 Centauro at sea, 1958 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Centauro |
| Builders | |
| Operators |  Italian Navy |
| Preceded by | Aldebaran class |
| Succeeded by | Bergamini class |
| Built | 1952–1956 |
| In commission | 1957–1985 |
| Planned | 4 |
| Completed | 4 |
| Scrapped | 4 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type | Frigate |
| Displacement | 2,120 t (2,090long tons) (deep load) |
| Length | 103.1 m (338 ft 3 in) (o/a) |
| Beam | 12 m (39 ft 4 in) |
| Draught | 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 × gearedsteam turbines |
| Speed | 26knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) |
| Range | 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement | 207 |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
TheCentauro class consisted of fourfrigates built for theItalian Navy during the 1950s. They entered service in 1957, with the last one being stricken in 1985.
TheCentauro-class ships measured 103.1 meters (338 ft 3 in) longoverall, with abeam of 12 meters (39 ft 4 in) and adraft of 3.8 meters (12 ft 6 in). Their crew numbered 207 officers and enlisted men.[1] They displaced 1,680metric tons (1,650long tons) atstandard load and 2,120 metric tons (2,090 long tons) atdeep load.[2] The ships had twoTosi gearedsteam turbines, each driving onepropeller shaft using steam provided by twoFoster Wheelerwater-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of 22,000shaft horsepower (16,000 kW) for a speed of 26knots (48 km/h; 30 mph). TheCentauros had a range of 3,000nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[1]
The main armament of theCentauro-class ships consisted of fourOTO Melara76-millimeter (3 in) Allargatodual-purpose (DP) guns in two twin-gun mounts, one each fore and aft of thesuperstructure. The guns were positioned over-and-under in the mount and were protected againstspray by agun shield. Four40-millimeter (1.6 in) BoforsAA guns in twin mounts were positioned on the rear superstructure. The ships were also armed with two fixed single tubesamidships for 533-millimeter (21 in)torpedoes. A triple-barrel305-millimeter (12 in) Menon anti-submarine (ASW) mortar mount was located in front of the superstructure,superfiring over the forward 76-millimeter gun mount. The ships were also equipped with four short-barrelled Menon ASW mortars, two on each side abreast the rear superstructure, and adepth charge rail on the stern.[1]
The main guns were italian and the anti-air guns were american, while the sensors andfire-control systems (FCS) were Italian, although based on American equipment. The frigates were initially fitted with a Microlambda MLA-1early-warning radar and the OTO Melara guns used a MTL-4gunnery radar on the OG 2director, an Italian version of the American Mark 39 radar used in the Mark 57 FCS. The MLA-1 systems were replaced by AmericanAN/SPS-6 radars in all four ships by 1960. The Bofors guns used the OG 1 FCS, based on theMark 51 FCS. A SQS-11Asonar provided data to the anti-submarine weapons.[3]
Beginning around 1966, the frigates were rearmed with three of the first generation of theOTO Melara 76 mm Compact DP guns to replace the unsatisfactory Allargato guns and the Bofors guns. The Allargatos were hard to load, difficult to maintain and the mount lacked a sufficient number of ready rounds. The torpedo tubes and two of the short barrel Menon mortars were removed in exchange for two rotating triple tube mounts, one on each side, for 324-millimeter (12.8 in)Mark 44 torpedoes. The sensors and fire-control suites were also upgraded, a SQS-36 sonar being added as was aMM/SPQ-2 radar. An OG 3 FCS with an Orion RTN-7X radar replaced the OG 2 director and its Mark 39 radar.[3]
| Pennant | Name | Builders | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D 570 / F 551 | Canopo | Cantieri navali Tosi di Taranto,Taranto | 15 May 1952 | 20 February 1955 | 4 May 1958 | 30 September 1982 |
| D 571 / F 554 | Centauro | Cantiere navale fratelli Orlando,Livorno | 17 May 1952 | 4 April 1954 | 4 April 1957 | 31 May 1985 |
| D 572 / F 555 / DE 1020 | Cigno | Cantieri navali Tosi di Taranto, Taranto | 11 February 1954 | 14 March 1955 | 7 March 1957 | 31 October 1983 |
| D 573 / D 553 / DE 1031 | Castore | 14 March 1955 | 8 July 1956 | 14 July 1957 | 1 January 1983 |
Equivalent frigates of the same era
Italian destroyers, frigates and corvette classes post-1945 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Destroyers |  | |
| Frigates | ||
| Corvettes | ||
