Fincantieri launches third Thaon di Revel class Multipurpose Offshore Patrol ship PPA Raimondo Montecuccoli.

According to a press release published on March 13, 2021, Italian shipyard Fincantieri has launched the third Thaon di Revel class Multipurpose Offshore Patrol ship (PPA) “Raimondo Montecuccoli” at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso (Genoa).
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Italian shipyard Fincantieri launches the third Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessel (PPA) Raimondo Montecuccoli for the Italian Navy. (Picture source Fincantieri)

The Thaon di Revel class (also known as PPA for "Pattugliatore Polivalente d'Altura") is a class of multipurpose offshore ships built by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri for the Italian Navy.

The Raimondo Montecuccoli” is the third Multipurpose Offshore Patrol ship built by Fincantieri from the seven ordered by the Italian government, will be delivered in 2023 and it is part of the renewal plan of the operational lines of the Italian Navy vessels, approved by the Italian 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). There is also an option for three additional ships.

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 complete defense ability. The vessel is also capable of operating 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.

The PPA – Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ship is powered by a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion system, consisting of powered by a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion system, consisting of one TAG General Electric/Avio LM2500+G4 developing 32,000 kW (43,000 hp) and two diesel engines MTU 20V 8000 M91L each developing 10,000 kW (13,000 hp). . The vessel will also feature four diesel engine generators MAN GenSets 12V175D-MEM each developing 1,640 kW (2,200 hp), one thruster developing 550 kW (740 hp) and two shafts, driving controllable-pitch propellers. The ship can reach a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h) with the two main diesel engines with a maximum cruising range of 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h).

The Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ship has an overall length of 143 m, a beam of 16.5 m, a depth of 10.5 m. The ship has a crew of 171 people and has an endurance of 30 days. She also equipped with a flight deck and one hangar that can accommodate two SH90 or one EH101 naval helicopter.

The PPA is armed with one OTO Melara 127/64 LW high-calibre Vulcano gun system (main armament), one Oto Melara 76 mm/62 Strales Sovraponte anti-aircraft gun, and two Oto Melara 25mm Oerlikon KBA B06, remotely operated weapon station. The ship is also equipped with 2x8 VLS Vertical Launching Systems able to fire air defense missiles, eight anti-ship missiles, and two 2 triple WASS B-515/3 launchers for Black Arrow 324 mm torpedoes.