Italian Aircraft Carrier Cavour (550)

Cavour (550) is an Italian aircraft carrier (CVH) of the Marina Militare, the Italian Navy. Cavour (550) is named after the Italian statesman and politician Camillo Benso, conte di Cavour.

Cavour (550) was laid down by Fincantieri on 17 July 2001, and was launched from the Riva Trigoso shipyard in Sestri Levante, on 20 July 2004. Sea trials began in December 2006, and Cavour (550) was officially commissioned March 27, 2008. Full Operational Capability (FOC) is expected in early 2009 after completion of finishing 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.

General characteristics
Displacement:	27,500 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:	20-24 Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus or Lockheed Martin F-35B general purpose helicopters EH101 AEW/HEW airborne surveillance helicopters
Notes:	Pennant 550

The Cavour (550) Italian aircraft carrier 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 space can double as a vehicle hold capable of holding up to 24 main battle tanks or many more lighter vehicles (50 Dardo IFV, 100+ Iveco LMV), and is fitted aft with access ramps rated to 70 tons, as well as two elevators rated up to 30 tons for aircraft. Cavour (550) Italian aircraft carrier can also operate as Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH), accommodating heavy transport helicopters (EH 101 ASH) and 325 marines.

Cavour (550) Italian aircraft carrier was to be named after Luigi Einaudi, then Admiral Andrea Doria, before receiving her current title. 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.