The Andrea Doria class were helicopter cruisers of the Italian Navy. Italy's first major new designs of the post–World War II era, these ships were primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare tasks. The two ships that were constructed, and served until 1991 in both active and training capacities. A planned third ship, Enrico Dandolo (C555), was cancelled in favor of the larger follow-on class.

Design Ordered in the 1957-58 Naval Programme, the Andrea Doria class were designed to operate the RIM-2 Terrier surface-to-air missile (SAM) system and Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King helicopters as both a platform for anti-air and anti-submarine warfare. The hull was based on the , with a length of and an enlarged beam to allow for the installation of a flight deck and hangar, measuring . The vessels had a draught of and displaced 5,000 tons standard and 6,500 tons loaded.Gardiner and Chumbly, p.204-205

The flight deck measured and was placed aft of the superstructure. It was cantilevered out at the stern to provide extra operational space.

Power and propulsion The class was powered by four Foster Wheeler boilers. These provided the power to two double reduction geared steam-powered turbines creating which drove two shafts.Moore, p.258 This gave the cruisers a maximum speed of and an operating range of at .

Armament For anti-air warfare the Andrea Dorias were equipped with one Mk 10 twin-arm launcher with 40 RIM-2 Terrier missiles placed forward. The ships were also provided with eight Oto Melara 76 mm/62 MMI guns to be used for point-blank anti-aircraft defence. The class was originally intended to be armed with the SMP 3 76 mm/62 gun found on the , however that gun was rated poorly and was replaced. The choice to arm the cruisers with the 76 mm guns was based on a decision taken in 1958 that only guns of that size were adequate in point blank air defence. The guns were placed in six single turrets amidships abreast the funnel and the bridge.

The cruisers were also equipped with six Mk32 torpedo tubes in two triple mounts. These were for use against submarines. In conjunction with the torpedo systems, the Andrea Dorias could embark up to four helicopters. The Sea Kings were found to be too large for the class and the Italians instead chose to use Agusta-Bell AB 212 helicopters modified for anti-submarine warfare.

Electronics Initially, the Andrea Doria class was equipped with SPS-12 and SPS-39A radars for air search and surveillance and SPQ-2 for navigation. They also carried SQS-39 sonar. The guns were automatically controlled by the Italian-designed NA-9 Orion fire control system guided by the SPG-70 radar.

History

As a flagship of the 1st Naval Division, the Andrea Doria participated in numerous national and international exercises. In 1967, a Hawker Siddeley Harrier of the British Royal Navy made a test landing on its aft flight deck in La Spezia. She was modernised in 1976-78, exchanging the RIM-2 missiles for the SM-1ER surface-to-air missile. The ship received an updated electronics package, mounting AN/SPS-40 2-D air search radar, SPG-55C fire control radar and SQS-23 sonar. Among other deployments, she participated in Operation Girasole, securing sea and airspace during the 1986 Libyan crisis.

Caio Duilio received only a marginal modernisation in 1979-80 and instead was modified to become a training ship. Its aft hangar was removed and replaced with classrooms and two aftmost 76mm mounts were removed. In 1980 it replaced San Giorgio as the fleet's training vessel. Both ships mounted new electronic warfare packages, SPS-768 long-range search radars and SPR-4 intercept and SLQ-D jammers. In 1984, she sailed to Los Angeles for the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Ships Andrea Doria-class cruisersNamePennant numberHull numberBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedFate C 553 248 CNR, Riva Trigoso 11 May 1958 27 February 1963 23 February 1964 Stricken 1991 C 554 629 (777) Castellammare di Stabia 16 May 1958 22 December 1962 30 November 1964 Stricken 1991 Enrico Dandolo C 555 Cancelled

Similar ships

Notes

Sources Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. .

External links Marina Militare official website Andrea Doria Marina Militare website