Cassiopea-class

Summary

Description

The Cassiopea class consists of a series of four heavy patrol boats belonging to the Italian Navy. Developed in the early 1980s, these vessels were constructed with the purpose of performing patrols in secure maritime areas and replacing the old Albatros-class corvettes that were previously used for fisheries patrol. While the Minerva class corvettes were developed as fully combatant coastal escort ships with modern sensors and armament, the Cassiopea class was envisioned as simpler offshore patrol vessels.

The Italian Navy authorized the construction of four Cassiopea class ships out of an initially planned total of eight in December 1982. To fund this project, the Ministry of Merchant Marine provided the necessary resources. The order to begin construction was given in December 1986, and the work commenced the following year at the Fincantieri shipyard in Muggiano. The ships were built according to mercantile construction standards, with the first of the class entering service in 1989. Additionally, there was an initial plan to construct two more vessels, but it was ultimately canceled in 1991 before their construction started.

In terms of armament, the Cassiopea class ships are equipped with a single 76mm/L62 Allargato gun, a system repurposed from decommissioned Bergamini-class frigates. The vessels are also adapted to carry a helicopter, specifically an Agusta-Bell AB-212 ASW type, facilitated by the presence of a flight deck and a fixed hangar. Among other capabilities, the ships have equipment onboard to deal with pollution incidents.

Technological updates to the Cassiopea class have been ongoing. Between 2012 and 2014, all vessels were upgraded with the Selex ES Janus-N infrared optronic system. Furthermore, starting in 2014 with the ship Libra, the vessels began receiving the new dual-band Gemini-DB radar system from GEM Elettronica, enhancing their navigation capabilities in both the X and Ka radar bands.

The operational history of the Cassiopea class points to a strategic move by the Italian Navy in safeguarding its territorial waters while maintaining an ability to perform various maritime duties. The integration and modernization efforts reflect the Italian Navy's commitment to adapt to evolving technological advancements while leveraging existing assets for sustainable fleet management. These patrol boats serve Italy exclusively, with no recorded operations of this class by other countries.

Technical specifications