Carlo Bergamini class Guided missile frigate

[Zarvan]

The Carlo Bergamini class warships are clearly destroyers, but are called frigates for political reasons



Country of origin Italy
Entered service 2013
Crew (general purpose variant) 199 men
Crew (ASW variant) 201 men
Sea endurance ?
Dimensions and displacement
Length 144.6 m
Beam 19.7 m
Draught 8.7 m
Displacement, standard ?
Displacement, full load 6 900 tons
Propulsion and speed
Speed 29 knots
Range 12 300 km at 15 knots
Propulsion CODLAG propulsion with single gas turbine (42 900 shp), 2 x electric motors (2.5 MW) and 4 diesel generators
Airwing
Helicopters 2 x NH90 or AW101
Armament
Artillery (general purpose variant) 1 x 127 mm, 1 x 76 mm
Artillery (ASW variant) 2 x 76 mm
Missiles 16-cell VLS for Aster-15 and Aster-30 air defense missiles, 4 x OTOMAT anti-ship missiles (GP variant), 4 x MILAS anti-submarine missiles (ASW variant)
Torpedoes 2 x tripple launchers for MU90 lightweight torpedoes


The Italian Carlo Bergamini class warships were developed as a part of Franco-Italian FREMM multi-mission frigate program. Even though resulting Italian Carlo Bergamini class and French Aquitaine class ships look different, they use many common subsystems. The Carlo Bergamini class bears strong resemblance with the Horizon class, which was another joint Franco-Italian program.

These Italian Carlo Bergamini class warships are clearly destroyers, but being called frigates for political reasons. There are two variants of the Carlo Bergamini class. One of them are general purpose frigate, that are equally good at all aspects of naval warfare, while the other ships are optimized for anti-submarine warfare role. These have enhanced submarine hunting features, but at a cost of reduced land attack and anti-ship capabilities.

Italy has ordered six of these vessels optimized as general-purpose warships, and four optimized for anti-submarine warfare. The lead ship was commissioned with the Italian Navy in 2013. The last one is planed to be commissioned in 2021.

These Italian warships have enhanced stealth features, including reduced radar cross section and noise levels. The "general purpose" version is operated by a crew of 199 men, while vessels optimized for anti-submarine operations have a crew of 201 men.

The primary radar is the Selex MFRA multi-functional active phased array radar. It can detect air targets at a range of more than 400 km. It also provides fire control for air defense missiles.

There is a 16-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) for Aster-15 and Aster-30 surface-to-air missiles. The Aster-15 has a range of around 30 km, while the Aster-30 have a range of around 120 km. However this loadout of 16 missiles is comparatively small for such a large warship.

"General purpose" variants of the Carlo Bergamini class are fitted with a single Otobreda 127 mm gun and a single OTO Melara 76 mm gun. "Anti-submarine" variants have two OTO Melara 76 mm guns. The 76 mm guns are dual-purpose weapons. These rapid-firing guns use guided shells and can engage surface, air and land targets. These also act as close-in weapon systems for last ditch defense against incoming missiles. Also there are two 25-mm remotelly-controlled cannons that are used to engage small surface threats.

The "general purpose" variant is armed with four OTOMAT anti-ship missiles. These have a range of around 200 km. The ASW variant is armed with four MILAS anti-submarine missiles, that drop torpedo remotely from the ship.

Also there are two tripple launchers for EUROTORP MU90 lightweight torpedoes. These are present on both "general purpose" and "anti-submarine" variants.

These Italian warships have a double hangar for helicopters and can accommodate either twoNH90, or one NH90 and one AW101. These are used for search and rescue, utility operations, long-range anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare.

The Carlo Bergamini class have an advanced Combined Diesel-Electric and Gas (CODLAG) propulsion system. For normal operation the ships use a single General Electric LM2500+G4 gas turbine, developing 42 900 shp. For slow-speed and quiet anti-submarine operations the ships use hybrid electric propulsion with two 2.5 MW electric motors which are connected to the propeller shafts. These are powered by 4 diesel generators. Maximum speed is 29 knots (55 km/h). Maximum range is 6 700 nautical miles (12 300 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h). So Italian vessels are slightly faster and have longer range than their French counterparts.

Overall the Italian Carlo Bergamini class warships are larger and are superior in many respects to the French Aquitaine class. However the Italian vessels do not carry any land attack cruise missiles, that are present on the French frigates.



Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
Carlo Bergamini (F590) 2008 2011 2013
active, in service

Virginio Fasan (F591) 2009 2012 2013
active, in service

Carlo Margottini (F592) 2010 2013 2014
active, in service

Carabiniere (F593) 2011 2014 2015
active, in service

Alpino (F594) 2012 2014 excepted in 2016
sea trials

Luigi Rizzo (F595) 2013 2015 expected in 2017
under construction

Federico Martinengo (F596) 2014 expected in 2017 expected in 2018
under construction

Antonio Marceglia (F597) 2015 expected in 2018 expected in 2019
under construction

Spartaco Schergat (F598) expected in 2017 expected in 2019 expected in 2020
ordered

Emilio Bianchi (F599) expected in 2018 expected in 2020 expected in 2021
ordered

http://www.military-today.com/navy/carlo_bergamini_class.htm
@Sulman Badshah @Tipu7

 

[Muhammad Omar]

still waiting for the day when PN will buy such Frigates

 

[masud]

THIS italian friget looks more capable then france built freem friget..........

 

[Penguin]

The Carlo Bergamini class warships are clearly destroyers, but are called frigates for political reasons

Uhm, no, that's not why they are called frigates.

See https://defence.pk/threads/what-is-the-difference-between-frigate-and-destroyer.33514/#post-474928

A destroyer is considered to be a ship that has all of the sensors (including a sophisticated phased-array radar), combat systems, and weapons needed to operate in a high-threat environment.
A frigate is generally the smallest surface combatant that can conduct extended blue-water missions in a high-threat environment.
Corvettes are generally the smallest platforms capable of accommodating the sensors, weapons, and combat systems needed to operate in a medium threat environment. Corvettes are sometimes referred to as light frigates (FFLs).

Background source http://www.amiinter.com/nspd_sample.html (no longer available)
See https://fr.scribd.com/document/92571117/Warship-Classification

Another valid point - though outdated to some extent - is made here
point https://defence.pk/threads/what-is-the-difference-between-frigate-and-destroyer.33514/#post-480517

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft).
The definition of a frigate is a warship intended to protect other warships and merchant marine ships and as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) combatants for amphibious expeditionary forces, underway replenishment groups, and merchant convoys.

Some answers from the (archived) Royal Navy FAQ page:

Question: What is the role of Frigates and Destroyers?
Answer: In wartime, the primary role of these ships is to protect friendly ships against attack. However Frigates and Destroyers are versatile multi-role ships capable of performing any number of tasks throughout the world, from humanitarian operations to anti-drug policing

Question: What is the difference between a Frigate and a Destroyer?
Answer: The primary role of a destroyer is to defend against airborne attack; by aircraft or missile. A frigate's primary task is to defend against submarine or surface threats.

http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20081120170436/royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.4752

Politics has little to do with this.