Italian aircraft carrier Cavour
Cavour (550) is an aircraft carrier (CVS) of the Italian Navy. Built by Fincantieri from 2001, Cavour was launched from the Riva Trigoso shipyard (Sestri Levante) on July 20, 2004. Trial on sea are begun in December 2006, official commission scheduled for December 2007, is expected to enter service in later 2008 after finishing last work at Muggiano (Lerici) and move to the new naval station on Mar Grande in Taranto. It will be the new flagship of Italian Navy. .
Description
The ship is designed to combine V/STOL and helicopter air operations, amphibious operations, command operation, 4 craft under the flight deck, and the transport of military or civil personnel and heavy vehicles. The 134 metre, 2,500 m² hangar can double as a vehicle hold, fitting up to 24 main battle tanks or many more lighter vehicles, and is fitted with side an aft access ramps as well as two elevators from 30 tons. Cavour can operate as LPH, with 2 eliassault from 6 EH-101 each can land all marines onboard.
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She is named after the Italian politician Count Camillo Benso di Cavour. Initially she was to be named after Luigi Einaudi, then after Admiral Andrea Doria. When Cavour becomes operational, it will become the Nuova Unità Maggiore (NUM, or New Main Unit) of the Marina Militare, complementing, and eventually replacing the Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Specifications
- Displacement: 27,100 tonnes (full load)
- Dimensions: 244 m × 39 m × 7.5 m
- Armament: VLS for 32 Aster-15 SAM, 2 of 76 mm Oto Melara guns, 3 of 25 mm AA
- Aircraft: Typical expected Air Group: 20-24 aircraft: 12-16 STOVL fighter/attack aircraft (Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus or Lockheed Martin F-35B), 3 airborne surveillance helicopters (AgustaWestland EH-101 Mk.112 AEW/HEW), 4-6 other helicopters for ASW, ASuW, transport, CSAR, Utility/SAR/plane guard/COD/VERTREP (AgustaWestland EH-101, NHIndustries NH-90 or Agusta SH-3D/H in different configurations). Max nominal capacity of 24 aircraft (up to 30 if only helicopters), with hangar space for a min of 12 aircraft (in particular EH-101 helicopters, AV-8B Harrier II Plus or JSF/F-35B fixed-wing aircraft)
- Propulsion: 4 × GE/Avio LM2500 COGAG gas turbines at 22,000 kW each, 2 shafts, 120,000 shp = 29 knots maximum, 16 knots economic cruising (7,000 nm range)
- Complement: 1,210 max (451 crew + 203 air group + 140 staff + 416 marines)