Spanish aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias

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.

Starboard view of ship executing a right-radius turn
Príncipe de Asturias during the joint exercise Dragon Hammer '92.
History
Spain
NamePríncipe de Asturias
NamesakePríncipe de Asturias
Ordered29 May 1977
BuilderBazán, Ferrol
CostUS$285 million (1993)[1]
Laid down8 October 1979
Launched22 May 1982
Sponsored byQueen Sofía of Spain
Commissioned30 May 1988
Decommissioned6 February 2013
HomeportNaval Station Rota
IdentificationPennant number: R-11
FateScrapped Aliaga 29 August 2017
Badge
Ship's logo
Ship's logo
General characteristics
Class and typePríncipe de Asturias-class light aircraft carrier
Displacement
  • 15,912 tons standard,
  • 16,700 tons loaded
Length195.9 m (643 ft)
Beam24.3 m (80 ft)
Draught9.4 m (31 ft)
Propulsion2 × Bazan-General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines in COGAG configuration, one shaft, 46,400 shp
Speed26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement830 (total); 600 ship crew, 230 air crew
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Raytheon SPS-52C/D 3D air search radar,
  • SC Cardion SPS-55 surface search radar,
  • ITT SPN-35A aircraft control radar,
  • FABA SPG-M2B fire control radar,
  • SELEX Sistemi Integrati RTN-11L/X missile approach warning radar,
  • Selex RAN 12 L target designation radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried29 fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft
Aviation facilities12° 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 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,[3] and Angola have 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]

Design
Príncipe de Asturias (R-11) sailing in 2004

The design is basically that of the US Navy's 1970s Sea Control Ship, 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.

The Thai warship HTMS Chakri Naruebet, delivered in 1997, is based on the Spanish ship's design.

Armament
Meroka CIWS on Principe de Asturias

The self-defense armament includes four close defense Meroka systems and six chaff 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 frigate battle group.

Aircraft
Grey jet aircraft executing a vertical takeoff from aircraft carrier at sea. Under each of the angled-down wings is an external fuel tank.
A Spanish AV-8B Harrier II operating off Príncipe de Asturias

The ship supports 12 AV-8B Harrier II Bravo or AV-8B Harrier II Plus aircraft. The Harriers are armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile and AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, in addition to GAU-12U cannon. The carrier also has facilities to support helicopters, usually 6 Sikorsky Sea King SH-3H, 4 Agusta-Bell AB-212 and 2 Sikorsky 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. Operating V/STOL aircraft, the carrier has the characteristic "ski-jump" (12° here), with the runway sightly off the longitudinal axis, tilted portside.

Withdrawal
NATO Display Determination 91 exercises, from down to up: Príncipe de Asturias, USS Wasp, USS Forrestal, and HMS Invincible, sailing in 1991.

In May 2012 rumours emerged that Príncipe de Asturias could be withdrawn from active service and placed in a state of "restrictive standby" along with two of the Santa 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 the Spanish 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 ship Juan Carlos I.[7]She was scrapped at Aliağa on 29 August 2017.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Principe de Asturias Class - Archived 3/99". Forecast International. March 1998. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  2. "The Former Spanish Navy Flagship Vessel Is A Victim of Budgetary Cuts". Murcia Today. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  3. Several countries interested in buying ex-Spanish Navy Aircraft Carrier Principe de Asturias - Navyrecognition.com, 27 May 2013
  4. "ANGOLA COMPRA PORTA-AVIÕES PRÍNCIPE DAS ASTÚRIAS - atualizado (M1301 - 368PM/2013)". www.passarodeferro.com. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  5. "Dünyaca ünlü uçak gemisi Türk firmasının oldu". 4 September 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  6. González, Miguel (7 May 2012). "Military mulls whether to dock navy's only aircraft carrier". El Pais. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  7. "Flash Traffic: Farewell Principe de Asturias". The Navy. Navy League of Australia. 75 (2): 16–17. April 2013. ISSN 1322-6231.
  8. "Príncipe de Asturias (6134762)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
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