Vulcano-class logistic support ship

The Vulcano-class is a class of replenishment oiler used by the Italian Navy, with lead ship Vulcano of the class entered service on 12 March 2021.[5] The ships are designed to support fleet operations with fuel and dry stores and expected to replace Stromboli class, another class of replenishment oiler from the Navy. Vulcano was financed under the 2014 Naval Law,[6] for €346 million, then increased to €374.6 million, when the length was extended by 12 metres (39 ft). A second ship Atlante was ordered in January 2022 for projected delivery in 2025. The Navy also has an option for a third ship of the class.[7]

Vulcano (A 5335) in July 2023 in Genoa
Class overview
NameVulcano class
BuildersFincantieri
Operators Italian Navy
Preceded byStromboli class
SubclassesBâtiment ravitailleur de forces
Cost€374.6 million (2019) for the first unit
Built2016–present
In commission2021–present
Planned3
On order2
Building1
Active1
General characteristics
TypeLogistic support ship
Displacement27,200 t (26,800 long tons) full load
Length
  • 193 m (633 ft 2 in) LOA
  • 175.9 m (577 ft 1 in) LPP
Beam27.2 m (89 ft 3 in)
Draft16.3 m (53 ft 6 in)
Depth8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
Propulsion
  • CODLAD scheme which drive two propellers
  • 2 × MAN 20V32/44CR diesel engines, 24,000 kW (32,000 bhp)[1]
  • 2 × electric engines Marelli Motori 1.5 MW (2,000 bhp) each
  • 4 × MAN 6L27/38 diesel generators, 8,336 kW (11,179 bhp)[1]
  • 1 × emergency diesel generator, 855 kW (1,147 bhp)
  • 2 × electric engines on Marelli Motori shafts 1.65 MW (2,210 bhp) each
  • 4 × diesel generators for SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction)
  • 2 × thrusters, 1.0 MW (1,300 bhp) each
  • 2 shafts
Speed
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
  • 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) on electric engines
Range7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Endurance30 days
Complement188 (+5) + 42 transported + 13 hospitalised
Crew167
Sensors and
processing systems
  • [2]
  • 1 × GEM Elettronica Columbus/N 3D radar[3]
  • 1 × Leonardo IFF
  • 2 × GEM Elettronica MM/SPN-760, navigation dual-band radars, X/Ku
  • 1 × GEM Elettronica helicopter landing radar[4]
  • Leonardo Link 11-16-22JREAP
  • 2 × Leonardo Janus-N IRST system
  • Leonardo obstacle avoidance sonar
  • FFBNW Torpedo Detection Sonar
  • CMS, Command Management System Leonardo SADOC Mk4, with 8 consoles (PPA and LHD Trieste simplified version)
  • SMS, Ship Management System "SeasNavy" of Seastema (Fincantieri), with other 8 consoles, integrated with CMS SADOC Mk4
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • FFBNW CESM
  • FFBNW RESM
Armament
Aircraft carried2 helicopters AW-101
Aviation facilities
Notes
  • 4 × RAS (replenishment at sea) Hepburn stations
  • 1 × Astern Fuelling Station (F76-F44)
  • 2 × 30 tonnes to 20 m, stabilized cranes (one, on left, for offshore duties)
  • 2 × 7.3 m (24 ft) RHIB
  • 2 × 10 m (33 ft) tenders
  • FFBNW 2 × CB90 type boats
  • Transported cargoes up to 15,500 t (15,300 long tons)

The French Navy through OCCAR ordered three modified ships of the class to replace its Durance-class tankers to be delivered in 2023, 2025 and 2027. A potential fourth ship of the class is projected for service entry after 2030.[8] The program is known as the Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces (BRF).[9][10] France officially joined the program in October 2018.[11][12] The French BRF ships are 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) longer at 194 m (636 ft 6 in) and 31,000 tons full load displacement compared to 27,200 tons, reflecting the French fleet's greater need for aviation fuel.[13]

Design and construction

Vulcano was built by Fincantieri as yard number 6259. The stern section was built at the Riva Trigoso Naval Shipyard and the bow section is being built at the Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) Naval Shipyard. On the night of 22/23 July 2018, a fire broke out on the ship's stern superstructure.[14]

Vulcano is designed as a support ship able to supply a large naval squadron at sea.[15] She was commissioned in March 2021. A second ship of the class, Jacques Chevallier for the French Navy, began sea trials in December 2022.[16] Steel was cut on a second ship for the French Navy in February 2022[17] and on a second ship for the Italian Navy in July 2022.[18]

The ships have the capability to:

  • refuel ships
  • produce fresh water
  • carry cargo
  • Hospital NATO Role 2 LM[19]
  • conduct repairs at sea with integrated maintenance workshops

She has a cargo capacity of up to 15,500 t, of which, "at least":

