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In southern Europe, there have been important developments from a Naval perspective. In Italy, where a long battle to restore fixed-wing aviation to the Fleet resulted in the commissioning of Guiseppe Garibaldi in 1985, the new 'Andrea Doria' class carrier is planned to enter service in 2007. This ship is an ingenious hybrid design that meets the differing requirements to operate aircraft, to act as an amphibious ship and to include Ro-Ro capabilities. The first of the new air defence `Horizon' class destroyers will enter service in the same year. The French and Italian governments signed a contract with prime contractor Horizon SAS for the development and construction of four new-generation AAW frigates, two for each Navy. Horizon frigates are front-line fighting ships designed primarily to provide anti-air defence for local area cover or extended cover against saturation missile attacks. 
    Italy's 26,660-ton Nuova Unita Maggiore (NUM, major new unit) was ordered on 22 November for delivery in 2007. The 776-foot-long ship initially is to carry either eight Harriers or a dozen EH.101 helicopters (or a mix), although she would be an ideal eventual platform for the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter (JFS). Work began at Muggiano on the first of two German-designed Type 212A submarines on 3 July 1999 and on the second a year later, but the pair will not enter Italian Navy service until 2005 and 2006. Meanwhile, the two Italian-designed, 1,862-ton Primo Longobardo-class and the two 1,662-ton Salvatore Pelosi-class submarines are receiving new equipment to extend their service life.
Italy is also building two very similar classes of offshore patrol ships that resemble small frigates but that are only minimally armed. The first of four NUMC (Nuove Unitá Minori Combattenti) variants of the design, the 1,520-ton Comandante Cigale Fulgosi, was launched on 7 October for delivery next February. In August, two 1,580-ton NUPA-Nuove Unitá per il Pattugliamento d'Altura (New High-Seas Patrol Ships) variants of the design, the Sirio and the Orione, were ordered. Both classes share the same 291-foot hull, and both have a helicopter flight deck and hangar.

Ships of the Italian Navy:

Aircraft Carriers :

- Guiseppe Garibaldi class VSTOL aircraft carrier

 

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The flagship of the Italian Navy is the aircraft carrier MM Garibaldi, built by Fincantieri of Genoa and commissioned in 1985. Garibaldi (C551) is classed as a CVS – Aircraft Carrier ASW (Anti-submarine Warfare). The ship is capable of carrying 18 helicopters or an air squadron of vertical or short take-off and landing (VSTOL) aircraft.The ship's command and control system is the IPN 20 supplied by Alenia Marconi Systems. IPN 20 gathers information from the ship's sensors and from the communications and data networks in order to compile and display the tactical situation. 

The ship's long-range surface-to-surface missile system, the MBDA (formerly Alenia) Otomat , two launchers on the port and two on the starboard side. The MBDA Albatros surface-to-air missile system provides short-range point defence.The system uses the Aspide missile. Aspide has a semi-active radar seeker and a range of 14km. Forty-eight Aspide missiles are carried. The ship can accommodate up to 18 helicopters, for example the Agusta Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King or the Agusta Bell AB212. Alternatively the ship can accommodate 16 AV-8B Harrier II aircraft, or a mix of helicopter and Harriers.

 - Andrea  Doria NUM) AIRCRAFT CARRIER

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On the 22 November 2000, a contract was drawn up between Fincantieri and the Ministry of Naval Defence to supply an aircraft carrier vessel, better known as a "new major vessel", to the Italian Navy. Building work on the new vessel which will be named the Andrea Doria, began at Fincantieri's shipyards in Riva Trigoso and Muggiano in July 2001 and the ship will be delivered in 2007. 

The ship will have a standard displacement of about 22,000t, an overall length of about 235m and a speed of no less than 29 knots; it will be able to accommodate up to 1,290 people on board comprising a maximum landing force of 450.The ship's strongest features will be its high flexibility in operational terms, its capacity to carry out the functions of an aircraft carrier and the transport of wheeled and tracked vehicles for both military and civil defence missions.

Surface Combatants :

- Horizon Class Destroyer

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The French and Italian governments signed a contract with prime contractor Horizon SAS for the development and construction of four new-generation AAW frigates, two for each Navy. The Italian vessels will replace the frigates Ardito and Audace. They will be built at the Fincantieri shipyards in Riva Trigoso and Muggiano near Genoa and delivered in mid-2007 and early 2009, respectively.

