Italian cruiser Vittorio Veneto
Encyclopedia
Vittorio Veneto
is a helicopter
cruiser
that served with the Italian
Marina Militare
, the Italian navy. Originally it was intended to be a class of two ships specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare
(ASW), but only Vittorio Veneto entered into service in 1969, its sister ship Italia being cancelled. Vittorio Veneto was decommissioned in 2003. This ship has the same general layout as the smaller Andrea Doria
class helicopter cruisers, but with two elevators in the flight deck and the hangar below.
class helicopter cruisers proved a useful addition to the fleet, it was judged that a larger ship was necessary. Such a vessel would be able operate a larger airwing and provide helicopter support in bad weather conditions. These considerations led to the Vittorio Veneto class, of which two ships were originally planned, though only one was actually built.
The first (and only) ship was laid down on July 10, 1965 and launched on July 12, 1969 at the Italcantieri plant of Castellammare di Stabia
. It entered in service in the October of the same year, in the naval base of Taranto
. Vittorio Veneto remained the flagship of the Marina Militare until the aircraft carrier
Giuseppe Garibaldi was commissioned in 1985.
The second ship of this class, the Italia, was cancelled.
she has two combination mast/funnelss, rather than separate funnels like the Andrea Dorias
. The second major difference in design is the location of the helicopter facilities. Vittorio Veneto has a raised read deck to accommodate a hangar beneath the helicopter platform, rather than a frigat/destroyer style hangar in the superstructure. There are two elevators to transfer the helicopters between the hangar and the deck.
Originally she carried an armament similar to the Andrea Dorias
comprising a Terrier
anti-aircraft system situated in front of the bridge, which could also be used to launch ASROC
antisubmarine rockets. Compared to the Andrea Dorias
Vittorio Veneto's missile magazine has a third drum, increasing magazine capacity by a third Her secondary armament consisted of eight dual-purpose OTO-Melara 76/62mm
guns in a ring around the super structure. Finally she had two triple 324 mm torpedo launchers. She could operate up to nine light helicopters, of the types Agusta-Bell
AB-204 or later AB-212 or six heavy helicopters of the type AB-61, which could be housed in the hangar beneath the long rear deck.
The electronics were rather advanced for the time, comprising a three-dimensional AN/SPS-52 B radar
and an SPS-768 (RAN 3L) air search radar. For antisubmarine warfare an AN/SQS-23 sonar set
was installed.
Vittorio Veneto was propelled by two steam turbines providing 73,000 shp, for a maximum speed of 30 knots.
Like the Andrea Dorias
she had a sets of stabilizing fins to improve stability for helicopter operations.
Twin 40L70 DARDO
CIWS compact gun mounts for AA defence and Standard SM-1ER
SAM
missiles to replace the Terrier
SAM
. The engine feeding system was shifted from nafta to diesel fuel for standardisation and environmental reasons.
on April 22, 1997. At the time she was acting as the flagship of a multinational task-force that protected aid deliveries to Albania. It took four tugboats to pull her free. No damage to the ship or injuries to the crew were reported by the Italian navy
.
She was decommissioned in 2003, being the second last cruiser in service with any Western European fleet. Her air coverage capability will be supplied by the new V/STOL
aircraft carrier
Cavour. Vittorio Veneto will become a museum ship within Taranto harbour.
Vittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto is a city and comune situated in the Province of Treviso, in the region of Veneto, Italy, in the northeast of the Italian peninsula, between the Piave and the Livenza rivers.-Geography:...
is a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
that served with the Italian
Military of Italy
The Italian armed forces are the military of Italy, they are under the command of the Italian Supreme Council of Defence, presided over by the President of the Italian Republic. The total number of active military personnel is 293,202...
Marina Militare
Marina Militare
The Italian Navy is the navy of the Italian Republic. It is one of the four branches of military forces of Italy; formed in 1946, from what remained of the Regia Marina . As of 2008, the Italian Navy had 35,200 active personnel with 180 commissioned ships, 19 Floating Docks, and 123 aircraft...
