San Giorgio-class amphibious transport dock
The San Giorgio class are amphibious transport docks (LPD)[1][2] built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy. These ships can carry a battalion of troops, and up to 36 armored vehicles. The stern floodable dock can accommodate three landing craft. The ships are based at the Brindisi naval base on the Adriatic coast.
San Marco underway in the Mediterranean Sea on 16 June 2016 | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | San Giorgio |
Builders | Fincantieri, Riva Trigoso (La Spezia) |
Operators | |
Preceded by | |
Succeeded by | LxD-project |
Cost | $291 million |
In commission | 1988–present |
Building | 1 |
Completed | 4 |
Active | 4 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Amphibious transport dock |
Displacement | |
Length | 133 m (436 ft) |
Beam | 20.5 m (67 ft) |
Draught | 5.3 m (17 ft) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
Range | 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km; 8,600 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
Boats & landing craft carried |
|
Capacity | 350 troops with 30 medium tanks or 36 tracked armoured vehicles |
Complement | 17 officers, 163 ratings |
Sensors and processing systems | |
Electronic warfare & decoys | Elettronica SpA INS-3 ECM/ESM suite |
Armament |
|
Aircraft carried | 3 × AW-101 , 5 × Agusta Bell AB-212 helicopters or 18 SH90A |
Aviation facilities | Flight deck |
Notes |
|
San Giorgio and San Marco have been modified with longer full-length flight decks with four landing spots. San Giusto, the third vessel, has not been modified since construction, however, it featured an improved design, and is normally employed as a training ship.[3]
Ships
Name | Pennant number |
Hull number |
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Motto | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Italian Navy San Giorgio class | |||||||
San Giorgio | L9892 | 929 [4] | 27 May 1985 | 21 February 1987 | 13 February 1988 | Arremba San Zorzo | In service |
San Marco | L9893 | 5825 | 26 March 1985 | 10 October 1987 | 14 May 1988 | Ti con nu, nu con ti | In service |
San Giusto | L9894 | 5932 | 19 August 1991 | 2 December 1993 | 14 April 1994 | Coragio no manca co' semo nel giusto |
In service |
Algerian National Navy an improved San Giorgio class/BDSL | |||||||
Kalaat Béni Abbès | L474 | 6235 | 11 January 2012 [5] | 14 January 2014 [6] | 4 September 2014 [7] | In service | |
Qatari Emiri Navy an improved San Giorgio class/BDSL | |||||||
Al Fulk | L141 | 6295 | 5 June 2021[8] | 24 January 2023[9] | n/a | n/a | Fitting out |
Replacement class
The two oldest vessels of this class are scheduled for replacement. The Italian Navy has received the go-ahead to procure two 21,000/24,000-ton 190-metre (620 ft) long amphibious assault ships (landing helicopter dock), with the possibility of a third ship, configured with extensive aviation facilities (landing helicopter assault).[10][11]
Improved San Giorgio or Landing and Logistic Support Ship
In July 2011 the Algerian Navy placed an order with Fincantieri for an improved version of the San Giorgio class amphibious transport ships classified as Bâtiment de Débarquement et de Soutien Logistique (BDSL).[12][13][14] On 8 January 2014 the BDSL was launched on a barge at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Levante.
Kalaat Béni Abbès is fitted with Aster 15 behind the island superstructure, with one OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid at the bow and with two 25 mm remote weapon stations.
The BDSL can accommodate three landing craft mechanized, three small landing craft vehicle personnel, one large landing craft personnel and two semi-rigid boats. The hangar can accommodate up to 15 armoured vehicles.
The crew will consist of 150 sailors while the ship may accommodate a landing force of 440 soldiers.[15][16]
References
- Bishop, Chris; Chris Chant (2004). Aircraft Carriers. London: Summertime Publishing Ltd. p. 223. ISBN 0-7603-2005-5.
'San Giorgio' class Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD)
- "San Giorgio Class Landing Platform Dock (LPD), Italy". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- "San Giorgio". Globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- "Navy Ships". gaioni.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- "Riva Trigoso - Taglio della "prima lamiera" per unità algerina" (in Italian). Ministry of Defence of Italy. 20 January 2012. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- "Fincantieri, varata la Beni Abbes risultato delle sinergie italo-algerine" (in Italian). Ministry of Defence of Italy. 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- ""Kalaat Beni-Abbes" Delivered at Muggiano Shipyard - The new amphibious vessel for the Algerian Navy" (Press release). Fincantieri. 4 September 2014. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- Vavasseur, Xavier (5 June 2021). "Fincantieri Launches Second OPV, Cuts Steel On Air-Defense LPD For Qatar". Naval News. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- Vavasseur, Xavier (24 January 2023). "Fincantieri Launches Qatar's Air Defense LPD". Naval News. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- "Italy Paves the Way for New Amphibious Assault Vessels". Defence IQ. 19 July 2010. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- "LHD 20000 T". Fincantieri. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- "Algerian navy orders vessel from Italy". Upi.com. 2 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- "Riva Trigoso – Taglio della "prima lamiera" per unità algerina" (in Italian). Marina Militare. 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- "Bâtiment de Débarquement et de Soutien Logistique: una nave italiana per la marina algerina" (in Italian). Marina Militare. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- "Italian shipyard Fincantieri launched Algerian Navy future amphibious ship". navyrecognition.com. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- "Italian shipyard Fincantieri delivered amphibious ship Kalaat Beni-Abbes to Algerian Navy". navyrecognition.com. 7 September 2014. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.