Durand De La Penne Degree Destroyers Of The Italian Navy

Written yesteryear D-Mitch

D560 Luigi Durand de la Penne, atomic number 82 send of the class.
Photo: Marina Militare Italiana

Elegant lines as well as powerful armament. These are the characteristics of the Durand de la Penne shape destroyers of Italian Navy (Marina Militare), the finally shape of non-stealth major surface combatants inwards service with Italian Navy and some of the most beautiful as well as well-armed warships always built. Two ships belong inwards this shape of anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) destroyers, the Luigi Durand de la Penne as well as the Francesco Mimbelli. The ships were built yesteryear Fincantieri as well as they were commissioned inwards 1993. Initially at that spot was a programme to built iv ships of the shape but the 2nd twosome was cancelled equally Italy joined French Republic inwards the Horizon projection for AAW destroyers. The ships of the shape are advanced as well as quite capable to perform whatever form of mission given due to their extensive armament as well as electronic equipment.

D561 Francesco Mimbelli, the 2nd destroyer inwards the class. Photo: Marina Militare Italiana

The aft 76mm gun atop of the hangar
as well as the SSM/ASW launchers amidships

OTO Melara 127mm, Albatros launcher
and 76mm guns of Francesco Mimbelli

The full general characteristics of the shape is displacement of 5,400tons at total load, length of most 148m, beam of 16m, maximum speed of 32knots (!) and a arrive at of 7,000n.m. with a cruising speed of 18knots. The send has a crew of 350 persons, a typical characteristic of the warships of that era. Each destroyer tin accommodate two AB212 ASW helicopters inwards its double hangar land heavier helicopter types such equally the EH101 or NH90 tin province on the large flying deck but cannot jibe into the hangar (perhaps the hangar has been modified to jibe also NH90). As an development of the Audace destroyers, the ships of the shape stimulate got a heavy gun armament; each destroyer has 1 master copy gun on the bow deck, the dual-purpose OTO Melara Compatto 127mm/54cal dated from the belatedly '60s. The mounting has 66-ready-to-fire rounds inwards 3 drums located below the gun house. Each drum tin agree a dissimilar ammunition type as well as each tin hold upwards independently selected; the drums are automatically reloaded fifty-fifty land the gun is firing. The gun is capable to intercept air as well as surface targets at a distance of 7km as well as 15km respectively (24km maximum range) unleashing 45 rounds per infinitesimal weighting greater than 32kg each. Watch a video of the gun inwards activity here. The previous calendar month it was reported that the gun of destroyer Francesco Mimbellli has been upgraded with the VULCANO module (source). VULCANO organization consists of iv fundamental sub-systems: the medium caliber 127/64 LW Gun assembly, the Automated Ammunition Handling System, the Naval Fire Control Support as well as the VULCANO identify unit of measurement of ammunition. The organization is intended for surface burn as well as naval gunfire back upwards equally master copy role as well as anti-aircraft burn equally secondary role. The 127/64 LW - VULCANO is equipped with a modular feeding magazine, composed yesteryear 4 drums with fourteen cook to burn ammunition each (56 inwards total), reloadable during firing, as well as highly flexible inwards terms of choice of ammunition, independently from their seat inwards the drums. Ammunition catamenia is reversible equally rounds tin hold upwards downloaded automatically. The 127mm VULCANO ammunition family, is composed yesteryear Ballistic Extended Range (BER) as well as Guided Long Range (GLR) ammunition with dissimilar multifunctional fuses, sensor as well as finally guidance that extend the arrive at of the gun upwards to 100km. The charge per unit of measurement of burn is 32rds per minute. General Purpose FREMMs are getting the highly Automated Ammunition Handling System for the 127/64 mm gun, which holds 350 127mm shells inwards improver to the 56 inwards the iv reload drums of the gun turret.

Francesco Mimbelli's 127/54C gun nether upgrade
with Vulcano module. Via Larry, difesa.forumfree.it.

In improver to the 5in gun, each destroyer is equipped with 3 fully automatic OTO Melara Super Rapido 76mm/62cal guns; the 2 of them are located at each side of the Albatros missile launcher which is located behind the 5in gun. Each 3in gun is capable to intercept air as well as surface targets at a distance of 16-20km (depending on the round) unleashing 120 rounds per infinitesimal weighting greater than 6kg each. The effective arrive at is betwixt 5-8km. The revolver periodical inwards the mountain holds 85 cook rounds. With the utilisation of sophisticated fuses the guns can engage at 6 km fifty-fifty anti-ship missiles. The guns are remotely controlled but at that spot is provision for an emergency local control.

