Italian frigate Espero (F 576)

Espero (F 576) is the seventh ship of the Maestrale-class frigate of the Italian Navy.

For other ships with the same name, see Italian ship Espero.
Espero moored at Málaga on 8 July 2005.
History
 Italy
Name: Espero
Namesake: Espero
Operator: Italian Navy
Builder: Fincantieri, Riva Trigoso shipyards
Laid down: 1 August 1982
Launched: 19 November 1983
Commissioned: 4 May 1985
Identification: Pennant number: F 576
Motto:
  • A nessuno secondo
  • (Second to none)
Status: Active
General characteristics
Class and type: Maestrale-class frigate
Displacement: 3.040 t (2.992 long tons), full load
Length:
  • - 122.7 m (403 ft) LOA
  • - 114 m (374 ft) LPP
Beam: 12.9 m (42 ft)
Draught: 4.2 m (14 ft)
Propulsion:
Speed: 33 kn (61 km/h; 38 mph) (21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph) on diesel)
Range: 6,000 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

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 1 August 1982 and launched on 19 November 1983 by Fincantieri shipyards. Commissioned on 4 May 1985 with the hull number F 576.

  • Espero passing through Ponte Girevole, Taranto on 21 February 2010.
  • Espero underway on 21 February 2010.

References
  1. "Maestrale class Anti-submarine Frigates (ASW)". navyrecognition.com. 7 August 2012. 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. www.navyrecognition.com http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=553. Retrieved 2020-10-17. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "Maestrale Class Frigates – Naval Technology". www.naval-technology.com. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
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