Italian aircraft carrier Cavour (550)
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| Career (Italy) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Cavour |
| Builder: | Fincantieri |
| Laid down: | July 17, 2001 |
| Launched: | July 20, 2004 |
| Commissioned: | March 27, 2008 |
| In service: | early 2009 |
| Homeport: | Taranto |
| Status: | trial, fitting the system |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 27,100 tons |
| Length: | 244 m |
| Beam: | 39 m |
| Draught: | 8,7 m |
| Propulsion: | 4 × General Electric/Avio LM2500+ gas turbines providing 88.000 hp 6 × Diesel generators (13.200 KW) |
| Speed: | 28+ knots |
| Range: | 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Complement: | 451 Crew 203 Fleet Air Arm 140 C4 staff 325 Marines (standard) |
| Armament: | 4 × A43 SYLVER VLS for 32 Aster-15 SAM 2 × Oto Melara 76/62 mm Super Rapido gun 3 × Oerlikon Contraves 25/80 mm AA gun |
| Aircraft carried: |
Total:20
|
| Notes: | Pennant 550 |
Cavour (550) is an Italian aircraft carrier (CVH) of the Marina Militare, the Italian Navy. She is named after the Italian statesman and politician Camillo Benso, conte di Cavour.
Built by Fincantieri from 2001, Cavour was launched from the Riva Trigoso shipyard (Sestri Levante) on July 20, 2004. Sea trials began in December 2006, official commissioned March 27, 2008 and Full Operational Capability (FOC) is expected in early 2009 after finishing last work at Muggiano (Lerici) in summer 2008 and transfer to the new naval station on Mar Grande in Taranto. Cavour will be the new flagship of the Italian Navy.
[edit] Description
The ship is designed to combine fixed wing V/STOL and helicopter air operations, command and control operations 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 (50 Dardo IFV, 100+ Iveco LMV), and is fitted with side an aft 70 tons access ramps as well as two elevators rated up to 30 tons for aircraft. Cavour can operate also as Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) accommodating heavy transport helicopters (EH 101 ASH) and 325+ marines.
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 the Giuseppe Garibaldi. The ship was originally constructed in two sections (front and back) and later fused together.
[edit] External links
- (Italian) Cavour on the Marina Militare website
- (English) Hystory, technical details and a collection of photo of Cavour
- (English) Naval-Technology
