Origin Spain
Type Aircraft Carrier
Year 1982
Displacement, tons 13 400
Dimensions, meters 196.0 x 24.3 x 9.4
Aircraft 17 Helicopters
Missiles -
Guns 4 x Meroka 20mm CIWS
Torpedo -
Main Engines 4 x GE LM2500 gas turbines.
Speed, knots 26
Range, miles 7.500
Complement 764

The Principe de Asturias (R 11) is the only active aircraft carrier of the Spanish navy. She is the flagship of the fleet and together with her escort frigates makes up Alpha group. She is the second ever Spanish aircraft carrier after the Dedalo. 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 STOL aircraft the off-axis flight deck is only 175.3 metres long and includes a characteristic "ski-jump" end section (12? and 46.5m in length.). Propulsion is from two General Electric gas turbines, each generating 34.6MW (around 46,000shp together). Driving a single propellor the ship is capable of a maximum 27kts and can cruise at 20 knots with a range of around 6,500 nm. The carrier defences are four FABA Meroka Mod 2B close-in weapon systems CIWS, with twelve-barrelled Oerlikon L120 20mm guns, and also an eight cell Harpoon missile system. Counter-measures are provided by a Sippican SRBOC system which can fire either chaff or flares, there is also a towed torpedo decoy system. The carrier was built by Empresa Nacional Bazan (now IZAR), the design was adapted from the US Sea Control Ship plan and finalized in 1977. The keel was laid down at the Ferrol yard in 1979 and the completed hull was launched in 1982. 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.