Major Shaitan Singh
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2010
- Messages
- 3,550
- Reaction score
- 43
- Country
- Location
Vittorio Veneto, the last cruiser of Italian Navy
Some years after the commissioning of the two helicopter cruisers of Andrea Doria class, the Italian Navy ordered an enlarged version of a helicopter cruiser. The new 180-meter cruiser received the name Vittorio Veneto(C550) and she entered in service with the Italian Navy in 1969.
A second ship of the same design, the Italia, was cancelled. Instead, Italy proceeded later in the construction of Giuseppe Garibaldi light aircraft carrier, an aircraft carrying cruiser as it was classified in the early years of its service. Vittorio Venetohad a similar layout as the smaller Andrea Doria class helicopter cruisers, but with two elevators in the large (40x18.5-metre) flight deck and the hangar positioned below the flight deck.
The ship was built from the keel up as guided missile cruiser forward and helicopter carrier aft. Unlike the Andrea Doria class ships,Vittorio Venetohad two combination mast/funnels, rather than separate funnels like the ships of the Andrea Doria class. Vittorio Venetowas a fast ship especially for her size as she was propelled by two steam turbines providing 73,000 shp, for a maximum speed of 32 knots.
Similarly to Andrea Doria class vessels, she had a sets of stabilizing fins to improve stability for helicopter operations. The new cruiser could carry up to nine (9) AB 204 (later AB212) or six (6) ASH-3H Sea King helicopters in comparison with four (4) and two (2) respectively for the Andrea Doria class ships. All nine AB212 could be accommodated in the spacious hangar (27.4m x 15.2m) but not the Sea King helicopters which had to remain on the deck.
Sea King helicopter aboard C550Vittorio Veneto(after the modernization)
Vittorio Venetoafter the modernization with all of her Otomat SSM and two
AB212 helicopters aboard. Photo: Chris Howell
With her AN/SQS-23 sonar, the two triple torpedo launchers, the ASROC missiles that could be fired also from the Terrier launcher and the most important with the nine ASW helicopters that the ship was carrying, this cruiser was definitely one of the best ships in the ASW operations.
Click to enlarge and save the image to view the details: Vittorio Veneto helicopter cruiser of Italian Navy.
Vittorio Venetoin Sevastopol (2003)
Photo: Vitaliy Kostrichenko
Vittorio Venetoin Sevastopol (2003)
Photo: Vitaliy Kostrichenko
In the early '80s,Vittorio Venetoreceived an extensive modernization on her electronic equipment and weapon systems. Three twin 40mm gun turrets were added,one forwardandtwo aft,placedon either sideof the hangarto strengthen ship'santi-aircraft/missileshort-rangedefensive ability (CIWS),together with their fire control radars.The three twin gun turretsinaddition tothe eight76mmgunsbroughtto atotal of 14guns!In addition to that, four single launchers where installed amidships for the Teseo anti-ship missiles. The AB212 could provide mid-course guidance for the Otomat anti-ship missiles.
The Mk10 launcher was upgraded, the Terrier missiles were removed and replaced by 40 SM-1ER (Extended Range) SAM and 20 anti-submarine rockets (ASROC) and at the same time the missile fire control radars were also upgraded. The ship, after these several upgrades could perform any kind of role given with great success.
Vittorio Venetoprior the modernization
Vittorio Venetoprior the modernization