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Principe de Asturias

After writing e-mails Saturday 25-03-06 it was finally the day for a visit to the "Principe de Asturias” Friday we heard the official planned day for public was blown off because of a higher security status after some political words. Around 9.30am we signed in at the container company and a visit with a select group (10) might be possible. Big was the surprise when the group became bigger and bigger till like 40 people. At this moment we didn’t had confirmation from Commander for the  visit, is was just waiting and see what was going to happen. Round 11.00am we started with the formality's like photo bag check and ID check. Finally we went onboard and had to give off our ID's and came into the hangar deck. After walking around we were asked to go on the elevator and went to a level just below the flight deck and ended up in the "briefing room" where we were welcomed by the Commander and got a short presentation about the Armada, the "Principe de Asturias" and Brilliant Mariner.  At the end of the presentation it was coffee time in the mess (these things takes so long sometimes), the coffee was so strong that we found out why they had small cans of water on the table.  When this was over we went to the flight deck and had the opportunity to photograph everything on the flight deck 6 AV8B+’s and 2 Sea Kings, they even took off a cover from a Sea King to photograph it. Later when we got our ID’s back we also got a little present a pin with the ship silhouette.

	The elevator controller
The Bridge taken while going up
	The Briefing-Room the place to be before our mission "the FlightDeck" started
AV-8B+ VA.1B-37/01-925 9 Esc
	AV-8B+ VA.1B-29-01/919 9 Esc
AV-8B+ VA.1B-29-01/919 9 Esc
	AB212 ASW HA.18-14/01-318 3Esc
SH-3AEW HS.9-12/01-512 5 Esc
	the group-photo

HISTORY

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 Dédalo. 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 (12º and 46.5m in length.).

Propulsion is from two General Electric gas turbines, each generating 34.6MW (around 46,000shp together). Driving a single propeller 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. 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 Bazán (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.

SPECIFICATIONS
Displacement: 13400 tons standard, 16,917 full load
Dimensions: 195.871 x 32.004 x 9.45 meters
Propulsion: 2 Bazan/General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 1 shaft, 46,400 shp
Max Speed: 27,2 knots
Crew: 764
Aviation: Full flight deck with a 12º ski jump, 2 elevators; 22 VSTOL and helicopters,
usually 10 McDD AV-8B/B+ Harrier II/ II Plus, 6 Sikorsky SH-3H, 2 Sikorsky SH-3 AEW,
4 Augusta AB-212)
Air search radar: Hughes SPS-52C 3-D
Surface search radar: ISC Cardion SPS-55
Fire control: Selenia RAN-12L target designation
Electronic warfare: Nettunel intercept, SLQ-25 Nixie
Armament: 4 20 mm Bazan Meroka CIWS 12 cannons Oerlikon 20x120mm

Special thanks for this visit goes to Captain Fernado de Querol Pagán and Liaison Officer IJmuiden / Amsterdam Lt. van Wijk.

and now the serials

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