WorldWideAircraftCarriers.com - Cavour Page
SPECIFICATIONS PHOTOGRAPHS (Click on the pictures for an enlarged photo)

Designation: CVL
Length: 800 ft
Width: 128 ft
Beam: 108 ft
Displacement: 26,000 tons
Propulsion: 4 LM2500 gas turbines (COGAG),
2 shafts
Speed: 28 knots
Crew: 1,210
Airwing: 20 VSTOL, rotary
- 32 VLS Aster SAM
- 3 X 25mm OtaBreda CIWS
- 2 X 76mm guns
Elevators: 2
Ships in class: 1
MM Cavour C550
MM Cavour (C550) is the new generation Italian VSTOL aircraft carrier. Construction began in 2001 and the Cavour was launched from the Riva Trigoso shipyard in Genoa on July 20, 2004. She was commissioned in March of 2008.

The ship is designed to combine VSTOL and helicopter air operations, amphibious operations, and the transport of military or civil personnel and heavy vehicles. She has extensive command and control facilities and is the flagship for the Italian Navy, taken over from from the carrier, MM Garibaldi C551, which held that distinctionm until Cavour was placed in service.

The hanger can double as vehicle parking, holding up to 24 tanks or many more lighter vehicles. The hangar has side access ramps for ROR operations as as well as two elevators to the flight deck.

Thje Cavour is also designed to take the new, 5th generation STOVL JSF fighter, the F-35B, with which Italy is a partner country. The Cavour can hold up to ten F-35Bs in her hanger, and oanther six F-35Bs on deck if necessary. These aircraft will be very serious enhancements over the Harriers the Cavour currently embarks in her airwing. Normall, the Cavour carrier 12 fioghters, and then the airwing is augmebnted by AEW helos, ASW helos, and SAR helos.

Cavour has been named after the Italian politician Count Camillo Benso di Cavour.



















Last Upodate: 24 February, 2014
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Jeff Head is an engineering consultant with many years experience in the power, defense, and computer industries. He currently works for the federal government helping maintain and protect regional infrastructure. He is a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, and is also the author of a self-published and best-selling series of military techno-thrillers called the Dragon's Fury that projects a fictional third world war arising out of current events. You can learn more about that series by clicking on the pictures of the novel covers below:


THE DRAGON'S FURY SERIES

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