View source for Sparviero-class patrol boat

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Sparviero''-class patrol boat}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:Sparviero DN-ST-84-03940.jpg|300px]]
|Ship caption=Italian Sparviero class hydrofoil-missile NIBBIO P-421 underway
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Builders=[[Fincantieri]], Sumitomo
|Operators={{navy|Italy}}<br>{{navy|Japan}}
|Class before=
|Class after=
|Subclasses=
|Built range=1973-83 (Italy) <br>1991-1995 (Japan)
|In commission range=1974-2002? (Italy), 1993-2010 (Japan)
|Total ships building=
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active=0
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=
|Total ships retired=11
|Total ships scrapped=
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=Sparveiero Class<ref name="cf98 p381-2">Baker 1998, pp. 381–382.</ref>
|Ship type=[[Fast attack craft|Fast attack]] [[hydrofoil]]
|Ship displacement=60.6 tons full load
|Ship length={{convert|22.95|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
{{convert|24.56|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (hydrofoils retracted) 
|Ship beam={{convert|7.01|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|1.87|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
{{convert|1.45|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (on foils at speed)
|Ship draft=
|Ship propulsion=[[CODAG]]
1 × [[Rolls-Royce Proteus]] 15 M560 gas turbine driving waterjet, {{convert|5044|shp|kW|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
1 × Isotta-Fraschini ID38N6V diesel, 1 propellor, {{convert|290|bhp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}}
|Ship speed={{convert|50|kn|km/h|abbr=on|disp=flip}}
|Ship range={{convert|400|nmi|km|abbr=on|disp=flip}} at {{convert|45|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}
{{convert|1050|nmi|km|abbr=on|disp=flip}} at {{convert|8|kn|km/h}} 
|Ship complement=10 (2 officers)
|Ship sensors=SMA SPQ 701 navigation radar
AESN SPG-70 fire control radar
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=1 × [[Otobreda 76 mm]] gun<br/>
2 × [[Otomat]] [[Anti-ship missile]]s<br/>
'''Or'''<br/>
1 × [[M61 Vulcan]]<br/>
4 × [[Type 90 Ship-to-Ship Missile|Type 90 Ship-to-Ship Missiles]]
(MSDF loadout)
|Ship armour=
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

The '''Sparviero-class''' are small [[hydrofoil]] [[missile boat]]s capable of traveling at speeds of 46 knots. They were designed for and formerly used by the [[Italian Navy]]. The Japanese '''1-go class''' missile boat is an updated version formerly used by the [[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]] (JMSDF).

== History ==

===Italy===
The Sparviero class fast attack hydrofoil was designed in Italy by the Alinavi society, a consortium of the American company [[Boeing]], the Italian government's naval research branch, and Carlo Rodriguez, a [[Messina]]-based builder of commercial hydrofoils, based on Boeing's [[USS Tucumcari (PGH-2)|''Tucumcari'']] for the US Navy.<ref name="conways47 p217">Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 217.</ref><ref name="cf98 p382">Baker 1998, p. 382.</ref> A prototype, named ''Sparviero'' was ordered in 1970 for the Italian Navy,<ref name="conways47 p196">Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 196.</ref> ''Sparviero'' was laid down by Alinavi in [[La Spezia, Italy|La Spezia]] in April 1971, was launched on 9 May 1973 and finally commissioned into Italian navy service on 15 July 1974.<ref name="JFS85 p275">Moore 1985, p. 275.</ref><ref name="cf90 p280"/> 

The design used the Boeing Jetfoil system, with one hydrofoil forward and two aft, which folded out of the water when cruising. The ship was propelled at high speeds by a [[Rolls-Royce Proteus]] gas turbine driving a [[Pump-jet|water jet]], while a diesel engine driving a retractable propeller powered the ship at low speeds. The hull and superstructure were constructed entirely of aluminium. As the design was intended for short-range, high speed operations, no sleeping accommodation was fitted. Armament consisted of two [[Otomat]] [[anti-ship missiles]] aft and a single [[Otobreda 76 mm|Oto Melara 76 mm]] rapid-fire gun forward.<ref name="conways47 p217"/><ref name="cf98 p382"/>

It was planned in 1974–1975 to order four more Sparviero class hydrofoils, to be supplemented by at least two larger [[Pegasus class hydrofoil]]s, but plans for a NATO-wide standardisation on the Pegasus class were abandoned. When orders were finally placed in 1977, they were for six more Sparvieros (giving seven in total) and no Pegasus class boats.<ref name="cf98 p382"/><ref name="conways47 p197">Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 197.</ref> The new ships, built by [[Cantieri Navale Riuniti]] at [[Muggiano]], entered service from 1982 to 1984, and differed from the prototype in having a more advanced installation for the Otomat missiles (using the Teseo control system) and having water injection fitted to the gas turbines.<ref name="conways47 p217"/><ref name="JFS85 p275"/><ref name="cf90 p280"/> 

The class proved to be underpowered, and it was hoped to re-engine them with more powerful ({{convert|6394|bhp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}}) Alison gas turbines, but these plans were later abandoned.<ref name="cf98 p382"/><ref name="cf90 p280"/> All of the Italian ships have now been decommissioned.

