Italian Thaon di Revel-class OPV Raimond Montecuccoli begins sea trials.

According to a press release published by OCCAR on September 21, 2021, the third ship of the PPA Programme, named “Raimondo Montecuccoli”, sailed for the first time in the blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
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Thaon di Revel-class Offshore Patrol Vessel Raimond Montecuccoli (Picture source: OCCAR)

PPA3 is the first PPA in LIGHT PLUS configuration and just three years after the First Steel Cutting ceremony, successfully conducted its first sea trials under the supervision of OCCAR PPA Programme Division.

The fundamental characteristic of the PPA Programme is a high level of innovation, which provides the ships with a considerable degree of effectiveness and flexibility, while serving different mission profiles with enhanced multipurpose features, either to perform in all the maritime warfare domains or to support humanitarian and disaster relief operations, through new and enhanced modular capabilities.

The main characteristics of PPAs are: very high speed, long-endurance, resilience and seaworthiness, manoeuvrability, modularity and a high level of integration and automation. Furthermore, the environmental footprint will be smaller than ever, by further reducing emissions and by adopting new generation bio fuel and electrical propulsion.

During the sea trials part of important objectives were carried out such as the propulsion and navigation performances. The delivery to the Italian Navy of the Third PPA (Hull number P432) is planned for January 2023.

Raimondo Montecuccoli (P432) is the third ship of Paolo Thaon di Revel-class offshore patrol vessel. Raimondo Montecuccoli was laid down on 8 November 2018 at Fincantieri Muggiano and was launched on 13 March 2021. Expected to be commissioned in January 2023.

The Thaon di Revel class (also known as PPA for "Pattugliatore Polivalente d'Altura") is a class of multipurpose offshore ships built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy. It is planned to replace four Soldati-class light patrol frigates and eight Minerva-class corvettes between 2021/2035. As part of the 2014 Naval Law, a total of sixteen ships are planned and as of 2019 seven vessels have been financed with three more on option.