Soldato - Patrol/Light Frigate (4 ship)

Italian version

Dimensions: 113,5 x 11,9 x 4,0 (5,7) m

Displacement: 2.525 tons full load, 2.208 tons standard

Propulsion: 2 Fiat-General Electric LM-2500 gas turbine, 50.000 HP (36.765 kW), for 35 knots; 2 Grandi Motori Trieste BL-230.20M diesel motors, 7.800 HP (5.735 kW), for 21 knots

Range: 5000 miles at 15 knot with diesel motori

Crew: 16 + 169

Air component: 1 AB-212 ASW and in future NH90 NFH

Armament: 8 OTO Melara Teseo Mk 2 from single and twin launchers; 1 Albatros launcher for 16 Aspide missile; 1 naval gun Oto Melara 127/54 mm (lightweight version on F584); 4 twin machine guns Breda 40/70 mm; 2 SCLAR launch rocket systems integrated for countermeasures Breda from 105 mm

Radar: Selenia RAN 10S (SPS 774) for air / surface search in E/F band; Selenia RAN 12 L/X (SPQ-712) for surface search in I band; SMA SPS-703 for navigation in I band; 2 Selenia RTN 20X (SPG-70) for Albatross and 127/54; 2 Selenia SPG-74 for i 40/70 mm

Electronic Werfare: interceptor and jammer Selenia SLQ-747

Program/history: The four units, export version of Lupo class, were built for Iraq between 1982 and 1986 but were placed under seizure during the conflict in Iraq / Iran until 1990 when the UN forbade the sale of weapons to IRAQ. Despite strong resistance by the Committee for Defence, the Italian parliament approved the financing for the purchase by the Navy in July 1993. The units were removed all weapons and equipment to fight antisubmarine, were upgraded the communication systems, combat systems and other minors to bring the unity to NATO standards. The units entered into service, officially as "patrol ship" between 1994 and 1996. The ship have SATCOM satellite telecommunications system.
Their use is limited to missions overseas presence, blocking, actions and anti patrolling offshore. The Navy is using these ships intensively to restrict the use of the most valuable ship of Maestrale class. Ship Bersagliere, F584, was used in recent years to test the most modern armaments, including the launch rocket system integrated SCLAR-H and the Lightweight naval gun Oto Melara 127/54.

Artigliere: -

Aviere: -

Bersagliere: -

Granatiere: -

Cost: the overall costs of the programme for the acquisition and logistic support of 4 units is 1090 million of €. Part of annual investments are as follows:
2001 => 112 milions of euro
2002 => 115 milions of euro
2003 => 51,6 milions of euro

Builder: Fincantieri S.p.a. on Ancona (F582, F583 e F584), Riva Trigoso (F585) and Muggiano where they are fitting

Number	Name	Year comm.	Homeport
F582	Artigliere	1994	Taranto
F583	Aviere	1995	Taranto
F584	Bersagliere	1995	Taranto
F585	Granatiere	1996	Taranto

Layout with modified Bersagliere

Reference: Marina Militare Italiana and Ministero della Difesa

Photo bi: MarinaMilitare Italiana

Update: 29/07/2008