Hangar capacity does not equal air group size. Aircraft are only taken down to the hangar for maintenance, normally between sorties they stay parked on deck, so only a percentage of the air group needs to be accomodated in the hangar. Aircraft are also only moved between hangar and flight deck in an unfuelled and unarmed condition, so Maximum takeoff weight should not be used when measuring lift capacity. F-35Bs can be moved on the lifts of an Invincible class CVS for example, which have a capacity of 18.5tonnes. whilst this is less than MTOW, it is more than empty weight, and the aircrafts dimensions allow it to fit on the lifts as well. A ship the size of Cavour should have no difficulty in operating an air group of up to twenty F-35Bs PLUS a sqn of Helos (6 ASW Merlins and three AEW Merlins), though this would be a war load. In peacetime about twelve Lightnings and nine Merlins would be normal.

Just telling you what I’m finding out there.

Note http://www.marina.difesa.it/unita/portaerei.asp appears to be an official Italian government defence website.

In addition

Aircraft carrier function
The vessel is equipped with a flight deck suitable both for operations with helicopters and with short launch, vertical take-off fighter planes. It has a hangar / garage of approximately 2,500m² which can also accommodate wheeled and tracked land vehicles.

The ship can support eight VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft such as AV-8B Harrier or F-35 joint strike fighter VTOL variant, or 12 helicopters, such as the EH101, NH 90 or SH-3D, or a mix of platforms.

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/num/

Alterenatively, however

Airplanes 8 AV-8B Harrier and JSF, 12 helicopters [EH101, AB212, NH 90, SH3D]

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/num-specs.htm

Further, I also found this:

Air group: The ship hasn’t assigned a fixed air group but is fixed according to the mission, will be a mix of 20-24 short takeoff vertical landingHarrier AV-8B plus 2 (F35B when available) and helicopters EH-101 (including Mk.112 AEW/HEW, Mk.110 ASW/ASV, Mk.410 TTH/utility e Mk.413 ASH), NH-90 NFH or TTH and SH3D

Flight-deck: is long 232,6 m and width 34,5 m (surface 6.800+ m2). It has a runway for takeoff short long 183,0 m for 14,2 m, ski-jump with 12° of elevation, a parking area (starboard side) to 10/12 aircraft, 6 spot for helicopters type EH-101 plus a dedicated spot for SAR missions to bow.

Hangar: is long 134,2 m, width 21,0 m e high 7,2 m (8,5 max.). It is connected to the flight deck with 2 elevators from 30 tons of which aft an “deck-edge” after the island size 15 m to 14 m, the second forward internal long 21.6 m for 14 m. There are also 2 elevators from 15 tons for ammunition and 2 service elevators from 7 tons.

Cavour with 12 F35B and 8 EH 101, expected typical air group

http://digilander.libero.it/en_mezzi_militari/html/en_cavour2.html

Looks like PN is getting a fully armed ship then…

Not necessarily: USN ships sail without functional Mk13 launcher and STIR. Hence lack ability to launch Harpoon and Standard missile, and lack ability to guide SM1 at longer range (WM 25 can perform illumination closer in)

I’m putting you guys out of your misery.

The last pic is the (ex-Dutch) cruiser Almirante Grau, of the Peruvian navy.

😀 2,35 + 1,2….

3,55 billion $ for the refit of a 1968-1971′ design era aircraft carrier + airwing

In the early 2000’s, the italian paid 1,8 billion € (+/- 2,1 billion $) for the highly modern “conte di cavour” design 😀
:dev2:

Of course, Cavour is only 27,100t fld (as compared to 45,000 tons fld for a Kiev class ship), and can’t operate fixed wing aircraft (whereas the modified Gorshkov can).

Plus you can think about which airwing would be more effective: 16 Mig29K+ 10 Ka-31 Helix versus 8 VTOL aircraft (AV-8B Harrier or in future F-35B joint strike fighter) or 12 helicopters (EH101, NH 90) or a mix.

I think I ought to point out a couple of things here.

The ro-ro ramp can’t be used for amphibious assault. It needs a quay for unloading.

Nor can the very small SRC90E be used for amphibious assault from Absalon. She carries two of them, each capable of carrying 10 soldiers. 20 soldiers – with no vehicles – is a raid, not an amphibious assault.
http://www.storebro.se/Nav.aspx?pageid=79

You’ld think she’s not intended for amphib assault then, wouldn’t you….. Or, as you may recall, these ships were referred to by the Danes as ‘flexible support ships’ and now are referred to “command and support ship” / Kommandostøtteskib
(that doesn’t include ‘assault’ or ‘amphib’, does it?)
.

#2 is the Chilean Type 22 frigate Almirante Williams.

Congratulations! Smart refit, using equipment from retired vessels. Definitely better that what the Rumanians have done so far with their Type 22s

http://naval.mforos.com/683152/6520730-fragata-almirante-williams/?pag=3

the millenium gun is not from the absalon but from the guaicamacuto class patrol craft.

but imho the absalon is also there (picture 3)

And we have a winner! Absolon and Guaicamacuto.
Nicely spotted (was hoping to get folks to confuse the two)

Here’s a new set for y’all to play with.