Modified photograph of Durand de la Penne shape destroyer of the Italian Navy. In high resolution here.

Launch of an Aspide 2000 from Albatros Mk2 launcher

Immediately behind the 5in gun, it is installed an MBDA Albatros Mk 2 8-cell launcher for Aspide surface-to-air missiles. The organization launches 2 types of semi-active missiles, the measure Aspide Mk2 with 15km arrive at for dot defence as well as the novel Aspide 2000 with 25km arrive at for express expanse defense. Both versions stimulate got a speed of Mach 2 as well as they bear a 35kg warhead. Aspide is a good proven, all weather condition as well as highly ECM (electronic countermeasure) resistant naval organization designed to counter aircraft, UAVs, helicopters at sea, equally good equally body of body of water skimming as well as diving anti-ship missiles as well as PGMs. The organization is integrated completely with the burn command systems of the send which are also guide the guns. Aspide missile uses the same airframe of Sea Sparrow (RIM-7) SAM. One or 2 missiles tin hold upwards simultaneously guided against the same target. The organization provides for a Single Shot Kill Probability greater than 0.8 with a unmarried missile as well as 0.96 with 2 missiles. Each destroyer carries sixteen Aspide missiles ammunition (which is mounted below the launcher deck) inwards improver to the 8 ready-to-fire loaded inwards the launcher. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Riva-Calzoni organization tin rapidly charge 4 directly inwards the 8-cell launcher. The maximum firing charge per unit of measurement is 1 missile every 2.5 seconds.

Riva-Calzoni's automatic reloading organization for the Albatros launcher.
Photo: Military Technology Magazine 1982

Aft 3in gun as well as Mk13 launcher armed. Photo: Samuele Risolo

Another sentiment of the aft 3in gun as well as Mk13 launcher

Conceived equally air defence destroyers, the primary anti-aircraft equipment, except the Albatros launcher as well as the guns, it is a single-arm Raytheon Tartar guided missile launching organization (GMLS) Mk13 Mod 4 launcher for Standard SM-1MR (RIM-66E) surface-to-air missiles. Italian Navy has non replaced the SM-1MR (Medium Range) missiles with the newer as well as to a greater extent than advanced SM-2MR missiles despite some reports the finally decade most a possible buy yesteryear Italian Navy of this variant of Standard missiles after the New Threat Upgrade programme (NTU). NTU was a U.S.A. Navy programme to ameliorate the capability of ships equipped with Terrier as well as Tartar anti-aircraft systems. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, inwards July 2000, Italy requested a commencement batch of 50 SM-2MR (Block IIIA) missiles with weapon organization components, iv MK 74 Mod xv (X-band) missile burn command systems, containers, exam sets, systems, transmitters, alteration kits, spare as well as repair parts, back upwards as well as exam equipment, publications as well as technical documentation, training, U.S. authorities as well as contractor technical assistance as well as other related elements of logistics support. The estimated terms was $135 1000000 (U.S. Department of Defense, Release No: 440-00, July 24, 2000). The source reported that "Italy volition utilisation these missiles equally replacements for older missiles currently inwards the Italian fleet. Italy, which already has Standard missiles inwards its inventory, volition stimulate got no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles". However this buy never took place. It tin hold upwards confirmed on the Raytheon's website where the 8 counties-users of the SM-2 are reported as well as Italy is non with them. the The launcher is capable of firing the Standard missile at a charge per unit of measurement of 1 per 8 seconds; the Mk xiii Mod 4 GMLS tin stow upwards to xl missiles. The SM-1MR has a speed of Mach 2.5 as well as a arrive at of some 45km (the arrive at is almost double for the SM-2MR, most 70-80km). In improver to the greater range, the SM-2MR has improved performance over depression mental attitude targets as well as a greater resistance to ECM. The RIM-66E variant has the monopulse seeker that developed for the SM-2MR, the Mk115 warhead that is existence used yesteryear the SM-2MR, proximity fuze as well as a high grain explosive warhead (125kg?). The missiles are guided yesteryear inertial navigation (the SM-2MR only) as well as at that spot is a communication link for mid-course commands as well as monopulse semi-active radar homing for the terminal guidance stage of the interception. The Standard missiles stimulate got also pregnant secondary capability against naval targets.

