The Brazilian Navy commissioned its new helicopter carrier Atlântico (A 140) during a ceremony held at the Royal Navy base in Devonport on June 29, 2018.
Commissioning ceremony of Atlântico. Brazilian Navy picture.
Atlântico previously served as the Royal Navy LPH HMS Ocean for twenty years. Before being procured by Brazil for £84 million, Atlântico was refitted by Babcock and BAE Systems. The helicopter carrier package for Brazil includes an Artisan 3D search radar, KH1007 surface surveillance radar system, four 30 mm DS30M Mk 2 remote weapon systems and four Mk 5B landing craft. However, the three original 20 mm Mk 15 Block 1B Phalanx close-in weapon systems, the torpedo defence systems and 7.62 mm M134 machine guns were removed from the ship.
The vessel is set to become the Brazilian Navy new Flagship following the decommission aircraft carrier Sao Paulo. Atlântico is set to reach its new home port in Rio de Janeiro in late August.
The ship displaces 21.578 tonnes, is 203.43 m long and has a range of 8,000 nautical miles.
