The Príncipe de Asturias was a light aircraft carrier and former flagship of the Spanish Navy, constructed in Bazán's Shipyards in Ferrol. Its construction began on May 29, 1977, with the keel laid on October 8, 1979, and the steel processing starting in March 1978. The vessel was launched on May 22, 1982, in a ceremony attended by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, and she completed her first sea trials in November 1987. She was officially delivered to the Spanish Navy on May 30, 1988. Designed based on the US Navy's 1970s Sea Control Ship concept, Príncipe de Asturias featured a distinctive ski-jump ramp, allowing her to operate V/STOL aircraft such as the AV-8B Harrier II Bravo or Plus, supporting up to 12 aircraft on deck and 17 in the hangar. The hangar measures approximately 2,398 m², with a flight deck length of 176 meters, equipped with two lifts for aircraft movement. The vessel could accommodate a crew and air group totaling around 29 aircraft, including helicopters like Sikorsky Sea King SH-3H, AB-212, and AEW helicopters. Her self-defense armament included four Meroka close defense systems and six chaff decoy launchers, while her offensive capabilities relied on her embarked aircraft. For anti-submarine warfare, she depended on her ASW helicopters and the frigate battle group she was part of, specifically the six Santa Maria-class frigates. Príncipe de Asturias served as a key component of Spain's naval forces, participating in peace support operations in the Adriatic Sea and serving as the flagship of the navy. She was part of the Alpha Group, which included her and the frigates, and was frequently involved in joint maritime exercises. Due to financial constraints, she was decommissioned on February 6, 2013. After her decommissioning, there was international interest in her sale, but ultimately, in 2017, she was purchased by a Turkish company for scrapping. The vessel was dismantled at the Aliağa facility in Turkey throughout 2018, marking the end of her maritime service.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.