, the Italian navy. Originally it was intended to be a class of two ships specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
(ASW), but only Vittorio Veneto entered into service in 1969, its sister ship Italia being cancelled. Vittorio Veneto was decommissioned in 2003. This ship has the same general layout as the smaller Andrea Doria
Andrea Doria class cruiser
The Andrea Doria was a class of helicopter cruisers of the Marina Militare. They were Italy's first major new designs of the post–World War II era. These ships were primarily designed for ASW tasks.-History:...
class helicopter cruisers, but with two elevators in the flight deck and the hangar below.
History
Though the Andrea Doria classAndrea Doria class cruiser
The Andrea Doria was a class of helicopter cruisers of the Marina Militare. They were Italy's first major new designs of the post–World War II era. These ships were primarily designed for ASW tasks.-History:...
class helicopter cruisers proved a useful addition to the fleet, it was judged that a larger ship was necessary. Such a vessel would be able operate a larger airwing and provide helicopter support in bad weather conditions. These considerations led to the Vittorio Veneto class, of which two ships were originally planned, though only one was actually built.
The first (and only) ship was laid down on July 10, 1965 and launched on July 12, 1969 at the Italcantieri plant of Castellammare di Stabia
Castellammare di Stabia
Castellammare di Stabia is a comune in the province of Naples, Campania region, southern Italy. It is situated on the Bay of Naples about 30 kilometers southeast of Naples, on the route to Sorrento.-History:...
. It entered in service in the October of the same year, in the naval base of Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
. Vittorio Veneto remained the flagship of the Marina Militare until the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
Giuseppe Garibaldi was commissioned in 1985.
The second ship of this class, the Italia, was cancelled.
Design
Vittorio Veneto has a displacement of 7,500 tons standard and 8,850 tons fully loaded. Unlike the Andrea DoriasAndrea Doria class cruiser
The Andrea Doria was a class of helicopter cruisers of the Marina Militare. They were Italy's first major new designs of the post–World War II era. These ships were primarily designed for ASW tasks.-History:...
she has two combination mast/funnelss, rather than separate funnels like the Andrea Dorias
Andrea Doria class cruiser
The Andrea Doria was a class of helicopter cruisers of the Marina Militare. They were Italy's first major new designs of the post–World War II era. These ships were primarily designed for ASW tasks.-History:...
. The second major difference in design is the location of the helicopter facilities. Vittorio Veneto has a raised read deck to accommodate a hangar beneath the helicopter platform, rather than a frigat/destroyer style hangar in the superstructure. There are two elevators to transfer the helicopters between the hangar and the deck.
Originally she carried an armament similar to the Andrea Dorias
Andrea Doria class cruiser
The Andrea Doria was a class of helicopter cruisers of the Marina Militare. They were Italy's first major new designs of the post–World War II era. These ships were primarily designed for ASW tasks.-History:...
comprising a Terrier
RIM-2 Terrier
The Convair RIM-2 Terrier was a two-stage medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships. Originally, the Terrier had a launch thrust of 23 kN , and weight of 1392 kg...
anti-aircraft system situated in front of the bridge, which could also be used to launch ASROC
ASROC
ASROC is an all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system. Developed by the United States Navy in the 1950s, it was deployed in the 1960s, updated in the 1990s, and eventually installed on over 200 USN surface ships, specifically cruisers, destroyers, and frigates...
antisubmarine rockets. Compared to the Andrea Dorias
Andrea Doria class cruiser
The Andrea Doria was a class of helicopter cruisers of the Marina Militare. They were Italy's first major new designs of the post–World War II era. These ships were primarily designed for ASW tasks.-History:...
