BNS Atlantico (A140)

History

Following the retirement of the ex-French Foch aircraft carrier, BNS Sao Paulo (A12), in 2018, the Brazilian Navy found itself without a flagship. This gap was filled by acquiring the ex-Royal Navy HMS Ocean helicopter carrier, renamed as BNS Atlantico (A140) in 2018.

Classified as a multi-purpose aircraft carrier, the Atlantico, with its homeport at Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro, primarily operates helicopters rather than fixed-wing aircraft. She can accommodate up to 18 helicopters, either on her flight deck or in her hangar spaces, and her shallow draught enables her to operate close to shorelines.

Powered by 2 x Crossley Pielstick 12-cylinder diesel engines, she cruises at around 10 knots and can reach up to 18 knots, with a range of 8,000 miles. The Atlantico can carry 830 troops, forty military vehicles, an air wing of 180 personnel, and a typical crew of 285.

She is equipped with Type 997 "Artisan" radar, Type 1008 navigational radar, and 2 x Type 1007 Aircraft Control Radar (ACR). Her defensive arsenal comprises 4 x 30mm DS30M Mk.2 automatic guns, 4 x 7.62mm miniguns, and up to 8 x 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs).

The Atlantico supports several helicopter types, including the Sikorsky S-70B "Seahawk", the Airbus Helicopters EC725 "Caracal", and the AS350 "Ecureuil". The ship, under its previous designation HMS Ocean, also operated AH-64 "Apache" attack helicopters, hinting at a potential enhancement to Brazilian Navy capabilities.

Specification

Basics

• Name: HMS Ocean

• Operator: Royal Navy

• Ordered: 11 May 1993

• Builder: Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd, Kværner (Govan)

• Laid down: 30 May 1994

• Launched: 11 October 1995

• Commissioned: 30 September 1998

• Decommissioned: 27 March 2018

Class and type: Multipurpose landing ship

Displacement: 21,500 t (21,200 long tons; 23,700 short tons)

Length: 203.4 m (667 ft)

Beam: 35 m (115 ft)

Draught: 6.5 m (21 ft)

Propulsion: 2x Crossley Pielstick 12 cylinder.

Speed:

10 knots (12 mph; 19 km/h) cruise

18 knots (21 mph; 33 km/h) max

Range: 8,000 miles (13,000 km)

Boats & landing

Craft carried:

1 Seaboat (Pacific 22 Mk2)

4 × LCVP Mk5B

Capacity: 40 vehicles

Troops: 830

Crew: 285 + 180 aviation personnel

Sensors and processing systems:

Type 997 Artisan radar

Type 1008 Navigational Radar

2 × Type 1007 Aircraft Control Radar

Electronic warfare & decoys:

UAT Electronic Support Measures

DLH decoy Launchers

Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD)

Armament:

4 × 30mm DS30M Mk2 guns

4 × Miniguns

8 × General purpose machine guns

Aircraft carried:

Up-to 18 helicopters: EC725; Caracal S-70B Seahawk; AS350 Écureuil

Aviation facilities:

Large flight deck; Hangar deck; Helicopter lifts; Vehicle deck