  • 7.655 t (7.534 long tons) (+9,000 m3) of NATO F76 diesel fuel[20]
  • 3.240 t (3.189 long tons) (+4,000 m3) of NATO F44/JP5 aviation fuel
  • 830 t (820 long tons) of fresh water
  • 220 t (220 long tons) of ammunitions
  • 40 t (39 long tons) of meals (30,000 food rations)
  • 3 m3 of gasoline in barrels
  • 15 t (15 long tons) of lubricant in barrels
  • 20 t (20 long tons) of solid goods
  • up to 8 × ISO1C standard containers, 28 t (28 long tons) each one

Ships of the class

Italics indicate the estimated date

Pennant no.NameBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedHomeport
 Italian Navy
A 5335VulcanoFincantieri (Muggiano)13 October 2016[21]22 June 201812 March 2021La Spezia
A 5336Atlante28 June 2023[22]2025Taranto
 French Navy Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces[12]
A 725Jacques ChevallierChantiers de l'Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire)24 December 2021[23]29 April 2022[24][25]2024[26][9][27]Toulon[28]
Jacques Stosskopf[29]6 December 2022[30]2025Toulon
Émile Bertin[29]20242027Brest
Gustave Zédé[29]TBCProjected beyond 2030[31]Toulon

References
  1. "MAN 175D Wins First Orders".
  2. "Leonardo, global leader for the naval sector" (Press release). Leonardo Company. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  3. "Columbus" (PDF). GEM Elettronica. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  4. "HASR-100" (PDF). GEM Elettronica. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  5. Archus, Dorian (12 March 2021). "Italian Navy commissions Vulcano Logistic Support Ship". Naval Post. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  6. "Le navi del programma 2014" (in Italian). Italian Navy. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  7. "Fincantieri to Build Second LSS for the Italian Navy". SeaWaves Magazine. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  8. Groizeleau, Vincent (13 April 2023). "Dernière navigation pour le BCR Marne, qui passe le flambeau au BRF Jacques Chevallier". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  9. Groizeleau, Vincent (14 April 2021). "Marine nationale : le BRF Jacques Chevallier sera livré en 2023". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  10. Cabirol, Michel (15 June 2018). "Pétrolier ravitailleur : la France monte à bord du programme italien Vulcano". Le Tribune (in French). Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  11. Peruzzi, Luca (26 October 2018). "Euronaval 2018: France joins LSS programme to meet FLOTLOG requirement". IHS Jane's 360. Paris. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  12. "OCCAR: order of a new fleet of logistic support ships for the French Navy". European Defence Review. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  13. Vavasseur, Xavier (18 May 2020). "Construction Begins for French Navy's Next Gen Replenishment Tanker Chevallier-class 'BRF'". Naval News. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  14. Peruzzi, Luca (25 July 2018). "Fire breaks out on unfinished Italian support ship". Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018. A fire broke out, for reasons unknown, aboard the logistic support ship (LSS) Vulcano on the night of 22/23 July.
  15. Parapetto, Marco (30 June 2016). "Stato Maggiore Marina" (PDF). Naples Shipping Week (in Italian). Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  16. "En images : Première sortie d'essais en mer pour le BRF Jacques Chevallier | Mer et Marine". 22 December 2022.
  17. Vavasseur, Xavier (7 February 2022). "Fincantieri Cuts Steel For French Navy Second Logistic Support Ship". Naval News. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  18. "Fincantieri Cuts Steel of Second LSS for Italian Navy". 21 July 2022.
  19. "Keel Laying Ceremony in Castellammare di Stabia for LSS". OCCAR. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  20. "LSS: Logistic Support Ship" (in Italian). Marina Militare. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  21. "Riva Trigoso: Works start on the Logistic Support Ship" (Press release). Fincantieri. 2 December 2016.
  22. Groizeleau, Vincent (29 June 2023). "Marine italienne : le second ravitailleur du type Vulcano mis sur cale". Mer et Marine.
  23. Vavasseur, Xavier (24 December 2021). "Low Key Keel Laying For French Navy's New Class Of Logistic Support Ship". Naval News. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  24. Daheron, Nicolas (29 April 2022). "Saint-Nazaire. Chantiers de l'Atlantique : le navire militaire Jacques-Chevallier mis à flot". Ouest France (in French). Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  25. Vavasseur, Xavier (27 April 2022). "French Navy's First BRF Supply Ship to be Launched on Friday". Naval News. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  26. Vavasseur, Xavier (19 July 2023). "Naval Group Delivers First BRF Supply Ship To French Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  27. "A la découverte du Jacques Chevallier, premier BRF de la Marine nationale | Mer et Marine". 19 December 2022.
  28. "Le BCR Somme naviguera jusqu'en 2027 | Mer et Marine". 8 December 2022.
  29. Lagneau, Laurent (18 May 2020). "Le futur Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces prendra le nom de l'ingénieur du génie maritime " Jacques Chevallier "". Opex360 (in French). Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  30. "Fincantieri Lays Keel of French Navy's 2nd BRF Forward Section". 12 December 2022.
  31. Groizeleau, Vincent (13 April 2023). "Dernière navigation pour le BCR Marne, qui passe le flambeau au BRF Jacques Chevallier". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
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