Aldebaran-class_frigate
Aldebaran-class frigate
Frigates of the Italian Navy
The Aldebaran class was a class of three frigates/corvettes/destroyer escorts operated by the Italian Navy. They entered service in 1951, with the last one being decommissioned in 1976.[1]
Aldebaran | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Aldebaran |
| Builders | |
| Operators |  Italian Navy |
| Preceded by | N/A |
| Succeeded by | Centauro class |
| Subclasses | Cannon class |
| Built | 1943 |
| In commission | 1951-1976 |
| Planned | 3 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Retired | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | |
| Beam | 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m) |
| Draft | 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m) |
| Propulsion | 4 × GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6,000 shp (4,474 kW), 2 screws |
| Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Range | 10,800 nmi (20,000 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | 15 officers and 201 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
The Aldebaran class consisted of three former United States Navy ships: USS Thornhill (Aldebaran), USS Gandy (Altair) and USS Wesson (Andromeda) transferred to the Italian Navy in 1951. These ships in the United States Navy were classified as destroyer escorts and belonged to the Cannon class, built in large series during the Second World War and then supplied in several different marine units (Mutual Defense Assistance Program).[2]
The three ships entered service in the Navy together with the Artigliere-class units as part of a naval upgrade program started in 1950; they were first used as escorts, from 1957 as frigates and from 1962 as corvettes, a role held until the moment of decommissioning.
Units of this class take their names from three Spica-class torpedo boats lost during World War II.
| Pennant | Name | Builders | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F 590 | Aldebaran | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company | 7 October 1943 | 30 December 1943 | 10 January 1951 | 1976 |
| F 591 | Altair | Tampa Shipbuilding Company | 1 March 1943 | 12 December 1943 | 1971 | |
| F 592 | Andromeda | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company | 29 July 1943 | 17 October 1943 | January 1972 |
- "Aldebaran F 590 Cannon class frigate escort ex USS Thornhill Italian Navy". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- "10.1.1951 la U.S. Navy consegna alla Marina Militare le navi Aldebaran, Altair e Andromeda – La voce del marinaio" (in Italian). 10 January 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
