San Giorgio-class amphibious transport dock

San Marco underway in the Mediterranean Sea on 16 June 2016
Class overview
NameSan Giorgio
BuildersFincantieri, Riva Trigoso (La Spezia)
Operators
Preceded by
Succeeded byLxD-project
Cost$291 million
In commission1988–present
Building1
Completed4
Active4
General characteristics
TypeAmphibious transport dock
Displacement
  • - 7,960 t (7,830 long tons) full load
  • - 8,000 t (7,900 long tons) for San Giusto  (full load)
Length133 m (436 ft)
Beam20.5 m (67 ft)
Draught5.3 m (17 ft)
Propulsion
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km; 8,600 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried
Capacity350 troops with 30 medium tanks or 36 tracked armoured vehicles
Complement17 officers, 163 ratings
Sensors and
processing systems
  • - SMA MM/SPQ 702 search radar
  • - GEM Elettronica navigation radar: MM/SPN-748 then MM/SPN-753(V)9 and now dual band radar (X/Ka) MM/SPN-760(V)1
  • - Selex ES RTN-10X fire control radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys		Elettronica SpA INS-3 ECM/ESM suite
Armament
Aircraft carried3 × AW-101, 5 × Agusta Bell AB-212 helicopters or 18 SH90A
Aviation facilitiesFlight deck
Notes
  • - San Giusto has a full load displacement 300t greater than the other ships in the class
  • - Italian ships in class include: San Giorgio (L9892)
  • San Marco (L9893)
  • San Giusto (L9894)
  • - Algerian ship in class include only Kalaat Béni Abbès, armed with Aster 15 missiles
  • - one similar ship, Al Fulk, on order for the Qatari navy.

The San Giorgio class are amphibious transport docks (LPD)[1][2] built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy. These ships can carry a battalion of troops, and up to 36 armored vehicles. The stern floodable dock can accommodate three landing craft. The ships are based at the Brindisi naval base on the Adriatic coast.

San Giorgio and San Marco have been modified with longer full-length flight decks with four landing spots. San Giusto, the third vessel, has not been modified since construction, however, it featured an improved design, and is normally employed as a training ship.[3]

Ships

Name Pennant
number 		Hull
number 		Laid down Launched Commissioned Motto Status
 Italian Navy San Giorgio class
San Giorgio L9892 929 [4] 27 May 1985 21 February 1987 13 February 1988 Arremba San Zorzo In service
San Marco L9893 5825 26 March 1985 10 October 1987 14 May 1988 Ti con nu, nu con ti In service
San Giusto L9894 5932 19 August 1991 2 December 1993 14 April 1994 Coragio no manca
co' semo nel giusto 		In service
 Algerian National Navy an improved San Giorgio class/BDSL
Kalaat Béni Abbès L474 6235 11 January 2012 [5] 14 January 2014 [6] 4 September 2014 [7] In service
 Qatari Emiri Navy an improved San Giorgio class/BDSL
Al Fulk L141 6295 5 June 2021[8] 24 January 2023[9] n/a n/a Fitting out

Replacement class

The two oldest vessels of this class are scheduled for replacement. The Italian Navy has received the go-ahead to procure two 16,500-ton amphibious assault ships.[10][11] According to the Italian MoD’s Multi-Year Defence Planning Document (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa, DPP) for the 2023-2025 timeframe, these ships are to be able to accommodate two LC-23 heavy landing craft for battle tanks or other vehicles and flight deck with multiple helicopter spots alongside extensive hangar and personnel accommodation facilities. A contract is possible in 2024 and delivery is anticipated in the 2028-2030 period.[12]

Improved San Giorgio or Landing and Logistic Support Ship

In July 2011 the Algerian Navy placed an order with Fincantieri for an improved version of the San Giorgio class amphibious transport ships classified as Bâtiment de Débarquement et de Soutien Logistique (BDSL).[13][14][15] On 8 January 2014 the BDSL was launched on a barge at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Levante.

Kalaat Béni Abbès is fitted with Aster 15 behind the island superstructure, with one OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid at the bow and with two 25 mm remote weapon stations.

The BDSL can accommodate three landing craft mechanized, three small landing craft vehicle personnel, one large landing craft personnel and two semi-rigid boats. The hangar can accommodate up to 15 armoured vehicles.

The crew will consist of 150 sailors while the ship may accommodate a landing force of 440 soldiers.[16][17]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bishop, Chris; Chris Chant (2004). Aircraft Carriers. London: Summertime Publishing Ltd. p. 223. ISBN 0-7603-2005-5. 'San Giorgio' class Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD)
  2. ^ "San Giorgio Class Landing Platform Dock (LPD), Italy". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  3. ^ "San Giorgio". Globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.[unreliable source?]
  4. ^ "Navy Ships". gaioni.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  5. ^ "Riva Trigoso - Taglio della "prima lamiera" per unità algerina" (in Italian). Ministry of Defence of Italy. 20 January 2012. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Fincantieri, varata la Beni Abbes risultato delle sinergie italo-algerine" (in Italian). Ministry of Defence of Italy. 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  7. ^ ""Kalaat Beni-Abbes" Delivered at Muggiano Shipyard - The new amphibious vessel for the Algerian Navy" (Press release). Fincantieri. 4 September 2014. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  8. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (5 June 2021). "Fincantieri Launches Second OPV, Cuts Steel On Air-Defense LPD For Qatar". Naval News. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  9. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (24 January 2023). "Fincantieri Launches Qatar's Air Defense LPD". Naval News. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Italy Paves the Way for New Amphibious Assault Vessels". Defence IQ. 19 July 2010. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  11. ^ "LHD 20000 T". Fincantieri. Archived from the original on 20 September 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  12. ^ Peruzzi, Luca (20 November 2023). "Italian MoD's Defence Planning Document 2023-2025: New Naval And Joint Programs". Naval News. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Algerian navy orders vessel from Italy". Upi.com. 2 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Riva Trigoso – Taglio della "prima lamiera" per unità algerina" (in Italian). Marina Militare. 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  15. ^ "Bâtiment de Débarquement et de Soutien Logistique: una nave italiana per la marina algerina" (in Italian). Marina Militare. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  16. ^ "Italian shipyard Fincantieri launched Algerian Navy future amphibious ship". navyrecognition.com. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  17. ^ "Italian shipyard Fincantieri delivered amphibious ship Kalaat Beni-Abbes to Algerian Navy". navyrecognition.com. 7 September 2014. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
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