The Italian Republican Navy in Twilight

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The Italian Republican Navy in Twilight

Personnel: 49,100; 1,000 Marines (The San Marco battalion)

Naval Aviation: 36 SH-3D Sea King ASW helos, 57 AB-212 ASW Helos. Italy is a partner in the development of the EH-101 ASW helo and has plans to purchase 30 to replace its Sea King force. Currently, their are plans to procure 64 NH-90 helos to replace the AB-212 fleet. The Italian Navy has also started to purchase 15 AV-8B+ Harrier V/STOL fighters and 2 TAV-8B trainers, to be delivered 1992-93. Plans to procure 4 E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft for land-based use are in place. The Air Force has 18 Atlantic MkI maritime patrol aircraft to support fleet operations; their Tornado strike aircraft can also be used for anti-ship when armed with the Kormoran I ASM.

1 + 1 Giuseppe Garibaldi-class Helicopter Carrier
C 551 Giuseppe Garibaldi; C 552 Giuseppe Mazzini
Displacement of 13,240 tons. Speed of 29.5kts. Crew of 550 + 230 air group + 45 flag staff. Armament consists of four twin Otomat MkII SSM launchers, two eight-cell Albatros SAM launchers, three twin 40mm Breda AA guns, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes. Air Group with 16 SH-3D helos, to be replaced with 6 Harrier and 10 EH-101. Mazzini planned to be laid down in 1994 and in service 1997.

2 Primo Longobardo-class Diesel-Electric Submarines
S 524 Primo Longobardo; S 525 Gazzana Priaroggia
Displacement of 1,653/1,862 tons. Speed of 11/19kts. Crew of 52. Armament consists of six 533mm torpedo tubes.

2 Salvatore Pelosi-class Diesel-Electric Submarines
S 522 Salvatore Pelosi; S 523 Giuliano Prini
Displacement of 1,476/1,662 tons. Speed of 11/19kts. Crew of 50. Armament consists of six 533mm torpedo tubes.

4 Nazario Sauro-class Diesel-Electric Submarines
S 518 Nazario Sauro; S 519 Carlo Fecia di Cossato; S 520 Leonardo da Vinci; S 521 Guglielmo Marconi
Displacement of 1,450/1,637 tons. Speed of 11/19.3kts. Crew of 49. Armament consists of six 533mm torpedo tubes.

2 Enrico Toti-class Diesel-Electric Submarines
S 513 Enrico Dandolo; S 514 Lazzaro Mocenigo
Displacement of 536/593 tons. Speed of 9.7/14kts. Crew of 26. Armament consists of four 533mm torpedo tubes.

1 Vittorio Veneto-class Cruiser
C 550 Vittorio Veneto
Displacement of 9,500 tons. Speed of 30.5kts. Crew of 557. Armament consists of one twin Mk20 SAM launcher w/Standard ER and ASROC, four single Otomat MkII SSM launchers, eight single 76mm OTO Melara guns, three twin 40mm Breda AA guns, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes. 6 AB-212 ASW helos. Has extensive electronic intercept arrays. To be retired in 2000.

1 Andrea Doria-class Cruiser
C 553 Andrea Doria
Displacement of 7,300 tons. Speed of 30kts. Crew of 484. Armament consists of one twin Mk10 SAM launcher for Standard ER, eight single 76mm OTO Melara guns, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, 3 AB-212 ASW helos. Sister Ciao Duilio (C554) stricken 1991. Andrea Doria to be stricken in 1993.

0 + 2 + 2 Animoso-class Guided Missile Destroyers
D 560 Animoso; D 561 Ardimentoso
Displacement of 5,250 tons. Speed of 31.5kts. Crew of 400. Armament consists of four twin Otimat MkII SSM launchers, one single Mk13 SAM launcher for Standard MR, one eight-cell Albatros SAM launcher, one single 127mm OTO Melara gun, three single 76mm OTO Melara guns, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, 2 SH-3D ASW Helos. Entering service in late 1993, two additional units are planned for 1995-97.