Horizon frigates are front-line fighting ships designed primarily to provide anti-air defence for local area cover or extended cover against saturation missile attacks. The most representative mission for the vessels and their powerful anti-submarine and anti-air self-defence systems will be the protection of carrier groups, as when the Italian vessels escort the Giuseppe Garibaldi or the Andrea Doria. With a displacement of 6,500 tons for an overall length of 150m and a maximum speed of 29kts, Horizon AAW frigates will offer remarkable combat capabilities and fire power. The combat systems, now being developed under a European cooperation effort, will feature the PAAMS anti-air missile system and the SLAT anti-torpedo system.

- Vittorio Veneto helicopter cruiser

veneto.jpg (52720 bytes) The Vittorio Veneto is a purpose built helicopter cruiser that followed from the design of the Andrea Doria class of the 1950s. The addition of a second deck gave her a much greater helicopter capacity.  A large central lift is set immediately aft of the superstructure and two sets of fin stabilizers make her a very steady helicopter platform. She has gone through two major refits in 1981 and 1984 which have upgraded her weaponry and radars. Her previous role of Italian flagship was handed over to the carrier Guiseppe Garibaldi in 1995.

- Luigi Durand de la Penne class destroyers

 

 

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The Durand De La Penne destroyers are 5000t multi-role warships able to perform anti-air defence for protecting task forces and convoys, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare operations, assistance during landing operations and coastal bombardment. destroyers were built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy. The first-of-class ship, MM Luigi Durand De La Penne (D560), and the second, MM Francesco Mimbelli (D561), were commissioned in 1993.

The ship's surface-to-surface missile system is the MBDA (formerly Alenia) OTOMAT Mk2.The Albatros Mark 2 medium-range surface-to-air missile system is supplied by MBDA (Alenia) of Rome. The Albatros system employs the semi-active Aspide missile to provide the ship with point defence. Range is 15km.The ship is also equipped with the Raytheon Standard Missile SM-2MR Tartar GMLS Mark 13 missile system for defence against medium-range airborne targets.

The ship is equipped with a helicopter deck and a hangar with facilities for two helicopters such as the Agusta Bell AB 212, the Sea King SH-3D or the EH-101.

- Audace class destroyers

The Audace class was derived from the Impavido class but incorparated a number of modifications in weapons and detection systems. Two ships were built D 550 Ardito and D 551 Audace. The ship's surface to surface missile system is the Otomat by MBDA (formerly Alenia and Matra BAe Dynamics). The ship is also equipped with the Raytheon Standard Missile SM-2MR Tartar GMLS Mark 13 missile system for defence against medium-range airborne targets.

- Maestrale class frigates

maestrale.jpg (9623 bytes) The Maestrale class is an improved design of the Lupo Class. The armerment and detection systems were also greatly improved. Eight Maestrale frigates were built in total. Armerment includes 4 OTO Melara Teseo Mk 2 anti-ship missiles and a Selenia Albatros octuple launcher armed with the Aspide surface to air missile.

The helicopter hangar can hold 2 AB 212 ASW helicopters.

- Lupo (Artigliere) class light frigates

lupo5.jpg (48809 bytes) The Lupo (Artigliere) class light frigates, operational with the Italian Navy, were built by Fincantieri. They were initially built for Iraq, but delivery was cancelled following the United Nations embargoes against Iraq in 1990. New weapons and communications systems were fitted to meet the requirements of the Italian Navy. The helicopter deck at the stern has a single landing spot for an Agusta Bell AB 212 helicopter.

The ship's surface to surface missile system is the Otomat by MBDA (formerly Alenia and Matra BAe Dynamics). The missile system has eight Otomat Teseo Mark 2 missile launchers.For air defence, the ship is fitted with the Albatros medium-range surface-to-air missile system from Alenia Elsag Sistemi Navali (AESN). This consists of one eight-cell launcher for the Aspide missile, which has a range of 15km and uses semi-active radar homing to deliver a 33kg fragmentation warhead.The ship's main gun installed on the bow deck is the Otobreda 127mm gun.

- Comandante Cigale Filose Patrol Frigates

fulgosi02.jpg (177886 bytes) The The Comandante Borsini represents a new light combatant type with Alenia Marconi combat system and Elmer communications. It will be used for economic zone security, safeguarding maritime borders and patrolling international waters. The first of four NUMC (Nuove Unitá Minori Combattenti) variants of the design, the 1,520-ton Comandante Cigale Fulgosi, was launched on 7 October for delivery next February. Armed only with a single 76-mm OTOBreda gun and a pair of 25-mm cannon, the NUMCs are powered by two Wärtsilä NSD Italia diesels to provide 17,370 horsepower for 25-knot speeds.

