Spanish aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias
Spanish aircraft carrier / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Príncipe de Asturias, originally named Almirante Carrero Blanco, was a light aircraft carrier and former flagship of the Spanish Navy. She was built in Bazán's Shipyards and delivered to the Spanish Navy on 30 May 1988.
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Príncipe de Asturias during the joint exercise Dragon Hammer '92. | |
History | |
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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 and type | Príncipe de Asturias-class light 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 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 | |
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 |
Spain has operated aircraft carriers since the 1920s, initially with the seaplane tender Dédalo and later the multi-role light carrier 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 were frequently assigned to the Group when required. Príncipe de Asturias and the Alpha Group frequently participated in peace support operations in the Adriatic Sea.
The ship was retired due to defence cuts, being officially decommissioned on 6 February 2013.[2]
Several countries had reportedly expressed interest in buying Príncipe de Asturias before it 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 the Príncipe de Asturias was bought by a Turkish company planning to scrap the vessel.[5]