Mk13 launcher

Mk xiii launcher of USS Byrd (DDG-63) destroyer

Mk13 launcher

Twin Otomat launchers as well as unmarried MILAS launchers on
a Durand de la Penne shape destroyer

The destroyers bear the MBDA Otomat/Teseo Mk2A block IV guided anti-ship missile in four twin launchers amidships. The missile has a arrive at of upwards to 180km, a high subsonic speed Mach 0.9 as well as carries a warhead of 210kg capable piercing upwards to 80mm of steel. The warhead is designed to explode within the send with the forcefulness of the explosion directed to the bottom of the target ship. Capable of ranges from 6-180km inwards all directions, the organization relies on powerful mission planning (3D way-points, terminal body of body of water skimming profile, simultaneous laid on from dissimilar directions). Target information is derived from the ship's Command System or taken straight from the ship's surface search radar. Mission Planning allows the choice of dissimilar firing modes (such equally Fire as well as Forget or midcourse guided) as well as of specific trajectories as well as evasive manoeuvres. Cruise as well as approach phases may hold upwards either fully inertial or partially guided from the launch send through a radio-link. Mid class re-vectoring from a co-operating send or helicopter is also possible. The fantabulous capabilities of the missile (short reaction time, Fire as well as Forget, INS/GPS navigation, high target selection, ECCM as well as anti-CIWS manoeuvres, warhead lethality with no collateral damage) allow the organization to operate effectively inwards littoral warfare environments, equally good equally inwards blueish waters. The terminal laid on stage is based upon an autonomous terminal guidance using an active homing caput with improved target choice capabilities inwards complex scenarios. It should hold upwards mentioned that Otomat is 1 of the most powerful western anti-ship missiles having a mid class data-link as well as province laid on capability.

HMAS Toowoomba launches MU90
torpedo. Photo: Royal Australian Navy

Eurotorp B515 324mm torpedo launcher

For anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations the vessels stimulate got 2 triple Eurotorp B515 324mm (similar to Mk32) torpedo launchers for MU90/Impact torpedoes. MU90 is a lightweight torpedo with a warhead of 32.7kg, a speed from 29 to a maximum of 50 knots (!), most 10km with maximum speed as well as 23km with minimum speed. The maximum depth is 1,000m. The torpedo, is of fire-and-forget type as well as it has been designed to counter whatever type of nuclear or conventional submarine, acoustically coated, deep as well as fast-evasive, deploying active or passive anti-torpedo effectors land it has an extreme agility as well as maneuverability. In the master copy counter-counter measures are included stationary target detection capability, decoy classification as well as anti-jammer tactics.

Modified photograph of Durand de la Penne shape destroyer. For a higher resolution picture click here.

MILAS ASW missile. Photo: MBDA

Instead of a total charge of anti-ship missiles, the destroyers tin replace some of their Otomat with MILAS anti-submarine missile system. MILAS is the European counterpart to the ASROC. Derived from the Otomat MK2 missile system, MILAS is an all weather, anti-submarine warfare weapon organization designed to operate inwards conjunction with modern detection systems such equally rattling depression frequency active as well as passive sonar which furnish long arrive at detection combined with rattling high precision. MILAS is designed to bear as well as set out an MU-90, or like lightweight torpedo, closed to the designated submarine position, equally indicated yesteryear the send sonar or yesteryear a co-operating ASW helicopter or MPA. MILAS is capable of ranges from five to inwards excess of 35 km inwards all directions. The firing organization is highly automated as well as requires exclusively a unmarried operator. Once the ship’s sonar has detected an enemy submarine, the sonar contact is analysed as well as classified before a target designation is sent to a dedicated MILAS console. The organization effectiveness relies on the capability to update the trajectory as well as the torpedo set out dot continuously during the missile flight, with the added wages of modifying the torpedo settings inwards honor of target manoeuvres. The MILAS missile, featuring 360° gyro-deviation as well as in-flight re-vectoring to counter whatever avoidance measures carried out yesteryear the target, as well as hence delivers the torpedo inwards the immediate vicinity of the enemy submarine. On entering the water, the torpedo activates its ain sonar detection as well as propulsion systems. Then, after a rapid searching phase, it proceeds to laid on as well as destroy the target. With its fast reaction time, operational arrive at as well as availability, the organization provides the launching send as well as the escorted naval formation permanent as well as effective defence against the submarine, hold upwards it conventional or nuclear. MILAS missiles tin also hold upwards used together with OTOMAT MK 2 missiles inwards a mutual system/ launcher for combined ASW as well as ASuW. It is bigger than Otomat, 6m long as well as 800 kg. Developed inwards co-operation yesteryear French Republic as well as Italy, MILAS is inwards operational service exclusively with the Italian Navy till today.