- Sirio Class patrol vessels

sirio.jpg (6801 bytes) In August, two 1,580-ton NUPA-Nuove Unitá per il Pattugliamento d'Altura (New High-Seas Patrol Ships) variants of the design, the Sirio and the Orione, were ordered. Equipped with two 5,800-horsepower diesels for 22-knot speeds, the pair will have no armament other than light machine guns but will have provision for installation of a 76-mm gun and fire control system later, if needed. Both classes share the same 291-foot hull, and both have a helicopter flight deck and hangar.

Submarines :

- Primo Longobardo class coastal submarines

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The Sauro class constitute the actual submarine fleet of the Italian Navy. Built in Italy in the shipyards of Fincantieri of Monfalcone, they have replaced the submarines of the Toti class and the American Romei class. The Sauro class were delivered in 4 batches to the Italian navy with every batch small modifications and improvements. In order to increase to service life of the Sauro class 6 of the total of 8  will be going through an upgrade process receiving new STN-Atlas Elektronik ISUS-90-20 combat data and control systems, new silencing measures, and new ship control systems in a program to be completed next year.

First & Second Batch : Nazario Sauro class

Third Batch : Salvatore Pelosi class

Fourth Batch : Primo Longobardo class

- U212A

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Italian and German Ministry of Defence delegates signed a "Memorandum of understanding" concerning a cooperation program for the construction of new generation submarines derivate from the original U-212 German project: the U 212 A. Joining this program, Italian Navy new Submarines will be created with the U-212A Project, based on the original U-212 German Project but modified in some important details such as the operating depth and the implementation of several italian technologies. The U-212A will be a Conventional Submarine with Anaerobic capabilities based on a combined Diesel and "Fuel Cell" propulsion System.

 Work began at Muggiano on the first of two German-designed Type 212A submarines on 3 July 1999 and on the second a year later, but the pair will not enter Italian Navy service until 2005 and 2006.

Amphibious Ships :

- San Giorgio class small dock landing ships

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The three San Giorgio class amphibious transport dock ships in service with the Italian Navy were built by Fincantieri at their Riva Trigoso shipyard.  The ships provide roll-on/roll-off landing capability for land embarkation; air lift through the use off high capacity aircraft such as Chinook-type helicopters; and transportation by sea to shore, using the ship's own systems and landing ships for landing on unprepared shores.

The San Giorgio class ships can lift a battalion of troops, with up to 30 medium tanks, or 36 tracked armoured vehicles. The stern floodable dock can accommodate three LCM (or MTM) landing craft.San Giorgio and San Marco are to be modified to increase the flight deck for helicopter operations. The 76mm gun mount and two port side davits for LCVP's will be removed, giving space for a new central flight deck. This will allow two EH 101 helicopters and two medium helicopters (NH 90 or AB 212) to be launched at the same time.

Replenishment Ships :

- Etna small replenishment oiler

The purpose of the Marina Militare MM Etna is to fully support the long-range missions of a naval squadron, which would typically include an aircraft carrier and complete escort. The Etna (A5326) is a naval replenishment and logistic support ship built for the Italian Navy by Fincantieri at their Riva Trigoso Naval Shipyard. MM Etna has a limited weapons fit for self defence. The ship is equipped with a surface search radar (RASS) supplied by Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS), an AMS CTI 20 command and control system and an Elmer MAC integrated telecommunications system.

MM Etna is fitted with a single spot flight deck, measuring 28 x 16m.The helicopter facilities give the ship the capability to re-supply warships by vertical replenishment (VERTREP).Two ships can be replenished at the same time using four Replenishment at Sea/ Fuel at Sea (RAS/FAS) stations on two frames.The cargo capacity includes 4,700t diesel fuel, 5,400t of diesel fuel overload, 1,200t of aviation fuel, and 160t of fresh water. The ship also has capacity for up to twelve storage containers.

