Bergamini-class frigate

Luigi Rizzo
Class overview
Name	Bergamini-class frigate
Operators	Italian Navy
Preceded by	Centauro class
Succeeded by	Alpino class
In commission	1961–1988
Completed	4
Retired	4
General characteristics
Type	Frigate
Displacement	1,410 t (1,390 long tons) standard 1,650 t (1,620 long tons) full load
Length	86.5 m (283 ft 10 in) pp 94.0 m (308 ft 5 in) overall
Beam	11.4 m (37 ft 5 in)
Draught	3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	4 × diesels 16,000 bhp (12,000 kW) 2 × shafts
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	163
Sensors and processing systems	SPS-12 radar SPQ-2 navigational radar RTN-10 fire-control radar
Electronic warfare & decoys	SPR-A ESM system
Armament	2 × 76 mm (3 in) DP guns 1 × Menon ASW mortar 2 × triple 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried	1 × AB-212ASW helicopter
Aviation facilities	Single hangar and helipad

The Bergamini class was a class of four frigates operated by the Italian Navy. They entered service in 1961, with the last one being stricken in 1988.

Design

A new class of four corvettes officially designated Corvette Veloci Tipo 2 - (Type 2 Fast Corvette) for the Marina Militare (Italian Navy) was announced in 1956. They were larger than the existing Albatros-class corvettes of the Italian Navy, and carried similar anti-submarine equipment to the frigates of the Centauro class. The ships were to be powered by four diesel engines driving two shafts, which could propel the ships to 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph).

The armament of the class was subject to numerous changes during the design and construction process, which affected the layout of the ship. As finally built, the ships carried an anti-aircraft armament of three 76-millimetre (3 in) rapid fire cannons, capable of firing 57 rounds per minute per gun, with two forward and one aft. A single autoloading Menon anti-submarine mortar was fitted forward of the bridge and was capable of firing 15 depth charges per minute to a range of about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). This was supplemented by two Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes capable of launching American lightweight Mark 44 torpedoes. A helicopter deck and folding hangar for a light helicopter was fitted behind the bridge, with the diesel exhaust uptakes and the ship's mast combined into a mack to make room for the hangar, while fin stabilisers were fitted to aid helicopter operations on such a small ship.

History

Carlo Margottini and Luigi Rizzo were laid down at the Navalmeccanica shipyard, Castellammare in 1957. The next ship of the class, Carlo Bergamini was planned to be built by Cantieri Navale de Taranto, but the order was switched to the CRDA shipyards at Trieste, work starting in 1959. The final ship of the class, Virginio Fasan was laid down at Castellammare in 1960. Luigi Rizzo was the first to enter service in 1961, with all four ships in service by the end of 1962.

In the late 1960s, the Marina Militare adopted the AB.204 as its standard shipboard helicopter. In order to accommodate the larger helicopter, a larger helicopter deck and hangar (which was still collapsible) was fitted, which in turn required removal of the aft 76 mm gun.

Luigi Rizzo and Carlo Bergamini were discarded in 1980 and 1981 respectively. The final two ships were not finally stricken until 1988.

Ships in class

Source

	Number	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned	Stricken
Carlo Bergamini	F 593	CRDA Trieste	19 July 1959	16 June 1960	23 June 1962	November 1981
Virginio Fasan	F 594	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	6 March 1960	9 October 1960	10 October 1962	7 December 1988
Carlo Margottini	F 595		26 May 1957	12 June 1960	5 May 1962	31 May 1988
Luigi Rizzo	F 596		26 May 1957	6 March 1960	15 December 1961	30 November 1980

References

• Blackman, Raymond V. B. Jane's Fighting Ships 1962–63. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1962.
• Blackman, Raymond V. B. Jane's Fighting Ships 1971–72. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1971. ISBN 0-354-00096-9.
• Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.

External links

• Carlo Bergamini (F 593) Marina Militare website