Spanish VSTOL carrier Dedalo Country: Spain Type: VSTOL Aircraft carrier Service: 1967 - 2002 Laid down: 16 March 1942 (as USS Cabot) Launched: 4 April 1943 (as USS Cabot) Commissioned: 24 July 1943 (as USS Cabot) Decommissioned: 12 February 1947 (as USS Cabot) Commissioned: 1967 Decommissioned: 1989 Fate: Scrapped 2002

In Spanish service, the aircraft carrier Dedalo was the sole ship of her class. Dedalo was the flagship of the Spanish fleet until the Principe de Asturias replaced it. She was stricken by the Spanish Navy in August 1989 and ultimately scrapped in 2002.

Dedalo was formerly the World War II era escort aircraft carrier USS Cabot which was decommissioned by the US Navy in 1947. In 1967, after twenty years in mothballs in the United States, USS Cabot was loaned to Spain and renamed Dedalo. Spain purchased the aircraft carrier in 1972.

Dedalo initially deployed with the Spanish Armada as an helicopter-only ASW 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 STOVL AV-8S Matadors (AV-8A Harrier) when Dedalo 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.

After being refit, Dedalo typically carried an air group of eight AV-8S fighters, four Sea King ASW helicopters and four AB 212ASW Twin Hueys although Sikorsky S-55/CH-19s, AH-1 Cobras and other specialized helicopters from the Spanish army, air force, and navy flew from her flight deck.