Italian frigate Grecale (F 571)

For other ships with the same name, see Italian ship Grecale.
Grecale at her berth in Taranto, 1985
History
Italy
NameGrecale
NamesakeGregale in Italian
BuilderFincantieri, Muggiano shipyards
Laid down21 March 1979
Launched12 September 1981
Commissioned5 February 1983
IdentificationPennant number: F 571
Motto
  • Venti Impetu
  • (Gust)
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeMaestrale-class frigate
Displacement3.040 t (2.992 long tons), full load
Length
  • - 122.7 m (403 ft) LOA
  • - 114 m (374 ft) LPP
Beam12.9 m (42 ft)
Draught4.2 m (14 ft)
Propulsion
Speed33 kn (61 km/h; 38 mph) (21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph) on diesel)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement
  • 24 officers
  • 201 sailors
Sensors and
processing systems
  • - 1 × Selenia RAN-10S/SPS-774 surface and air surveillance radar[1]
  • - 1 × Selenia SMA SPS-702 surface search radar[1]
  • - 1 × Selenia SMA SPS-703 navigation radar (then replaced by one GEM Elettronica MM-SPN 753 Arpa)[1]
  • - 1 × Selenia SPG-75 fire control radar[1]
  • - 2 × Selenia SPG-74 fire control radar (for Dardo)[1]
  • - 1 × Raytheon DE 1164, VDS sonar[1]
  • - 1 × Raytheon DE 1160B, hull mounted sonar[1]
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • - (Elettronica Spa MM/SLQ-746[2]) 2 × SLQ-D jammers[1]
  • - 1 × ARBG-1A Saigon radio interceptor[1]
  • - 1 × SLR-4 Newton intercept[1]
  • - 2 × 20-round OTO Melara/Breda SCLAR decoy RL (Dagaie on Grecale)[1]
  • - 1 × AN/SLQ-25 Nixie towed acoustic torpedo system[1]
  • - Prairie/Masker air-bubbler noise-suppression system[1]
Armament
  • - 4 × TESEO Mk-2 anti-ship missiles, double launchers
  • - 1 × Albatross octuple Aspide SAM launchers
  • - 1 × Otobreda 127 mm/54 gun
  • - 2 × Oto Melara Twin 40L70 DARDO CIWS
  • - 2 × Browning HB2B 12.7 mm
  • - 2 × MG 42/59 7.62 mm
  • - 2 × 533 mm torpedo tubes (Whitehead B-516, with Whitehead A-184 torpedoes: then removed)
  • - 2 × 324 mm triple torpedo tubes (Whitehead ILAS-3) with Mk-46 Mod.2 torpedoes
Aircraft carried
  • - flight deck 27 m (89 ft) x 12 m (39 ft) m
  • - 2 x AB-212 helicopters

Grecale (F 571) is the second ship of the Maestrale-class frigate of the Italian Navy.

Development

The Maestrale-class frigates were primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), however the ships are highly flexible so they are also capable of anti-air and anti-surface operations. Ships of this class have been widely used in various international missions, either under NATO or UN flag, and during normal operations of the Italian Navy.

The first of these ships entered in service in early 1982. The rest of the fleet was launched over the next three years. The ships of the Maestrale class will be replaced by the Bergamini class.[3][4]

Construction and career

She was laid down on 21 March 1979 and launched on 12 September 1981 by Fincantieri shipyards. Commissioned on 5 February 1983 with the hull number F 571.

Grecale underwent modernization in 2007 and again in 2010.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Maestrale class Anti-submarine Frigates (ASW)". navyrecognition.com. 7 August 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Specifica Tecnica per la prestazione di servizi - P.A 10033908" (PDF). marina.difesa.it. July 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Maestrale class Anti-Submarine Frigates ASW F570 Maestrale F571 Grecale F573 Scirocco F575 Euro F572 Libeccio F574 Aliseo F576 Espero F577 Zeffiro Teseo Mk2 Marina Militare Italian Philippine Navy Fincantieri datasheet pictures photos video specifications". www.navyrecognition.com. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  4. ^ "Maestrale Class Frigates - Naval Technology". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2020-10-17.

Media related to Grecale (F 571) at Wikimedia Commons

  • Ships Marina Militare website