Maestrale-class frigate

Maestrale underway, 2002
Class overview
Name	Maestrale class
Builders	Fincantieri
Operators	Italian Navy
Preceded by	Lupo class
Succeeded by	Bergamini class
Built	1978–1982
In commission	1981–present
Completed	8
Active	2
Retired	6
General characteristics
Displacement	3,040 t (2,990 long tons) full load
Length	- 122.7 m (403 ft) LOA - 114 m (374 ft) LPP
Beam	12.9 m (42 ft)
Draught	4.2 m (14 ft)
Propulsion	- CODOG scheme - 2 × GE/Avio General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 18.380 MW (24,648 hp) each - 2 × diesel engines Grandi Motori Trieste BL-230-20-DVM, 4.044 MW (5,423 hp) each - 4 × diesel engine generators Grandi Motori Trieste A-236-SS, 780 kW (1,050 hp) each with Ansaldo generators - 2 × 5-blade propellers
Speed	33 kn (61 km/h; 38 mph) (21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph) on diesel)
Range	6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	24 officers 201 sailors
Sensors and processing systems	- 1 × Selenia RAN-10S/SPS-774 surface and air surveillance radar[1] - 1 × Selenia SMA SPS-702 surface search radar[1] - 1 × Selenia SMA SPS-703 navigation radar (then replaced by one GEM Elettronica MM-SPN 753 Arpa)[1] - 1 × Selenia SPG-75 fire control radar[1] - 2 × Selenia SPG-74 fire control radar (for Dardo)[1] - 1 × Raytheon DE 1164, VDS sonar[1] - 1 × Raytheon DE 1160B, hull mounted sonar[1]
Electronic warfare & decoys	- (Elettronica Spa MM/SLQ-746[2]) 2 × SLQ-D jammers[1] - 1 × ARBG-1A Saigon radio interceptor[1] - 1 × SLR-4 Newton intercept[1] - 2 × 20-round OTO Melara/Breda SCLAR decoy RL (Dagaie on Grecale)[1] - 1 × AN/SLQ-25 Nixie towed acoustic torpedo system[1] - Prairie/Masker air-bubbler noise-suppression system[1]
Armament	- 4 × TESEO Mk-2 anti-ship missiles, double launchers - 1 × Albatross octuple Aspide SAM launchers - 1 × Otobreda 127 mm/54 gun - 2 × Oto Melara Twin 40L70 DARDO CIWS - 2 × Browning HB2B 12.7 mm - 2 × MG 42/59 7.62 mm - 2 × 533 mm torpedo tubes (Whitehead B-516, with Whitehead A-184 torpedoes: then removed) - 2 × 324 mm triple torpedo tubes (Whitehead ILAS-3) with Mk-46 Mod.2 torpedoes
Aircraft carried	- flight deck 27 m (89 ft) x 12 m (39 ft) m - 2 x AB-212 helicopters

The Maestrale class is a class of frigates of the Italian Navy. The class is composed of eight vessels, all of which were built by Fincantieri S.p.A., Riva Trigoso, except for Grecale, which was built by Fincantieri S.p.A. – Muggiano, La Spezia.

The Maestrale-class frigates were primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), however the ships are highly flexible so they are also capable of anti-air and anti-surface operations. Ships of this class have been widely used in various international missions, either under NATO or UN flag, and during normal operations of the Italian Navy.

The first of these ships entered in service in early 1982. The rest of the fleet was launched over the next three years. The ships of the Maestrale class will be replaced by the Bergamini class.^[3]