Bergamini-class frigate

The Bergamini class was a class of four frigates operated by the Italian Navy. They entered service in 1961, with the last one being stricken in 1988.

Luigi Rizzo (F 596), ca. 1962
Class overview
Name:	Bergamini-class frigate
Operators:	Italian Navy
Preceded by:	Canopo class
Succeeded by:	Alpino class
In commission:	1961–1988
Completed:	4
Retired:	4
General characteristics [1]
Displacement:	Standard: 1410 t Full load: 1650 t
Length:	86.5 m (283 ft 10 in) pp 94.0 m (308 ft 5 in) overall
Beam:	11.4 m (37 ft 5 in)
Draught:	3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Propulsion:	2 shaft, 4 × diesels 16,000 bhp (12,000 kW)
Speed:	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range:	3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement:	163
Sensors and processing systems:	SPS-12 combined search radar SPQ-2 air/surface search/navigation radar RTN-10 fire control radar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	Elettronica SPR-A ESM system
Armament:	2 × Oto Melara 76/62mm MMI 1 Menon ASW mortar 2 × triple 324mm torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried:	1 AB-212ASW helicopter

Design

A new class of four corvettes officially designated Corvette Veloci Tipo 2 - (Type 2 Fast Corvette) for the Marina Militare (Italian Navy) was announced in 1956. They were larger than the existing Albatros-class corvettes of the Italian navy, and carried similar anti-submarine equipment to the frigates of the Canopo class. The ships were to be powered by four diesel engines driving two shafts, which could propel the ships to 25 knots (46 km/h).[1]

The armament of the class was subject to numerous changes during the design and construction process, which affected the layout of the ship. As finally built, the ships carried an anti-aircraft armament of three 76 mm rapid fire cannons, capable of firing 57 rounds per minute per gun, with two forward and one aft. A single autoloading depth-charge mortar was fitted forward of the bridge and was capable of firing 15 depth charges per minute to a range of about 1,000 m. This was supplemented by two Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes capable of launching American lightweight Mark 44 torpedoes. A helicopter deck and folding hangar for a light helicopter was fitted behind the bridge, with the diesel exhaust uptakes and the ship's mast combined into a mack to make room for the hangar, while fin stabilisers were fitted to aid helicopter operations on such a small ship.[1][2]

History

Carlo Margottini and Luigi Rizzo were laid down at the Navalmeccanica shipyard, Castellammare in 1957. The next ship of the class, Carlo Bergamini was planned to be built by Cantieri Navale de Taranto, but the order was switched to the CRDA shipyards at Trieste, work starting in 1959. The final ship of the class, Virgilio Fasan was laid down at Castellammare in 1960. Luigi Rizzo was the first to enter service in 1961, with all four ships in service by the end of 1962.[1][2]

In the late 1960s, the Marina Militare adopted the AB.204 as its standard shipboard helicopter. In order to accommodate the larger helicopter, a larger helicopter deck and hangar (which was still collapsible) was fitted, which in turn required removal of the aft 76 mm gun.[1][3]

Luigi Rizzo and Carlo Bergamini were discarded in 1980 and 1981 respectively. The final two ships were not finally stricken until 1988.[1]

Ships in class

Source [1]

	Number	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned	Stricken
Carlo Bergamini	F 593	CRDA Trieste	19 July 1959	16 June 1960	23 June 1962	November 1981
Virginio Fasan	F 594	Navalmeccanica, Castellammere	6 March 1960	9 October 1960	10 October 1962	7 December 1988
Carlo Martgottini	F 595	Navalmeccanica, Castellammere	26 May 1957	12 June 1960	5 May 1962	31 May 1988
Luigi Rizzo	F 596	Navalmeccanica, Castellammere	26 May 1957	6 March 1960	15 December 1961	30 November 1980

References

1. Gardiner and Chumbley 1998, p. 209.
2. Blackman 1962, p. 138.
3. Blackman 1971, p. 187.

• Blackman, Raymond V. B. Jane's Fighting Ships 1962–63. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1962.
• Blackman, Raymond V. B. Jane's Fighting Ships 1971–72. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1971. ISBN 0-354-00096-9.
• Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.