in their shipyard at Ferrol, 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 by Juan Carlos I of Spain, the launch took place, with Queen Sofía of Spain as the ship's sponsor. The ship made her first sea trials in November 1987.
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Wikipedia