2 Audace-class Guided Missile Destroyers
D 550 Ardito; D 551 Audace
Displacement of 4,553 tons. Speed of 33kts. Crew of 380. Armament consists of four twin Otomat Mk SSM launchers, one single Mk13 SAM launcher w/Standard MR, one eight-cell Albatros SAM launcher, one single 127mm OTO Melara gun, four single 76mm OTO Melara guns, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, 2 AB-212 ASW helos. Considered to be excellent designs when built in the late 1970s, being replaced by the second set of Animoso-class, to be retired in 2000.

1 Impavido-class Guided Missile Destroyer
D 570 Impavido
Displacement of 3,850 tons. Speed of 33.5kts. Crew of 335. Armament consists of one single Mk13 SAM launcher w/Standard MR, one twin Mk30
5in/38 DP guns, four single 76mm OTO Melara guns, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes. In reserve, to be stricken 1994.

8 Maestrale-class Frigates
F 570 Maestrale; F 571 Grecale; F 572 Libeccio; F 573 Scirocco; F 574 Aliseo; F 575 Euro; F 576 Espero; F 577 Zeffiro
Displacement of 3,200 tons. Speed of 33kts. Crew of 232. Armament consists of four single Otomat MkII SSM launchers, one eight-cell Albatros SAM launcher, one single 127mm OTO Melara, two twin 40mm Breda AA guns, two single 533mm ASW torpedo tubes, teo triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, 2 AB-212 ASW helos An enlarged version of the Lupo-class with more hanger space and better seaworthiness.

4 Lupo-class Frigates
F 564 Lupo; F 565 Sagittario; F 566 Perseo; F 567 Orsa
Displacement of 2,525 tons. Speed of 35.23kts. Crew of 194. Armament consists of eight single Otomat MkII SSM launchers, one eight-cell NATO Sea Sparrow SAM launcher, one single 127mm OTO Melara gun, two twin 40mm Beda AA guns, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, one AB-212 ASW helo. Slatted for disposal in 2000.

0 + 4 modified Lupo-class Frigates (ex-Iraqi)
Displacement of 2,525 tons. Speed of 35kts. Crew of 185. Armament consists of eight single Otomat MkII SSM launchers, one eight-cell Albatros SAM launchers, one single 127mm OTO Melara gun, two twin 40mm Beda AA guns, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, one AB-212 ASW helicopter. Ordered by Iraq in 1981, seized as part of UN sanctions. The Italian Navy does not want to add these ships to the fleet due to their non-standard equipment and general obsolescence, but the government has ordered them to be added in 1992. Currently undergoing refit and will be commissioned in 1993-94.

2 Alpino-class Frigates
F 580 Alpino; F 581 Carabinere
Displacement of 2,689 tons. Speed of 28kts. Crew of 247. Armament consists of F 580: six single 76mm OTO Melara guns, one single-barreled 305mm ASW mortar, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, one AB-212 ASW helo. F 581: three single 76mm OTO Melara guns, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, one AB-212 helo. F 581 serves as a weapons trail ship. Both to be discarded in 1997.

8 + 4 Minerva-class Corvettes
F 551 Minerva; F 552 Urania; F 553 Daniade; F 554 Sfinge; F 555 Driade; F 556 Chimera; F 557 Fenice; F 558 Sibilla
Displacement of 1,285 tons. Speed of 24kts. Crew of 124. Armament consists of one eight-cell Albatross SAM launchers, one 76mm OTO Melara gun, two triple 324mm torpedo tubes. Intended for surveillance, coastal escort, fisheries protection, training and search-and-rescue.

0 + 4 modified Wadi M’ragh-class Corvettes
Displacement of 675 tons. Speed of 37.5kts. Crew of 51. Armament consists of two triple Otomat MkII SSM launchers, one four-cell Albatross SAM launchers, one single 76mm OTO Melara gun, one twin 40mm Bread AA guns, two triple 324mm torpedo tubes. Additional seized Iraqi Navy units.

