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Sparviero-class patrol boat

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Italian Sparviero class hydrofoil-missile NIBBIO P-421 underway
Class overview
BuildersFincantieri, Sumitomo
Operators Italian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Built1973-83 (Italy) , 1991-1995 (Japan)
In commission1974-2002? (Italy), 1993-2010 (Japan)
Active0
Retired11
General characteristics
TypeFast attack hydrofoil
Displacement60.6 tons full load
Length22.95 m (75 ft 4 in) 24.56 m (80 ft 7 in) (hydrofoils retracted)
Beam7.01 m (23 ft 0 in)
Draught1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) (on foils at speed)
PropulsionCODAG

1 × Rolls-Royce Proteus 15 M560 gas turbine driving waterjet, 3,761 kW (5,044 shp)

1 × Isotta-Fraschini ID38N6V deisel, 1 propellor, 220 kW (290 bhp)
Speed93 km/h (50 kn)
Range740 km (400 nmi) at 45 kn (83 km/h) 1,940 km (1,050 nmi) at 8 knots (15 km/h)
Complement10 (2 officers))
Sensors and
processing systems		SMA SPQ 701 navigation radar AESN SPG-70 fire control radar
Armament1 × Otobreda 76 mm gun 2 × Otomat Anti-ship missiles

The Sparviero class are small hydrofoil missile boats 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

The Sparviero class fast attack hydrofoil was designed in Italy by Fincantieri located in Muggiano and based on the US Navy's Tucumcari class hydrofoil. The first of class (Sparviero P 420) was laid down by Alinavi in La Spezia, Italy and commissioned on 15 July 1974. Ultimately 8 of the class were built (P 420-P 426) with the last ship (P 920) built as a private venture by Fincantieri and was not bought by the Italian Navy. All were constructed with aluminium hulls and superstructure. The ships were capable of day running only and contained no sleeping accommodations. Plans to upgrade the engines were postponed, and all of the Italian ships have now been decommissioned.

Three additional Sparviero class were built by Sumitomo in Uraga, Japan with assistance from Fincantieri. Initial plans were to construct up to 12 of the type for use by the JMSDF. The first two were approved in FY90 and both were laid down on 25 March 1991. One more was approved in FY92 and laid down on 8 March 1993. A fourth was asked for but not authorized. Production ended with three vessels produced. Considering the falling popularity of hydrofoil designs in military service (US, Israel, Italy and Russia), this was a surprising design choice for Japan.

Military use

Italian ships all decommissioned. The Sparviero class is currently used by the Japanese coastal patrol forces as a fast attack interceptor, and pose a serious threat to any attacker with their high maneuvering speed and long range missile armament.

Operators

Ships in class

Italy

(All decommissioned)

Number Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Notes
Sparviero P 420 April 1971[2] 9 May 1973[2] 15 July 1974[2] 30 September 1991[1]
Nibbio P 421 1 August 1977[2] 29 February 1980[2] 7 March 1980[2] 10 October 1991[1]
Falcone P 422 1 October 1977[1] 27 October 1980[1] 7 March 1982 [1]
Astore P 423 1 July 1978[1] 20 July 1981[1] 5 February 1983[1]
Grifone P 424 15 November 1978[1] 1 December 1981[1] 5 February 1983[1]
Gheppio P 425 16 May 1979[1] 24 June 1982[1] 20 September 1983[1]
Condor P 426 21 March 1980[1] 25 January 1983[1] 7 April 1984[1]
Japan

(All decommissioned)

    • PG 01 (No 821) (Launched 17 July 1992) (Commissioned 25 March 1993)(decommissioned 6 June 2008)
    • PG 02 (No 822) (Launched 17 July 1992) (Commissioned 25 March 1993)(decommissioned 6 June 2008)
    • PG 03 (No 823) (Launched 15 June 1994) (Commissioned 13 March 1995)(decommissioned 24 June 2010)

Specifications

  • Designer / Manufacturer: Fincantieri/Sumitomo
  • Dimensions
    • Length 21.8 metres (24.6 meters on hydrofoil)
    • Width 7 metres (7 meters on hydrofoil)
    • full load displacement 50 tons (Italy 60.6 tons)
  • Propulsion
    • Motor: 1 gas turbine, 1 pumpjet, 1 diesel engine
    • Power: 1 GE/IHI LM 500 gas turbine engine 5000 horspower sustained (Italy 1 Rolls-Royce Proteus 15M560 gas turbine driving waterjet pump 4500-5000 horsepower)
    • Propellers: 1 retractable prop (hullborne)
  • Weapons
    • Missils: SSM: 4 Mitsubishi SSM-1B (deritive of land-based system); range 150 km (Italy 2 OTO Melara/Matra Otomat Teseo Mk 2; active radar homing to 160 km, 210 kg warhead)
    • Guns: 1GE 20mm/76 Sea Vulcan; 3 barrels on each mounting; 1,500 rounds/minute combined to 4 km (Italy 1 OTO Melara 3 in (76mm)/62 compact)
  • Countermeasures: Decoys: 2 Loral Hycor Mk 36 SRBOC chaff launchers (Japan only)
  • Radar; Surface search; JRC OPS-28-2; G-band (Italy SMA 3 RM 7-250 (SPQ 701); I-band)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Baker 1998, pp. 381–382.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Prézelin and Baker 1990, p. 280.
  • 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.
  • Prézelin, Bernard and Baker, A.D. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/1991. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1998. ISBN 0-87021-250-8..
  • Saunders, Stephen (RN) Jane's Fighting Ships 2003-2004 ISBN 0 7106 2546 4
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