Aldebaran-class frigate

The Aldebaran class was a class of three frigates/corvettes/destroyer escorts operated by the Italian Navy. They entered service in 1951, with the last one being decommissioned in 1976.[1]

Aldebaran
Class overview
NameAldebaran
Builders
Operators Italian Navy
Preceded byN/A
Succeeded byCentauro class
SubclassesCannon class
Built1943
In commission1951-1976
Planned3
Completed3
Retired3
General characteristics
Type
Displacement
  • 1,240 long tons (1,260 t) standard
  • 1,620 long tons (1,646 t) full
Length
  • 306 ft (93 m) o/a
  • 300 ft (91 m) w/l
Beam36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
Draft11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
Propulsion4 × GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6,000 shp (4,474 kW), 2 screws
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range10,800 nmi (20,000 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement15 officers and 201 enlisted
Armament

History

The Aldebaran class consisted of three former United States Navy ships: USS Thornhill (Aldebaran), USS Gandy (Altair) and USS Wesson (Andromeda) transferred to the Italian Navy in 1951. These ships in the United States Navy were classified as destroyer escorts and belonged to the Cannon class, built in large series during the Second World War and then supplied in several different marine units (Mutual Defense Assistance Program).[2]

The three ships entered service in the Navy together with the Artigliere-class units as part of a naval upgrade program started in 1950; they were first used as escorts, from 1957 as frigates and from 1962 as corvettes, a role held until the moment of decommissioning.

Units of this class take their names from three Spica-class torpedo boats lost during World War II.

Ships in the class
Pennant Name Builders Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned
F 590 Aldebaran Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 7 October 1943 30 December 1943 10 January 1951 1976
F 591 Altair Tampa Shipbuilding Company 1 March 1943 12 December 1943 1971
F 592 Andromeda Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 29 July 1943 17 October 1943 January 1972

Citations
  1. "Aldebaran F 590 Cannon class frigate escort ex USS Thornhill Italian Navy". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  2. "10.1.1951 la U.S. Navy consegna alla Marina Militare le navi Aldebaran, Altair e Andromeda – La voce del marinaio" (in Italian). 10 January 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
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