Baltic, Italy sends the frigate Luigi Rizzo. From surface-to-air missiles to cannon: this is what she looks like
Mounted at the bow is an Oto Melara 127/64 LW gun with 'Vulcano' high-precision guided munitions capability, supplied from a fully automated depot
by Andrea Carli
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Key points
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It is at the forefront of the Italian forces committed to guarding NATO's eastern flank. According to the indications provided by General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo , at the head of the Inter-Forces Operational Summit Command (Covi), the frigate Luigi Rizzo is the only ship to sail the Baltic. It is a modern Fremm-class Bergamini with Aster surface-to-air missiles and a 127mm gun.
At his side, explained the general, speaking at a hearing before the joint Defence and Foreign Affairs committees on the subject of military missions, 3,000 military personnel, 1,100 land vehicles and twenty aircraft. "It is therefore confirmed, also for 2024, the need for effort on several fronts - said Figliuolo -, on the one hand to contribute to the strengthening of the defence and deterrence posture on the eastern flank of the Alliance, and on the other to continue to play a decisive role on the southern flank of the Euro-Atlantic area, without neglecting the necessary attention to the repercussions generated by the instability in the Middle East".
Varrated nine years ago
.Built in Fincantieri's Riva Trigoso shipyard, 144 metres long and over 19 metres wide, a speed of 27 knots and a range of 6 thousand miles at 15 knots, 168 crew, the frigate Luigi Rizzo was launched on 19 December 2015 and subsequently transported to the Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard for the completion of outfitting and testing. It was delivered to the Navy on 20 April 2017. Since delivery, the ship has been based at the naval base in La Spezia and is under the First Naval Division (COMDINAV UNO).
An Oto Melara 127/64 LW gun on the bow
The peculiarities that distinguish the FREMM GP from the ASW (Anti Submarine Warfare) consist in the presence of a stern slide for the rapid release of the Navy's fast incursion craft and the different artillery armament. Nave Rizzo mounts an Oto Melara 127/64 LW gun at the bow with the 'Vulcano' high-precision guided munitions capability, supplied from a fully automated depot. It also has 16-cell SAAM ESD for ASTER 15 and ASTER 30 missiles, TESEO Mk2A, two 25/80 machine guns, two B515 torpedo launchers for MU90 torpedoes, and two NH90 helicopters or 1 SH90 or 1 EH101.
In which missions it is used
.Its detection capabilities and armament make it suitable for carrying out all the missions typical of units in this class: 'Constabulary Role' (policing the high seas), with the performance of counter-terrorism operations, surveillance and interdiction of illegal trafficking, prevention and control of illegal immigration, protection of communication lines at sea and merchant traffic. It is also deployed for 'Support - Land Operations', with escort to convoys or naval forces in transit, protection of naval forces and land sites, and anti-aircraft defence of the same. And again: countering surface threats; surveillance and intelligence tasks; 'Power Projection Support', with the coordination and control of actions against the coast, deployment of special forces and support through the use of weapons against land targets (Naval Gun Fire Support).
