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Principe de Asturias (R11)

1988 COLD WAR

History

During the Cold War, it was appropriate for all European powers to deploy some form of modern aircraft carrier to quickly respond to Soviet actions anywhere in the world. Ultimately, the initiative prompted the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain to commission at least one such vessel, which ended up serving their respective owners for long and distinguished careers.

For the Spanish Navy, this became the "Principe de Asturias" (R11), a traditional powerboat built in the 1970s.

Principe de Asturias ordered 29 May 1977 (although it was "Almirante Carrero Blanco" before the name change). She was seen laying her keel on 8 October 1979 at Empresa Nacional Bazan in Ferrol (later Navantia).

Once completed, she was officially launched on 22 May 1982 under the patronage of Queen Sofia and commissioned to join the Spanish Navy in 1988 after successfully completing sea trials on 30 May. While at sea, the Prince of Asturias was homeported at Naval Base Rota at the southwestern tip of Spain near the Strait of Gibraltar, and served as the flagship of the Spanish fleet.

Their primary air wing will be a mix of McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II vertical/short takeoff and landing ground attack fighters and various naval helicopters.

The 1981 AV-8B was an improved American successor to the groundbreaking 1969 British Hawksidley Harrier. 323 AV-8Bs were eventually produced, and these aircraft served the U.S. Marine Corps, the Italian Navy, and the Spanish Navy. V/STOL aircraft allow takeoff or recovery like a helicopter while providing the performance and handling of a subsonic jet. Additionally, its wingspan allows for the installation of multiple ammunition options.

Along with the gunships, the Prince of Asturias and its Harrier arm might have proved to be an impressive surface vessel for its time.

When completed, the Principe de Asturias displaces 16,000 tons. She measured 643 feet from bow to stern, with a beam of 80 feet and a draft of 31 feet. Propulsion is controlled by 2 Bazan-General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines arranged in a COGAG (combined gas and gas) configuration, where each gas turbine is connected to a separate reduction gear, these boxes feed into the clutch and then feed to the single gear drive Single propeller shaft in the stern of the device. This arrangement allows the vessel to use one or both gas turbines more efficiently as needed.

Maximum speed in ideal conditions is 26 knots and range is 6,500 nautical miles. The Prince of Asturias has a total crew of 830, of which 600 are from the base officers/crew and 230 are from the air squadron.

Structurally, the Principe de Asturias has a largely traditional truss arrangement. Its surfaces are primarily reserved for flight deck and hangar lifts that provide access to the deck below for storage, ammunition, fuel and maintenance. The island superstructure is set amidships and moved to starboard.

The flight deck is in line with the bow and stern (not inclined) and is distinguished by a ski slope mounted in the bow. The ramp allows the Harrier II to gain additional lift during regular takeoffs.

The ship (officially) supports up to 29 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, while it normally only carries 12 Harrier IIs and 6 Navy helicopters.

For self-defense (in addition to all fleet ships supporting the ship) Principe de Asturias received 4 x FABA Meroka Mod 2B Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and 12 x 20mm Oerlikon L120 anti-aircraft guns. The processing and sensor system consists of a Raytheon SPS-52C. D-Series 3D Air Search Radar, ISC Cardion SPS-55 Surface Search Radar, ITT SPN-35A Aircraft Control Radar, FABA SPG-M2B Fire Control Radar System, SELEX Sistemi Integrati RTN-11L/X Missile Warning Radar, and Selex RAN 12 L Target Designation Radar Kit.

The ship also carries an electronic countermeasures kit and a Sensytech AN/SLQ-25 "Nixie" decoy system.

The financial crisis in the Spanish economy culminated in the Prince of Asturias being a high-profile victim of his subsequent defense cuts. Therefore, after a relatively long service life, the ship was officially decommissioned from the Spanish Navy on 6 February 2013.

The Spanish government, initially set for the scrap yard, has since received calls from interested parties around the world regarding the direct purchase of the Prince of Asturias. As such, the Principe de Asturias remains intact and awaits its true fate in August 2013.

The service that Principe de Asturias once provided for the Spanish fleet is now performed by SPS Juan Carlos I, a helicopter carrier/amphibious assault ship with ski slopes for STOVL operations. Assuming the Spanish Navy can afford very expensive (and balloon-like) 5th-generation fighter jets, the ship will eventually replace its Harrier II inventory with the new Lockheed F-35 Lightning II.

Many modern navies are turning to more restrained aircraft/helicopter carriers aimed at increasing defense spending - so as not to make Spain's case an exception.