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. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x790, 260 KB) 040712-N-7263H-028 Atlantic Ocean (July 12, 2004) - The Spanish aircraft carrier SPS Principe De Asturias (R 11) steams through the Atlantic Ocean while participating in Majestic Eagle 2004. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The General Electric LM2500 industrial and marine turboshaft gas turbine is a derivative of GE Aircraft Engines CF6-6 aircraft engine. ... This machine has a single-stage centrifugal compressor and turbine, a recuperator, and foil bearings. ... Principle of a COGAG propulsion system Combined gas turbine and gas turbine (COGAG) is a type of propulsion system for ships using two gas turbines connected to a single propeller shaft. ... Phalanx CIWS A Close-in weapon system (CIWS) is a naval shipboard weapon system for detecting and destroying incoming anti-ship missiles and enemy aircraft at short range (the threat(s) having penetrated the ships available outer defences). ... See also Hawker Siddeley Harrier The Harrier II is a second generation, vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) light_attack jet aircraft used by the United States Marine Corps, Royal Air Force, Spanish Armada and Italian navy. ... Four aircraft carriers, Principe-de-Asturias, USS Wasp, USS Forrestal and HMS Invincible (front-to-back), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier, light V/STOL carriers, and an amphibious carrier. ... The Spanish Navy (in Spanish, Armada Española) is the maritime arm of the Spanish Military. ... A flagship is the ship used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships. ... Old Spanish aircraft carrier, replaced for R11 Principe de Asturias: in 2010 will be replaced for the new spanish aircraft carrier (BPE) (strategic proyecction ship). ...

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.). The Boeing/BAE Systems AV-8B Harrier II is a family of second-generation vertical/short takeoff and landing or V/STOL jet mullti-role aircraft of the late 20th century. ... The Boeing/BAE Systems AV-8B Harrier II is a family of second-generation vertical/short takeoff and landing or V/STOL jet mullti-role aircraft of the late 20th century. ... Robinson Helicopter Company (USA) R44, a four seat development of the R22 A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors, each having two or more rotor blades. ... A South African Air Force A109LUH Agusta (now part of AgustaWestland) is an Italian helicopter manufacturer. ... STOVL is an acronym for Short Take Off and Vertical Landing. ...

Propulsion is provided by two General Electric gas turbines, each generating 34.6MW (around 46,000 shp together). Driving a single propeller the ship has a maximum speed of 27 knots and can cruise at 20 knots with a range of around 6,500 km. GE redirects here. ... This machine has a single-stage centrifugal compressor and turbine, a recuperator, and foil bearings. ...

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. Phalanx CIWS A Close-in weapon system (CIWS) is a naval shipboard weapon system for detecting and destroying incoming anti-ship missiles and enemy aircraft at short range (the threat(s) having penetrated the ships available outer defences). ... The Mark 36 Super Rapid Bloom Offboard Countermeasures (abbreviated as SRBOC or Super-RBOC) is a short-range rocket intended to launch chaff within the vicinity of naval vessels, with the purpose of foiling anti-shipping missiles. ... Chaff is the seed casings and other inedible plant matter harvested with cereal grains such as wheat. ...

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. Navantia, formerly Bazán or IZAR, has become Spains leading state-owned shipbuilding firm, offering its services to both military and civil projects. ... Ferrol can refer to: EUROPE Ferrol, Spain City and Naval Station in North Western Spain, European Union Note: Place of birth of both Francisco Franco (1892) the Spanish dictator and Pablo Iglesias (1850) founder of PSOE and UGT. ASIA Ferrol, Romblon Small Town in the Philippines Note: The Philippines got... A Sea Control Ship (SCS) is a type of small aircraft carrier designed and conceptualised by the US Navy in the 1960s. ... Ferrol can refer to: EUROPE Ferrol, Spain City and Naval Station in North Western Spain, European Union Note: Place of birth of both Francisco Franco (1892) the Spanish dictator and Pablo Iglesias (1850) founder of PSOE and UGT. ASIA Ferrol, Romblon Small Town in the Philippines Note: The Philippines got... Ferrol can refer to: EUROPE Ferrol, Spain City and Naval Station in North Western Spain, European Union Note: Place of birth of both Francisco Franco (1892) the Spanish dictator and Pablo Iglesias (1850) founder of PSOE and UGT. ASIA Ferrol, Romblon Small Town in the Philippines Note: The Philippines got... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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. Computer simulation of the Buque de proyección estratégica Buque de Proyección Estratégica (Strategic projection vessel, similar to an LHD) is a planned multipurpose warship for the Spanish Navy (Armada Española). ... Spanish Marines were born in 1537, making it the oldest Marine Corps in the world. ...

See also

• List of aircraft carriers
• List of ship commissionings in 1988

The list of aircraft carriers contains all aircraft carriers listed alphabetically by name. ... The list of ship commissionings in 1988 includes a chronological list of all ships commissioned in 1988. ...

External links

• naval-technology.com
• NATO photo Ref. no.: 16474-27, 893Kb
• Satellite photo via Google Maps