Artigliere-class

Summary

Description

The Artigliere (F-582) served as the lead ship of the Soldati-class frigate within the Italian Navy, with missions focusing on fleet escort and long range patrolling duties. It was previously constructed for the Iraqi Navy during Saddam Hussein's naval expansion program, before its acquisition by Italy. The design originated from the Lupo-class frigates ordered by Iraq in 1980, from the Italian shipbuilder CNR. However, an embargo during the Iran–Iraq War prevented the ships' delivery to Iraq. Later, the Iraqi president attempted to renegotiate costs, but the negotiations were thwarted by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and subsequent U.N. sanctions. In 1993, the undelivered vessels were seized, and after a refit, which included removal of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) equipment, they were commissioned into the Italian Navy in 1996 as patrol ships. Other ships in this class included Aviere, Bersagliere, and Granatiere. Additionally, the Philippines had shown interest in obtaining these frigates by 2012.

Artigliere's construction began with the keel laying on March 31, 1982, and launching on July 27, 1983, at Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard. Originally named Hittin with the pennant number F-14, the ship was commissioned on October 28, 1994, into the Italian Navy. The operational history of Artigliere includes several missions. It patrolled the Adriatic Sea from 1995 to 2000, complemented by a naval campaign in Southeast Asia from September 1997 to January 1998. The ship was actively involved in Operation Active Endeavor multiple times between 2002 and 2005, both with STANAVFORMED and STANAVFORLANT, focusing on security operations in the Eastern Mediterranean. In May 2005, Artigliere served as the command ship for the Mine Countermeasures Force (MCMFORSOUTH). Additional engagements included naval training and a bilateral exercise with Malta (CANALE 06), emphasizing cooperation in the Strait of Sicily in 2006.

Towards the end of its service, Artigliere was placed in Reduced Availability Table (RTD) on January 31, 2012. The ship was officially decommissioned on December 13, 2013, with a flag-lowering ceremony at Castellammare di Stabia's port, attended by various military and civil dignitaries. The last commander, Frigate Captain Paolo Casulli, handed over the combat flag, marking the end of Artigliere's operational stint. Subsequently, in 2015, Artigliere was mothballed alongside Ardito and Audace in the Arsenale of La Spezia. Throughout its service, Artigliere engaged in notable collaboration with allied navies, showcasing its adaptability from its origins as an Iraqi warship to a valuable asset for the Italian fleet in a variety of maritime security and training operations.

Technical specifications

Photo of Artigliere class