Spanish aircraft carrier Dédalo
Encyclopedia
Dédalo (Spanish
for Daedalus
) was the first Spanish
aircraft carrier
and the second aviation ship in the Spanish Navy
(after the seaplane tender
and balloon ship Dédalo
that took part in the Battle of Alhucemas in 1925). She remained the fleet's flagship
until the Principe de Asturias (R11)
replaced her. Dédalo was formerly the World War II
-era light aircraft carrier
, which was acquired from the United States
in the 1960s.
in the United States, Cabot was loaned to Spain. The loan was converted to a sale in 1972. Dédalo initially deployed with the Spanish Armada as an helicopter-only antisubmarine warfare carrier operating the SH-3D Sea King and other helicopters from 1967 to 1976.
After testing in 1972 it was decided to order and deploy short-take-off-and-vertical-landing (STOVL)
AV-8S Matadors (AV-8A Harrier) when Dédalo was overhauled. Since the Harriers downdraft on vertical landing would have damaged the wooden deck, protective metal sheathing was installed on the rear area of the flight deck
. The first batch of six AV-8S single seat and two TAV-8S two seat aircraft were delivered to the Armada Española throughout 1976. A second batch of four AV-8S aircraft was delivered in 1980. Unlike some carriers used for Harrier operations, a ski-jump to assist STOVL takeoff was never installed on the Dédalo, limiting the maximum takeoff weight of the Harriers.
She then typically carried an air group of eight AV-8S fighters, four Sea King antisubmarine warfare helicopters and four AB 212ASW Twin Hueys
although Sikorsky S-55/CH-19s, AH-1 Cobra
s, and other specialized helicopters from the Spanish army, air force, and navy flew from her flight deck.
During her Spanish service, Dédalo logged 1,650 days steaming, covering 300,000 nautical mile
s (555,556 km), registering 30,000 landings and takeoffs, losing an AV-8A and three AB 212ASW helicopters to accidents.
in 1988, Dédalo was struck by the Spanish Navy in August 1989 and given to a private organization in the U.S. for use as a museum ship
. However, that private organization was unable to pay its creditors, so, on 10 September 1999, the ship was auctioned off by the United States Marshals Service
to Sabe Marine Salvage. Scrapping of the hulk was completed in 2002.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
for Daedalus
Daedalus
In Greek mythology, Daedalus was a skillful craftsman and artisan.-Family:...
) was the first Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
and the second aviation ship in the Spanish Navy
Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
(after the seaplane tender
Seaplane tender
A seaplane tender is a ship that provides facilities for operating seaplanes. These ships were the first aircraft carriers and appeared just before the First World War.-History:...
and balloon ship Dédalo
Spanish seaplane carrier Dédalo
Dédalo was a Spanish seaplane and balloon carrier, the first of two ships of the Spanish Navy to carry this name. She entered in service in 1922 and was written off in 1936, after taking part in the Second Moroccan War, where her aircraft were instrumental to the successful landing of...
that took part in the Battle of Alhucemas in 1925). She remained the fleet's flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
until the Principe de Asturias (R11)
Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias
The Príncipe de Asturias , originally named Almirante Carrero Blanco, is an aircraft carrier, the flagship of the Spanish Navy...
replaced her. Dédalo was formerly the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-era light aircraft carrier
Light aircraft carrier
A light aircraft carrier is an aircraft carrier that is smaller than the standard carriers of a navy. The precise definition of the type varies by country; light carriers typically have a complement of aircraft only ½ to ⅔ the size of a full-sized or "fleet" carrier.-History:In World War II, the...
, which was acquired from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the 1960s.
History
In 1967, after over twelve years in mothballsReserve fleet
A reserve fleet is a collection of naval vessels of all types that are fully equipped for service but are not currently needed, and thus partially or fully decommissioned. A reserve fleet is informally said to be "in mothballs" or "mothballed"; an equivalent expression in unofficial modern U.S....
in the United States, Cabot was loaned to Spain. The loan was converted to a sale in 1972. Dédalo initially deployed with the Spanish Armada as an helicopter-only antisubmarine warfare carrier operating the SH-3D Sea King and other helicopters from 1967 to 1976.
After testing in 1972 it was decided to order and deploy short-take-off-and-vertical-landing (STOVL)
STOVL
STOVL is an acronym for short take off and vertical landing.This is the ability of some aircraft to take off from a short runway or take off vertically if it does not have a very heavy payload and land vertically...
AV-8S Matadors (AV-8A Harrier) when Dédalo was overhauled. Since the Harriers downdraft on vertical landing would have damaged the wooden deck, protective metal sheathing was installed on the rear area of the flight deck
Flight deck
The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is the surface from which its aircraft take off and land, essentially a miniature airfield at sea. On smaller naval ships which do not have aviation as a primary mission, the landing area for helicopters and other VTOL aircraft is also referred to as the...
. The first batch of six AV-8S single seat and two TAV-8S two seat aircraft were delivered to the Armada Española throughout 1976. A second batch of four AV-8S aircraft was delivered in 1980. Unlike some carriers used for Harrier operations, a ski-jump to assist STOVL takeoff was never installed on the Dédalo, limiting the maximum takeoff weight of the Harriers.
She then typically carried an air group of eight AV-8S fighters, four Sea King antisubmarine warfare helicopters and four AB 212ASW Twin Hueys
UH-1N Twin Huey
The Bell UH-1N Twin Huey is a medium military helicopter that first flew in April, 1969. The UH-1N has a fifteen seat configuration, with one pilot and fourteen passengers. In cargo configuration the UH-1N has an internal capacity of 220 ft³ . An external load of 5,000 lb can be carried...
although Sikorsky S-55/CH-19s, AH-1 Cobra
AH-1 Cobra
The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois...
s, and other specialized helicopters from the Spanish army, air force, and navy flew from her flight deck.
During her Spanish service, Dédalo logged 1,650 days steaming, covering 300,000 nautical mile
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
s (555,556 km), registering 30,000 landings and takeoffs, losing an AV-8A and three AB 212ASW helicopters to accidents.
Disposal
Replaced by the locally built STOVL carrier Principe de Asturias (R11)Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias
The Príncipe de Asturias , originally named Almirante Carrero Blanco, is an aircraft carrier, the flagship of the Spanish Navy...
in 1988, Dédalo was struck by the Spanish Navy in August 1989 and given to a private organization in the U.S. for use as a museum ship
Museum ship
A museum ship, or sometimes memorial ship, is a ship that has been preserved and converted into a museum open to the public, for educational or memorial purposes...
. However, that private organization was unable to pay its creditors, so, on 10 September 1999, the ship was auctioned off by the United States Marshals Service
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
to Sabe Marine Salvage. Scrapping of the hulk was completed in 2002.
Aircraft Facilities
- Hangar: 70 m x 13 m x 5 m
- Flight Deck: 168 × 22 m, 2 elevators