4 + 2 Cassiopea-class Patrol Ships
P 401 Cassiopea; P 402 Libra; P 403 Spica; P 404 Vega; P 405 Orione
Displacement of 1,470 tons. Speed of 21kts. Crew of 78. Armament consists of one single 76mm OTO Melara gun, two single 20mm AA guns, 1
AB-212 helo. Used for fisheries patrol, anti-pollution and search-and-rescue duties.

4 Pietro de Cristofaro-class Patrol Ships
F 540 Pietro de Cristofaro; F 541 Umberto Grossp; F 546 Licio Visintini; F 550 Salvatore Todaro
Displacement of 1,020 tons. Speed of 22kts. Crew of 129. Armament consists of two single 76mm OTO Melara guns. Assigned to fisheries protection duties.

6 Sparviero-class Hydrofoils
P 421 Nibbio; P 422 Falcone; P 423 Astore; P 424 Griffone; P 425 Gheppio;
P 426 Condore
Displacement of 63 tons. Speed of 50kts. Crew of 10. Armament consists of two single Otomat MkII SSM launchers, one single 76mm OTO Melara gun. P 420 Sparviero was stricken in 1991.

0 + 6 + 2 Lerici II-class Mine Countermeasures Ships
M 5554 Gaeta; M 5555 Termoli; M 5556 Alghero; M 5557 Numana; M 5558 Crotone; M 5560 Viareggio; M 5561 Chioggia; M 5562 Rimini
Displacement of 697 tons. Speed of 14.3kts. Crew of 50. Armament consists of one single 20mm AA gun. Lenthenged version of the Lerici-class. Carries two remote-controlled mine disposal submersibles and a team of mine disposal divers.

4 Lerici-class Minehunters
M 5550 Lerici; M 5551 Sapri; M 5552 Milazzo; M 5553 Vieste
Displacement of 520 tons. Speed of 15kts. Crew of 48. Armament consists of three single 20mm AA guns. Carries two remote-controlled mine disposal submersibles and a team of mine disposal divers.

2 ex US Agile-class Minesweepers
M 5431 Storione; M 5433 Squalo
Displacement of 750 tons. Speed of 14kts. Crew of 62. Armament consists of one single 40mm AA gun. Scheduled to be discarded in 1993-94.

6 ex US Adjutant-class Minehunters
M 5504 Castagno; M 5505 Cedro; M 5509 Gelso; M 5516 Platano; M 5519 Mandorlo; M 5538 Loto
Displacement of 405 tons. Speed of 11.4kts. Crew of 31. Armament consists of two single 20mm A guns. Employ one remote-controlled mine disposal submersible. Slatted for retirement in 1995-98.

2 + 1 San Giorgio-class Amphibious Warfare Ships
L 9892 San Giorgio; L 9893 San Marco
Displacement of 7,665 tons. Speed of 21kts. Crew of 170 + 400 troops. Armament consists of one single 76mm OTO Melara gun, two single 20mm AA guns, two single 12.7mm HMGs, 5 SH-3D helos. Sister L 9894 to be laid down in 1993, in service 1995. Carries three LCM-class and three LCVP-class landing craft.

2 + 2 Personnel Transports
Displacement of 82 tons. Speed of 28kts. Crew of 4 + 250 troops. Unarmed. To be carried on the Garibaldi-class carriers as commando transports, search-and-rescue, disaster relief and general transport duties.

8 + 3 MTM 217-class Landing Craft
Displacement of 64.6 tons. Speed of 9kts. Crew of 3 + 85 troops. Unarmed. LCM-class landing craft to be carried on the San Giorgio-class ships. Cargo capacity of 30 tons.

15 ex US LCM(6)-class Landing Craft
Displacement of 56 tons. Speed of 10kts. Crew of 3 + 80 troops. Unarmed. Cargo capacity of 30 tons.

8 + 3 MTP 96-class Landing Craft
Displacement of 14.3 tons. Speed of 26kts. Crew of 3 + 45 troops. Unarmed.

Source is the “Combat Fleets of the World: 1993”