NAe Sao Paulo

The NAe Sao Paulo is a conventionally-powered aircraft carrier and the flagship of the Brazilian Navy. She was the property of the French Navy when launched back in 1959 but sold to Brazil in 2000, saving her from the scrap heap. As of this writing the vessel is in active service with the Brazilian Navy and is the only aircraft carrier in service with the nation.

From a design standpoint, the Sao Paulo has retained all of the features that were with her when she served the French Navy as the Foch (R 99). As with all modern aircraft carriers of Western design, she could field her aircraft from a forward deck or from her angled deck. The Sao Paulo offerings included just two steam catapults with one operated from the straight forward deck and the other serving the angled strip. Her flight decks were serviced by two aircraft elevators with one located forward and left of the island and the other just rear of the island. The island itself sat to starboard side and was fitted forward of amidships.

As the Foch, the type underwent a major refit from 1980 through 1981 in an effort to modernize the type for the new Super Etendard fighter-bombers with nuclear capability. In 1985, the Clemenceau-class carriers were once again refitted and this time, the Foch received her Crotale missile launchers replacing some 100mm cannons. Reportedly however, the NAe Sao Paulo maintains none of this defensive armament (as of this writing), which is interesting considering her importance to the Brazilian fleet. The vessel does, however, maintain a contingent of up to 40 aircraft made up of American-made A-4 Skyhawk fighters (purchased in 1998 from Kuwait) and a plethora of various British, French and American-made helicopter types.

The NAe Sao Paulo is crewed by over 1,300 personnel including the air wing. Her decks also serve in the training of Argentine naval aviators with their Super Etendard models. Steps are actively being taken to ensure the Brazilian Navy can still properly maintain the vessel in the near future though she remains the only aircraft carrier in service with any South American nation. Nevertheless, her importance to Brazilian interests and stability in the region are worth noting as carrier vessels in today’s navies are the heart and soul of their respective fleets.

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Last Updated: 7/2/2008