SCLAR-H decoy launcher on a Horizon shape destroyer. Photo: Enrico Veneruso

It is clear that the ships of the shape are equipped with 2 OTO Melara/Selex SCLAR-H decoy launchers for 105mm or 118mm multipurpose rockets as well as non with the Matra CSEE Sagaie launchers which stimulate got been replaced.

Luigi Durand de la Penne prior the modernization with its SPS-768 as well as SPS-52C radars as well as Sagaie decoy launchers

The destroyers were initially built with the U.S.A. rootage Hughes SPS-52C 3D air search long arrive at radar as well as the SPS-768 (RAN-3L) air search radar which both stimulate got been replaced during the finally decade yesteryear the modern Selex SPS-798(V) (RAN-40L) 3D air search long arrive at radar. This is an L-Band search radar designed to operate within complex naval fighting defence systems. It ensures an instrumental detection of aircraft at a arrive at of upwards to 400 km land it tin rail to a greater extent than than 500 targets simultaneously. The radar is placed at the human foot of the master copy mast.

At the human foot of the master copy mast the novel RAN-40 land on top the RAN-21 radar.
Photo: Stefano Coglia Cagliari

As all ships that are equipped with Albatros launcher, the destroyers of the shape have a Selex SPS-794 (V) (RAN 21S) 3D medium arrive at air as well as surface search E/F-band radar on their master copy mast. The stabilized solid (vice mesh) antenna has a arrive at of most 150km land a sea-skimming missile of a 0.1m² dimension tin hold upwards detected at 10km. An Identification Friendly or Foe (IFF) is integrated into the antenna; it is placed on the top of the reflector.

D560 Luigi Durand de la Penne prior the modernization.
Photo: Luis Díaz-Bedia Astor

D561 Fracesco Mimbelli after the modernization with 1 AB212 on the flightdeck.
Photo: Stefano Coglia Cagliari

The twosome of SPG-51D radars as well as one
of the 3 NA-30E FCS on Francesco
Mimbelli. Photo: Stefano Coglia Cagliari

Luigi Durand de la Penne.
Photo yesteryear @YorukIsik

Behind the master copy mast at that spot are 2 Raytheon AN/SPG-51D (G/I-band) burn command missile systems that guide the Standard Missile-1 (SM-1) surface-to-air missiles to their maximum range. AN/SPG-51D radars, component of the Mk74 Missile Fire Control System, are located straight aft of the aft funnel. The systems stimulate got non been upgraded to Mk74 Mod14/15 configuration inwards guild to guide the SM-2MR missiles equally it was already mentioned Italy never proceeded inwards the buy of the upgraded variant. Aircraft tracking is based on monopulse radar utilizing Pulse-Doppler radar signal processing inwards Mk74 Mod eleven as well as non the Mod 14/15 that the New Threat Upgrade (NTU) would stimulate got included. The Mk74 Mod xv configuration includes X-band continuous-wave radar tracking inwards improver to pulse-Doppler tracking with the utilisation of a secondary antenna as well as it supports terminal illumination, nurture reference, as well as uplink requirements of SM-2. It provides illumination for bistatic radar functioning associated with missile guidance inwards all configurations. The Naval Institute Guide to the World Naval Weapon Systems, 2006 reports "NTU is unremarkably characterized equally a piteous man's Aegis, inwards that it exploits the commandable autopilot of the SM-2 missile to increment firepower without requiring a precision radar. NTU was originally associated with weapons management organization Mk 14. Like Aegis, NTU entails target illumination exclusively nigh the target; upwards to that point, the missile is intermittently command-guided on the terra firma of search radar (track-while-scan) data. The lack of precision inwards the ships' master copy radars (compared with SPY-1) reduces firepower inwards 2 ways. First, command guidance is less precise, hence the missile is non brought equally closed to the target before switching to semi-active guidance. Second, NTU ships cannot utilisation the slaved illuminators of that system. Instead, illuminating radars stimulate got to search for as well as lock onto targets for terminal illumination. That increases the fourth dimension per target as well as reduces overall firepower compared with Aegis. Even so, NTU drastically increases the efficacy of non-Aegis missile ships". It's clear that Durand de la Penne shape destroyers would stimulate got been actually powerful armed ships if the NTU upgrade as well as the buy of the SM-2 missiles would stimulate got been proceeded but unfortunately this upgrade never went through as well as it was cancelled. SM-1 missiles are most to hold upwards retired from the Italian inventory (if this hasn't happened yet) hence the ships maybe reclassified to frigates.

