Principe De Asturias-class

Summary

Description

The Príncipe de Asturias was a light aircraft carrier that served as the flagship of the Spanish Navy. The vessel, originally named Almirante Carrero Blanco, was constructed at the Bazán Shipyards and handed over to the Spanish Navy on May 30, 1988. Spain's history with aircraft carriers dates back to the 1920s, starting with the seaplane tender Dédalo. The introduction of Príncipe de Asturias marked the replacement of an earlier carrier of the same name, which had been the USS Cabot during World War II.

The ship had a design based on the US Navy's 1970s Sea Control Ship but incorporated a ski-jump ramp for V/STOL aircraft takeoff, tailored to the specific needs of Spain. The keel was laid in October 1979, and the vessel was launched in May 1982 in a ceremony attended by then King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain. It underwent its first sea trials in November 1987. The Thai warship HTMS Chakri Naruebet, delivered in 1997, is a derivative of Príncipe de Asturias' design.

Príncipe de Asturias was equipped with self-defense armaments including four Meroka close defense systems and six chaff decoy launchers. Offensive capabilities were provided by the ship's complement of aircraft, while anti-submarine defense rested upon ASW helicopters and the frigate battle group. The carrier could support up to 29 aircraft, including 12 AV-8B Harrier II planes and various helicopters, with facilities for 12 aircraft on the deck and 17 more housed in its hangar.

Throughout its operational history, the ship was a core part of the Alpha Group, along with six Santa Maria-class frigates and other occasional naval elements. The group was active in peace support operations, such as those in the Adriatic Sea. Sadly, due to defense budget cuts, Príncipe de Asturias was decommissioned on February 6, 2013. This caused multiple countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines, several Arab nations, and Angola, to express interest in acquiring the vessel before it was finally purchased by a Turkish company in 2017 for scrapping. The operational void left by Príncipe de Asturias was filled by the landing helicopter dock ship Juan Carlos I.

Technical specifications