The ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C 551) is an Italian aircraft carrier and light cruiser hybrid, serving in the Italian Navy (Marina Militare). Here’s a detailed description of the ship:
General Overview
-
Name: ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C 551)
-
Class: Giuseppe Garibaldi-class aircraft carrier
-
Type: Light aircraft carrier / Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) carrier
-
Builder: Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy
-
Commissioned: 1985
-
Status: Active, though largely replaced in front-line carrier roles by Cavour (C 550)
Design and Capabilities
-
Displacement:
-
~10,100 tons (standard)
-
~13,850 tons (full load)
-
-
Length: 180.2 meters (591 ft)
-
Beam: 33.4 meters (110 ft)
-
Draught: 6.7 meters (22 ft)
Propulsion
-
Type: Combined gas or gas (COGAG) system
-
Engines: 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines
-
Power Output: 81,000 shaft horsepower
-
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
-
Range: 7,000 nautical miles at 20 knots
Armament
Originally designed as a helicopter and VTOL carrier with light cruiser-level defenses:
-
2 × Albatros launchers for Aspide surface-to-air missiles
-
2 × OTO Melara 76 mm/62 compact guns
-
Later refitted with CIWS and electronic warfare upgrades
Air Wing
The Giuseppe Garibaldi can operate both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft:
-
Fixed-wing: AV-8B Harrier II Plus V/STOL jets (up to 16)
-
Rotary-wing: EH101 Merlin, SH-3D Sea King, or AB-212 helicopters for ASW, SAR, and transport missions
-
Flight deck: Full-length deck with a 6.5° ski-jump ramp
Crew
-
Around 550–600 personnel (ship’s company)
-
Plus air group and command staff, totaling around 800 on board during operations
Operational History
-
Served as Italy’s first true aircraft carrier after World War II
-
Supported NATO operations in the Adriatic during the Yugoslav conflicts (1990s)
-
Participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Allied Force
-
Functioned as Italy’s flagship until replaced by Cavour in 2009
Namesake
Named after Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807–1882) — the famed Italian general, patriot, and unifier of Italy.
Post a Comment