Luigi Durand de la Penne firing its master copy gun. Photo: Marina Militare Italiana

Halfway upwards the forrard mast it is installed the SMA MM/SPS-702 (RAN 11L/X) air as well as surface search radar. This radar alternates long as well as curt pulses for both medium arrive at air as well as surface search as well as precise curt arrive at navigational coverage. It tin hold upwards used also for target designation. The roll-stabilized mounting is sharing (together with the reflector) the associated IFF interrogator. On the foward mast at that spot is also a GEM Elletronica MM/SPN-735 navigation X-band radar.

D560 prior the modernization.
Photo: Marina Militare Italiana

Luigi Durand de la Penne prior the modernization.
Photo: Marina Militare Italiana

Each destroyer is equipped with 3 (originally four) Selex NA-30E (Dardo E) radar as well as optronic burn command systems a organization which comprised of the I-band fully coherent Orion RTN-30X automatic target acquisition as well as monopulse tracking radar with the improver of TV/IL/laser as well as IR electro-optical sensors. This organization is specially optimized to counter the depression as well as rattling depression height threat inwards an environs characterized yesteryear rain, sea, as well as province clutter, as well as dense ECM (electronic countermeasures) .Two of the systems are installed atop of the span land the 3rd 1 is located at the port side, adjacent to the aft AN/SPG-51D burn command system. Each FCS tin command 2 weapon systems (Aspide, 5in gun or 3in gun). The organization has a arrive at of some 15km.

Luigi Durand de la Penne after the modernization.
Photo: Marina Militare Italiana

As it was mentioned earlier, each destroyer carries 2 Agusta Bell 212 ASW helicopters that tin hold upwards accommodated inwards the double hangar. The helicopters of this type, furnish an Over-The-Horizon targeting capability for the long arrive at anti-ship missiles of the ship. Their master copy duty though is the ASW operations yesteryear using their dipping sonars as well as their A-244/S or Mk-46 torpedoes (each helicopter carries two). Other duties include long-range patrols or to bear specialist boarding teams.

NH90 on the flying deck of Luigi Durand de la Penne. Perhaps the destroyers tin
adjust into their hangars this type of helicopters. Photo: Giorgio Parodi

AB212 aboard Luigi Durand de la Penne. The ships of the shape tin accommodate
2 such helicopters into their hangars. Photo: Marina Militare Italiana

SLC-705 jammer closed to the mast

AN/SLQ-25 Nixie on USS Iowa

In the introduction it was mentioned that this type of destroyers tin perform whatever form of role given. And this is to a greater extent than than true. Except the anti-ship missiles, the guns, the 2 types of ASW weapons as well as anti-aircraft missiles, the ships are equipped with a comprehensive electronic equipment. The destroyers are equipped with an AESN-Raytheon DE 1164LF hull-mounted sonar, as well as an AESN-Raytheon DE 1167LF integrated towed sonar array (VDS - variable depth sonar). An additional interface unit of measurement is provided to procedure the signals from the VDS array. This hull-mounted as well as VDS configuration provides the best ASW coverage inwards all H2O conditions. As a typical equipment the ships bear the AN/SLQ-25 Nixie towed torpedo decoys. The organization consists of a towed decoy device (TB-14A) as well as a shipboard signal generator. The decoy emits signals to depict a torpedo away from its intended target. In improver to the consummate ASW electronic equipment, the ships of the shape are equipped with the Elettronica SLQ-732 Nettuno integrated ECM/ESM which employs iv stabilized radome-mounted antennas, SLC-705 jammers as well as COMINT intercept

The span of Fracesco Mimbelli with 2 NA-30 FCS atop as well as the forrard mast; lower to the superstructure at that spot is a 12.7mm mounting. Notice the variety of EW jammers: the DF neckband about the masthead below the Tacan antenna, the omnis (passive DF jammers) on the pocket-size yardarms below it, as well as the high as well as low-band stabilized jammers on the atop as well as atop the bridge. Photo: Stefano Coglia Cagliari

The Comand as well as Control System is the Selex IPN twenty (or else SADOC-2 for Marina Militare Italiana). There is also an integrated ELMER TCL System with Link eleven as well as Link fourteen communications.