The 360-degree video of the Spanish Navy that shows its flagship inside

@DefAviation ES 2·08·2023 · 20:54 0

The Spanish Navy is the second oldest naval force in the world (the first is the Portuguese). Founded in 1479, its history spans more than half a millennium.

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In all these years, the Spanish Armada has had powerful and impressive ships, but the largest of all is very recent. On March 10, 2008, the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61 was launched at the Navantia shipyard in Ferrol. Two and a half years later, on September 30, 2010, the ship was registered in the Official List of Navy Ships. With a length of 231 meters, a beam of 32 meters and a displacement of 26,000 tons she is the largest and heaviest ship that the Spanish Navy has operated in 544 years, and is also currently its flagship.

Those of us who have had the opportunity to visit the L-61 can attest that she is a huge ship, with two spacious decks as hangars, the upper one for aircraft (both helicopters and EAV-8B+ Harrier fighters II Plus) and the lower one for vehicles, with access to a floodable dock with room for four LCM-1E landing craft of 23.3 meters in length each. In addition, she has a hospital with two operating rooms and accommodation for its 243 crew members and 1,200 Marines, as well as various services on board.

If you want to get to know this ship a little better, today the Spanish Navy has published a 360º video in 4K format that shows the interior of the L-61, as well as the aircraft and vehicles that can operate from it. The video was probably recorded last year, since the SH-3D Sea King helicopters that the Spanish Navy decommissioned in June 2022:

You can see here some screenshots of the video, explaining some of the things that are seen in it. Here we see the command bridge of the L-61, from where the ship is governed.

What we see here is the Flight Primary, from where air operations are controlled in the L-61..

The upper part of the island. On the right we see the flight deck. Two SH-3D Sea King helicopters are stationed on it, and there is also an AB-212 "Gato" helicopter in flight.

The floodable dock. On the starboard side is an LCM-1E landing craft with an Iveco M.250.37W Marine Corps truck on board.

The vehicle hangar , showing VAMTAC ST-5s and Marine Corps Humvees. Unfortunately, the video does not show the aircraft hangar.

A Spanish Marine AAV-7 armored landing vehicle descending from the vehicle hangar into the floodable dam.

The gym.

The kitchen. In the image we see Marines (in khaki shirts) lending a hand.

The spacious dining room. Here we see it occupied by members of the Spanish Marine Infantry.