- Stromboli class small fleet oilers

Displacement: 8,706 tons full load Dimensions: 129 x 18 x 6.5 meters (423 x 59 x 21 feet) Propulsion: 2 diesels, 1 shaft, 11,200 bhp, 19.5 knots Crew: 124 Aviation: aft helicopter deck Cargo: 1,370 tons fuel oil, 2,830 tons diesel, 480 tons aviation fuel, 200 tons misc stores Fire Control: SPG-70 gun control Armament: 1 76mm/62 DP, 2 20 mm

Aircraft  :

- Harrier VSTOL carrier fighter and bomber

itanavyhar.jpg (65610 bytes) The Harrier II Plus (AV-8B), manufactured by BAE SYSTEMS and Boeing, is a V/STOL fighter and attack aircraft operational with the Italian Navy.The Marina Military bought 16 Harrier AV-8B Harrier Plus and and two TAV-8B two-seat trainers. The Harrier II Plus extends the capabilities of the Harrier and is the latest addition to the family of Harrier aircraft. The Harrier II Plus is equipped with a multi-mode radar and has beyond-visual-range missile capability.

The Harrier II Plus is capable of deploying a wide range of weapon systems including the air-to-air AMRAAM and Sparrow missiles, air-to-surface AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and anti-ship Harpoon and Sea Eagle missiles, 25mm cannon and a range of bombs and rockets.

- Agusta Bell AB-212  Sikorsky SH-3D

itanavyab204.jpg (78104 bytes) Three squadrons operate the Agusta-Bell AB212.ASW, which first entered service in 1968. About 50 remaining from the 68 ordered.The AB212.ASW is an anti-submarine version also used for light transport and liaison duties.  For example to grant support to the operational group 'San Marco' Marines battalion and Comsubin intruder battalions. 

They are due to be replaced by the NH-90 from 2004.

- Sikorsky SH-3D/H

itanavyseaking.jpg (84619 bytes) The Italian SH-3D is identical to the American model, apart from the installation of a Teledyne Doppler radar and a search radar on the left side of the nose. Nineteen Agusta built SH-3Ds and ten SH-3H are in service with the Italian Navy.

Main Task of the SH-3D is ASW, but they are also heavily tasked with transport and for operations within the Naval Intruder Force, Comsubin. The SH-3D as been in service with the Italian Navy for over 30 years and is due for replacement by the EH 101 and NH-90.

- Brequet Atlantic

On 31 July 1974, Dassault-Breguet delivered the 18th Breguet 1150 Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft ordered by the Italian government. The Italian Airforcr provides the flight crew while the Navy provides the System operators.

The Br 1150 Atlanticis used for for Maritime patrol, anti-submarine missions and maritime SAR. These aircraft have been updated but are nearing the end of their service life. Germany and Italy signed a Memorandum of Understanding allowing for a joint definition phase. This will run until 31 January 2001 and is aimed at producing a detailed request for proposals for a new Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

- EH 101

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The EH101 medium-lift utility helicopter is manufactured by AgustaWestland, a joint venture company comprising Agusta and Westland Helicopters. Italy and Great Britain signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 1979 to develop a medium lift helicopter and the result was the EH 101. 

Italy has ordered 16 EH101s for the Marina Militare Italiana. These will be eight ASW with L-3 Communications HELRAS active dipping sonar, four AEW and four utility helicopters. The helicopter’s primary roles are anti-surface ship and submarine warfare, tracking and surveillance, amphibious operations and search-and-rescue missions.Merlin has the capacity to carry up to four homing torpedoes or depth bombs. The anti-surface version is able to carry a range of air-to-surface missiles including sea-skimming anti-ship missiles.

- NH-90 Nato Frigate Helicopter

nh-90-1.jpg (36963 bytes) The NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) is one of two versions of the NH90 twin-engine multi-role helicopter being developed by NH Industries. The Italian Navy has ordered 46 NH-90 NFHs. The primary missions of the NH90 NFH helicopter are in the autonomous anti submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface ship warfare (AsuW) role. Secondary roles include anti-air warfare (AAW), vertical replenishment (VERTREP), search and rescue (SAR), troop transport and mine laying.

The cockpit has five 8in x 8in colour multifunction liquid crystal displays for flight, mission systems and maintenance data.The NATO Frigate Helicopter can be armed with anti-submarine torpedoes, air-to-surface missiles and air-to-air missiles.The NFH is equipped with a tactical forward-looking infrared system (FLIR) mounted in the nose, a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) and a sonar suite. The NFH is equipped with a 360° surveillance radar mounted under the nose.

 

Sources :

Italian Navy Official Homepage
Fincantieri Shipbuilding
Naval Technology
Subnet Italia
Aerospace Encyclopdia of World Air Forces