Spain has operated aircraft carriers since the 1920s, initially with the seaplane tender SPS D�dalo (1922) and later the multi-role light carrier SPS D�dalo, which was formerly the US Navy's World War II light carrier USS Cabot. The SPS D�dalo has been replaced as the navy's fleet flagship by the Principe de Asturias.
The ship is permanently assigned to the Alpha Group, comprising the carrier and six Santa Maria-class frigates (a Spanish version of the USN Oliver Hazard Perry FFGs). Other vessels such as logistic ships, tankers and corvettes are frequently assigned to the Group when required. Principe de Asturias and the Alpha Group have participated in peace support operations in the Adriatic Sea.
Design
The design is basically that of the initial US Navy's Sea Control Ship design of the 1970s, modified to enable V/STOL aircraft to be carried. Constructed by the National Company Bazan (then Empresa Nacional Baz�n, now Navantia) in their shipyard at Ferrol, Principe 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 Sof�a of Spain as the ship's godmother. 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
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.
Aircraft
The ship supports 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 Sikorsky Sea King SH-3H, Agusta AB-212 and 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 m� is accessed by two flight deck lifts. The 5,100 m� flight deck is 176 m 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.
