The amphibious assault ship dock (LHD) "Juan Carlos I" is the largest ship of the Spanish Royal Navy. It was built in March 2009 at the Navantia Ferrol Shipyard. The ship is named after the King of Spain and its construction cost 360 million euros.
The Juan Carlos I amphibious assault ship-dock can be likened to the US Navy's Wasp-class ships, but with the advent of the springboard on the flight deck, it can already be called a light aircraft carrier.
The amphibious helicopter dock ship "Juan Carlos I" has four decks on board, each of which is designed for specific cargo: a deck for personnel, a flight deck, a garage for tracked and wheeled vehicles and a docking camera.
The amphibious assault dock ship is considered a multipurpose ship that can be used as an aircraft carrier, as well as to provide support for ground amphibious operations. In addition, the warship is capable of taking on board additional cargo in the form of 144 containers.
In addition, another important function of the ship is the ability to evacuate people from areas in distress. For this, on board the transport there are two operating rooms for the provision of emergency medical care, intensive care, traumatology, X-ray room, laboratory, dentistry, and other medical rooms. The medical facility is connected by an elevator with a docking camera only.
The flight deck of the warship has the following dimensions - length 201.9 m, width 32 m. It can accommodate up to six Matador-type vertical takeoff aircraft and five helicopters. Below the flight deck is a two-level hangar with an area of 6,000 sq. m., which can accommodate up to 12 aircraft and 7 helicopters. For the delivery of aircraft from the hangar, two lifting devices of increased carrying capacity are used. This is done for the future, if heavy transport aircraft appear on board the ship in the near future.
The docking camera has dimensions - length 69, 3 m, width 16, 8 m LCAC and one LVT.
The garage for tracked and wheeled vehicles can accommodate 45 Leopard-2 light tanks and 77 military trucks.
The power plant of the amphibious assault helicopter carrier of the dock ship "Juan Carlos I" is an electric motor. It receives power from one gas turbine unit and two diesel generators. This type of installation allows you to reduce noise, vibration, fuel consumption, maintenance costs and provide sufficient maneuverability to the ship. The warship is set in motion by means of two propellers of the Azipod type.
Since September 24, 2009, the amphibious assault ship dock "Juan Carlos I" is still undergoing sea trials in the waters of the Spanish port of Ferrol, but according to experts, it is already showing excellent results.
In July 2008, the shipyard "Navantia" laid down the same type of dock ship, which will be named "Cantabria".
In 2007, the Australian Prime Minister expressed a desire to purchase two ships of this type from the Spaniards for the creation of Canberra-class dock ships. The assembly work is planned to be carried out in Australia by BAE Systems Australia with the involvement of Spanish specialists.
Technical characteristics of the amphibious assault helicopter carrier dock ship "Juan Carlos I":
Displacement - 27079 tons;
Length - 230.8 m;
Width - 32 m;
Draft - 7, 1 m;
Power plant - combined;
Travel speed - 21 knots;
Cruising range - 9000 miles;
Crew - 243 people;
Armament:
Rocket launcher ESSM or RAM - 1;
Artillery mounts "Oerlikon" 20 mm - 4;
Automatic machine guns 12, 7 mm - 4;
Airborne capacity:
Marines - 902 people;
Tanks of the "Leopard-2" type - 46 units;
Wheeled vehicles - 77 units;
Wing composition:
Flight and technical personnel - 172 people;
Aircraft AV-88 "Matador" - 18 units;
Helicopters NH-90, SH-3D "Sea King", CH-47 "Chinook" - 12 units;
