Spanish Navy's Juan Carlos I Landing Helicopter Dock Launched at Ferrol Shipyard

Released on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

King Juan Carlos presided on the afternoon of the 10th of March at Navantia Ferrol Shipyard the launching of the biggest vessel in the Spanish Navy, the LHD named after him, "Juan Carlos I", whose godmother was Queen Sofía.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia were also present in this ceremony among political and military authorities and Navantia�s Chairman.

The "Juan Carlos I", 230.82 m. length and 27,563 tones of Displacement at full load, is a multipurpose vessel which allows the projection of marine and army forces, can be used as a aircraft carrier being able to perform as a substitute of the Principe de Asturias if necessary, and can also play an important role in disaster relief operations.

The LHD is equipped with a dock and a garage for vehicles and/or heavy material, a hangar and a garage for light material and a 202.3m long and 32m wide flight deck extended from stem to stern with a skyjump at prow designed with an inclination of 12�. Planes and Helicopters as AV-8B Bravo Plus, JSF, V-22 Osprey, NH-90, CH-47 y AB212 can operate on this flight deck.

In what concerns amphibious capacity, the dock is 69.3m length and 16.8m beam, being able to transport simultaneously four landing crafts LCM1 class and four Supercat.

The "Juan Carlos I" is a 100% Navantia design. Its construction has been a world wide reference. This program has contributed to the election of Navantia as the builder of two amphibious BPE vessels for the Australian Navy, based on the "Juan Carlos I" design.