Andrea Doria (D553) Story

The two front-line surface combatants of the modern Italian Navy today (2018) are Andrea Doria (D553) and Caio Duilio (D554). These stem from the Franco-Italian joint venture that produces the Horizon class.

The Horizon class was originally intended to have eight ships to her name, but budget constraints ultimately meant that only four were completed - two for the Italian Navy and two for the French Navy (FS Forbin, FS Chevalier Paul - both detailed here) elsewhere on the page). All four are currently (2018) on active duty.

Andrea Doria leads the Italian half of the Horizon class, known locally as the "Orizonte class" (also the Andrea Doria class). The main classification of warships is destroyers, although in some sources its properties can also make the ship a frigate.

Still, at its core, it is a multi-role vessel designed to meet the various needs of the Italian Navy, including airspace blockade, anti-ship warfare, naval defense and land attack.

The warship was ordered on 27 October 2000 and was built by the Fincantieri shipyard in Riva Trigoso. Her keel was laid on 19 July 2002 and launched on 14 October 2005. The ship was officially commissioned on December 22, 2007.

Andrea Doria displaces 7,050 under load, has a length of 501.5 feet, a beam of 66.5 feet, and a draft of 24.9 feet. Power is a combination of systems designed to perform general driving and high-speed driving. There are 2 Avio (General Electric) LM2500 gas turbines and 2 SEMT Pielstick 12 PA6 STC diesel engines driving 2 shafts under the stern.

Added a single bow thruster for fine-tuning control while docking. Maximum speed is 29 knots in ideal conditions, with a range of 7,000 nautical miles at 18 knots.

The ship's crew consists of 230 officers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers and security personnel (maximum capacity of 255). It can stay in the ward for up to 45 days before requiring care again. Onboard is a combination of advanced digital processing systems that allow the vessel to find, track and engage targets from a distance.

These include the SeleX RAN 30X/I surface search radar, the Selex SPY-790 multifunctional 3D phased array radar, the Thales-Selex S1850M long-range 3D radar and the RTN-30X electro-optical sensor. The Netuno 4100 can be equipped for electronic warfare (EW), with an anti-torpedo system as standard.

Hull-mounted sonar also enables the vessel to track underwater threats.

Armament includes 3 x 76 mm/62 caliber OTO-Melara ultra-fast deck guns and turrets (updated in 2018) and 2 x 25 mm/80 caliber OTO-Melara (Oerlikon) anti-aircraft (AA) automatic cannons. 2 SITEP LRAD MASS CS-424 mounts for acoustic weapons (added in 2018).

The key to Andrea Doria's role, however, is her rocket stabilizer. This is guided by a 48-cell DCNS SYLVER Vertical Launch System (VLS) capable of firing Aster 15 or Aster 30 series surface-to-air missiles. There are also 8 x TESEO Mk. 2/A surface-to-surface/anti-ship missiles available.

Externally, the warship has the usual modern stealth qualities, including minimal overhangs and a plate-side hull superstructure that integrates seamlessly with the main hull structure. The bridge is located at the end of the front building as usual and the main mast is a closed pyramid structure. The chimney has a flat design and is also completely closed amidships. The secondary superstructure forms the rear of the warship, where the helipad/hangar area can accommodate up to 2 medium lift naval helicopters.

These rotor units can also be equipped with an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role and act as an over-the-horizon (OtH) platform when needed - greatly extending Andrea Doria's tactical value.

Andrea Doria (D553) Specification

Basic

Year:
2007
Status:
Commissioned, Active Duty
Addition:
230 employees

Roles

- Blue Water Operations

- Fleet Support

- Hunter

- direct attack

Dimensions

Length:

501.5 ft (152.86 m)

width/width:

66.5 ft (20.27 m)

Elevation/Draft:

25 feet (7.62 m)

Weight

Displacement (surface):

7,050 tons

Performance

2 GE/Avio LM2500 gas turbines with 2 SEMT Pielstick 12 PA6 STC diesel engines and 4 Isotta Frashini VL1716T2ME diesel generator sets, driving 2 shafts aft; 1 bow thruster.

Performance

Speed ??(surface):

29 kn (33 mph)

Area:

7,000 nautical miles (8,055 miles; 12,963 km)

Armor

1 x 48-cell DCBS Vertical Launch System (VLS) for Aster 15 or Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles.

8 x Terseo Mk2/A anti-ship/anti-surface missile launchers.

3 x 76mm/62 caliber Oto-Melara ultra-fast deck guns with turrets.

2 x 25 mm / 80 caliber Oto-Melara (Oerlikon) KBA anti-aircraft (AA) automatic cannons.

2 x SITEP LRAD MASS CS-424 Acoustic Cannons (Added in 2018).

2 x EuroTorp B515/1 torpedo tubes (MU90 torpedo series).

Wing

Supports up to 2 medium navy helicopters via the hangar-helipad combo section in the stern.

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