===Japan===
The [[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]] (JMSDF) selected a modified version of the Sparviero class as a replacement for its [[PT 11 class torpedo boat]]s. A license agreement was signed in 1991 to build up to 12 Sparvieros, with the first two approved in [[Fiscal year|FY90]] and both were laid down laid down by [[Sumitomo]] in [[Uraga]] on 25 March 1991. An order for a third boat was delayed to help pay for Japan's contribution to the [[Gulf War]], with it not being laid down until 1993. A request for a fourth boat under the FY 95 budget was rejected, and plans for further hydrofoils abandoned.<ref name="cf98 p382"/><ref name="cf98 p427-8"/>

The Japanese chose different armament than used in the Italian boats, with up to four [[Type 90 Ship-to-Ship Missile]]s replacing the Otomats and a non-stabilised 20&nbsp;mm [[M61 Vulcan]] [[rotary cannon]] replacing the larger Oto Melara gun. The main powerplant is a {{convert|5200|shp|kW|abbr=on|flip=on}} [[General Electric LM500]] gas turbine.<ref name="cf98 p427-8"/>

==Military use==
Italian ships have all been decommissioned. The Sparviero class was used by the Japanese coastal patrol forces as a fast attack interceptor.

==Ships in class==
;Italy
(All decommissioned)
{|Class="wikitable"
! || Number || Laid down|| Launched || Commissioned || Decommissioned || Notes
|-
|''Sparviero''|| P 420 || April 1971<ref name="cf90 p280">Prézelin and Baker 1990, p. 280.</ref>|| 9 May 1973<ref name="cf90 p280"/> || 15 July 1974<ref name="cf90 p280"/> || 30 September 1991<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/>||
|-
|''Nibbio''|| P 421 || 1 August 1977<ref name="cf90 p280"/> || 29 February 1980<ref name="cf90 p280"/> || 7 March 1980<ref name="cf90 p280"/> || 10 October 1996<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/>||
|-
|''Falcone''|| P 422 || 1 October 1977<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/> || 27 October 1980<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/> || 7 March 1982 <ref name="cf98 p381-2"/>|| ||
|-
|''Astore''|| P 423 || 1 July 1978<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/> ||20 July 1981<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/>|| 5 February 1983<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/>|| ||
|-
|''Grifone''|| P 424 ||15 November 1978<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/> || 1 December 1981<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/>|| 5 February 1983<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/>|| ||
|-
|''Gheppio''|| P 425 ||16 May 1979<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/> || 24 June 1982<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/> || 20 September 1983<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/> || ||
|-
|''Condor''|| P 426 || 21 March 1980<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/> || 25 January 1983<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/>  || 7 April 1984<ref name="cf98 p381-2"/>|| ||
|}

;Japan
(All decommissioned)
{|Class="wikitable"
! || Number || Laid down|| Launched || Commissioned || Decommissioned || Notes
|-
|''PG 01'' || 821 || 25 March 1991<ref name="cf98 p427-8">Baker 1998, pp. 427–428.</ref> ||17 July 1992<ref name="cf98 p427-8"/> || 22 March 1993<ref name="cf98 p427-8"/> ||6 June 2008{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} ||
|-
|''PG 02'' || 822 || 25 March 1991<ref name="cf98 p427-8"/> || 17 July 1992<ref name="cf98 p427-8"/> || 22 March 1993<ref name="cf98 p427-8"/> || 6 June 2008{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} || 
|-
|''PG 03'' ||823 || 8 March 1993<ref name="cf98 p427-8"/> || 15 June 1994<ref name="cf98 p427-8"/> || 13 March 1995<ref name="cf98 p427-8"/> || 24 June 2010{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} || 
|}

[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/pg1go-pics.htm Image gallery for PG 1-go class] (GlobalSecurity.org)

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

* Baker, A.D. ''The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999''. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1998. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
* Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. ''Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995''. Annapolis, Maryland USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
* Moore, John. ''Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86''. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1985. ISBN 0-7106-0814-4.
* Prézelin, Bernard and Baker, A.D. ''The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/1991''. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1990. ISBN 0-87021-250-8.
* Saunders, Stephen (RN) Jane's Fighting Ships 2003-2004 ISBN 0-7106-2546-4

[[Category:Hydrofoils]]
[[Category:Patrol boats]]
[[Category:Missile boats]]
[[Category:Ships built in Italy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Japan]]
[[Category:Marina Militare]]
[[Category:Ships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]]
[[Category:Small combat vessel classes]]