Italian destroyer Francesco Mimbelli (D 561)

Francesco Mimbelli (D 561) is the second ship of the Durand de la Penne-class destroyer of the Italian Navy.

Francesco Mimbelli entering La Valletta, Malta on 17 May 2005.
History
Italy
NameFrancesco Mimbelli
NamesakeFrancesco Mimbelli
OperatorItalian Navy
BuilderFincantieri, Riva Trigoso shipyards
Laid down15 November 1989
Launched13 April 1991
Commissioned18 October 1993
Identification
Motto
  • Audendum est
  • (It is to be dared)
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeDurand de la Penne-class destroyer
Displacement
  • - 4,500 t (4,400 long tons), standard
  • - 5.560 t (5.472 long tons), full load
Length147.7 m (485 ft)
Beam16.1 m (53 ft)
Draught5 m (16 ft)
Propulsion
Speed32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement380
Sensors and
processing systems
  • - 1 × SPS-52C 3D radar
  • - 1 × AESN MM/SPS-768 radar
  • - 1 × medium range AESN MM/SPS-774
  • - 1 × surface radar AMS MM/SPS-702
  • - 1 × navigation radar SMA MM/SPN-703
  • - 4 × AESN Orion RTN-30X (MM/SPG-76)
  • - 1 × sonar system DE-1164/1167
  • - 1 × TACAN URN-25
  • - 1 × SADOC-2 combat system
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • - ECM system Elettronica SLQ-732 NETTUNO
  • - 2 x SAGEM Sagaie decoy launching system
  • - ASW AN/SLQ-25 Nixie, Surface Ship Torpedo Defense (SSTD) System
Armament
Aircraft carried2 helicopters
Aviation facilitiesdouble hangar

Development

The Durand de Le Penne-class are escort and combat class ships, able to operate in every combat condition, and especially devised to survive to heavy missile and aircraft attacks. Its construction is made almost totally with steel; the structure is a continuous deck with a low, large stern, to accommodate the helicopter force. The fore hull is very pointed, with a very pronounced sea-cutter structure. The superstructure consists of two blocks, relatively low and wide, both with a high, antenna mast with a triangular cross-section for all the electronic. The engines exhausts are in two groups, one for each superstructure: the aft has two exhausts flank to flank, slightly inclined. Then there is the Standard missile system and finally the helicopter facilities.

Construction and career

She is laid down on 15 November 1989 and launched on 13 April 1991 by Fincantieri shipyards. Commissioned on 18 October 1993 with the hull number D 561.[1]

Francesco Mimbelli suffered a fire in one of the engine rooms, while it was underway, as part of Operation Safe Sea on 29 December 2019. The fire-fighting teams on board, specially trained to deal with these emergencies, intervened effectively, immediately securing the unit and extinguishing the fire, without any consequences or damage to the crew. The ship continued its navigation autonomously and is now heading towards the port of Augusta, for the necessary checks.[2]

References
  1. "Durand de la Penne Class - Naval Technology". www.naval-technology.com. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  2. "PRINCIPIO DI INCENDIO SU NAVE MIMBELLI". Studio100 (in Italian). 2019-12-29. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
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