Italian Shipbuilder Fincantieri launched the third Multipurpose Offshore Patrol ship (PPA) “Raimondo Montecuccoli” at Fincantieri’s Riva Trigoso facilities, Fincantieri announced.
The ceremony, held in a restricted format and in full compliance with anti-contagion requirements, was attended by Sen. Stefania Pucciarelli, the Italian Undersecretary of Defence representing the Minister Lorenzo Guerini, Adm. Eduardo Serra, Italian Navy Logistic Commander, and Giuseppe Giordo, General manager of the Naval Vessel division of Fincantieri.
The ship’s godmother was Mrs. Anna Maria Pugliese, daughter of Admiral Stefano Pugliese. He was Commander of the light cruiser “Montecuccoli”, which entered into service in 1935 and was uncommissioned from the Italian Navy fleet in 1964.
This vessel, the third of seven, will be delivered in 2023. It is part of the renewal plan of the operational lines of the Italian Navy vessels, approved by the Government and Parliament and started in May 2015 (“Naval Act”) under the aegis of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation sur l’Armement, the international organization for cooperation on arms).
The second ship, Francesco Morosini, was launched in May 2020
Fincantieri PPA – Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ship:
The multipurpose offshore patrol vessel is a highly flexible ship with the capacity to serve multiple functions, ranging from patrol with sea rescue capacity to Civil Protection operations and, in its most highly equipped version, first-line fighting vessel. There will be indeed different configurations of combat system: starting from a “soft” version for the patrol task, integrated for self-defense ability, to a “full” one, equipped for a complete defense ability. The vessel can also operate high-speed vessels such as RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) up to 11 meters long through lateral cranes or a hauling ramp located at the far stern.
• 133 meters long
• Speed more than 31 knots according to vessel configuration and operational conditions
• 171 persons of the crew
• Equipped with a combined diesel, a gas turbine plant (CODAG), and an electric propulsion system
• Capacity to supply drinking water to land
The Multipurpose Offshore Patrol ships will be built at the Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, with deliveries expected until 2026.
Unlike other OPVs Fincantieri’s design is more capable and carries much more weapons.
About Raimondo Montecuccoli:
Raimondo Montecuccoli, from Modena, was a general in service within the Austrian Empire. He participated with great success in all the wars fought in Europe – between 1625 and 1675 – by the Habsburg monarchy against the Dutch, Swedes, Turks, and French. Initiated to a church career, he instead chose the military career with determination, serving the Empire and standing out in several campaigns during the Thirty Years’ War. From 1648, he held a series of significant diplomatic positions in Italy and Europe. At the peak of his career, he became the rank of General Lieutenant of the Empire (1609-1681).
He was a man with a unique culture, a very successful military writer (he was the first to explore his personnel and logistics studies further). Ugo Foscolo mentioned him as the greatest and most learned Italian man at arms.
His name was previously attributed to a light cruiser of the same-named class. Unit characterized by the reputation of a lucky ship, in the headlines since 1937, she was sent, with only twenty-four hours notice, to China. The protagonist of the battle of Pantelleria, on June 15, 1942, the vessel resulted in the loss of the destroyer “Bedouin”, the “Kentucky” tank, as well as in the damage to the cruiser “Cairo”, the destroyers “Ithuriel” and “Partridge”, and the minesweeper “Hebe”.