Vittorio Veneto's missile magazine has a third drum, increasing magazine capacity by a third Her secondary armament consisted of eight dual-purpose OTO-Melara 76/62mm
Otobreda 76 mm
The Otobreda 76 mm gun is a naval artillery piece built by the Italian defence conglomerate Otobreda. It is based on the Oto Melara 76mm/L62 Allargato, which was bigger and heavier...
guns in a ring around the super structure. Finally she had two triple 324 mm torpedo launchers. She could operate up to nine light helicopters, of the types Agusta-Bell
Agusta
Agusta is an Italian helicopter manufacturer. It is based in Samarate, Northern Italy. It is a subsidiary of Finmeccanica. The company was founded by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923, who flew his first airplane in 1907...
AB-204 or later AB-212 or six heavy helicopters of the type AB-61, which could be housed in the hangar beneath the long rear deck.
The electronics were rather advanced for the time, comprising a three-dimensional AN/SPS-52 B radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
and an SPS-768 (RAN 3L) air search radar. For antisubmarine warfare an AN/SQS-23 sonar set
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
was installed.
Vittorio Veneto was propelled by two steam turbines providing 73,000 shp, for a maximum speed of 30 knots.
Like the Andrea Dorias
Andrea Doria class cruiser
The Andrea Doria was a class of helicopter cruisers of the Marina Militare. They were Italy's first major new designs of the post–World War II era. These ships were primarily designed for ASW tasks.-History:...
she had a sets of stabilizing fins to improve stability for helicopter operations.
Upgrades
The ship underwent an extensive update between 1981 and 1984. The electronics were updated, and launchers for Otomat missiles were installed, together with three OTO MelaraOto Melara
Oto Melara is an Italian defence company with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. It was founded in 1905 as a joint venture of Vickers and Terni. During World War I, Vickers Terni produced many weapons with calibre 40 mm and upwards. In 1929 the company was renamed Odero Terni Orlando with the...
Twin 40L70 DARDO
DARDO
DARDO is a Close-in weapon system built by the Italian companies Breda and Oto Melara. It is composed of two Breda-built Bofors 40 mm firing high explosive shells, a fire-control radar and a fire-control system...
CIWS compact gun mounts for AA defence and Standard SM-1ER
RIM-67 Standard
The RIM-67 Standard ER is an extended range surface-to-air missile and anti ship missile originally developed for the United States Navy...
SAM
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
missiles to replace the Terrier
RIM-2 Terrier
The Convair RIM-2 Terrier was a two-stage medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships. Originally, the Terrier had a launch thrust of 23 kN , and weight of 1392 kg...
SAM
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
. The engine feeding system was shifted from nafta to diesel fuel for standardisation and environmental reasons.
Accidents
Vittorio Veneto ran aground in bad weather off the port of VlorëVlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
on April 22, 1997. At the time she was acting as the flagship of a multinational task-force that protected aid deliveries to Albania. It took four tugboats to pull her free. No damage to the ship or injuries to the crew were reported by the Italian navy
Italian Navy
Italian Navy may refer to:* Pre-unitarian navies of the Italian states* Regia Marina, the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of Italy * Italian Navy , the navy of the Italian Republic...
.
Decommissioning
After 1985 Vittorio Veneto served mainly as a training ship.She was decommissioned in 2003, being the second last cruiser in service with any Western European fleet. Her air coverage capability will be supplied by the new V/STOL
V/STOL
Vertical and/or short take-off and landing is a term used to describe aircraft that are able to take-off or land vertically or on short runways. Vertical takeoff and landing describes craft which do not require runways at all...
aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
Cavour. Vittorio Veneto will become a museum ship within Taranto harbour.
Similar ships
- Andrea Doria classAndrea Doria class cruiserThe Andrea Doria was a class of helicopter cruisers of the Marina Militare. They were Italy's first major new designs of the post–World War II era. These ships were primarily designed for ASW tasks.-History:...
- Moskva class helicopter carrier
- French cruiser Jeanne d'Arc (R97)