Italian Frigate Fired On By Missile Off Libya

There are reports that there has been a possible attack on an Italian Frigate off the Libyan coast.

The Italian warship Bersagliere was operating just 12 miles (some sources say 15 miles) from the Libyan coast at the time of the incident.


This is close enough for her 127mm gun to bombard targets ashore.

The missile is reported to have missed the Soldati class frigate Bersagliere by 2,000 metres.

The origins of the missile have been described as unknown which leaves open the possibility that this may have been a "friendly fire" incident (Edit : it has since been confirmed that the missile was fired by Libyan forces).

The Soldati class are small frigates related to the Lupo class.

These ships had an interesting history,having been originally ordered by Iraq they were never delivered due to an arms embargo,an incident demonstrating the importance of security of supply.

A New American Frigate

In an earlier post we gave an illustration of what we wished to see in a future frigate for the Royal Navy.

Today we will look at what might be a suitable replacement for the American Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates.

The above illustration applies existing American weapon and sensor systems to our "Falkland class frigate" template.

Such as the 5 inch (127mm) Mark 45 Mod 4 gun.

The Mark 41 Vertical Launch System.

The Phalanx 1B.

Or,alternatively,SeaRAM.

AN/SPY 1F.

The MH 60R Seahawk.

Multi Function Towed Array AN/SQR 20.

All guns and missiles cover most bearings abeam of the ship,a narrow arc on the bow is covered by missiles,5" gun and a single Phalanx/SeaRam and a narrow arc on the stern is covered only by missiles and a single Phalanx/SeaRam but all weapons can be brought to bear on any bearing with a minimum of manoeuvering.

Other systems might include the Converteam Advanced Induction Motor.

LM2500 G4 Gas Turbine Generator.

All of these systems are "off the shelf" or made to order non developmental items.

The only thing which needs to be designed from scratch is a new hull to put those systems in,as the British can afford to design a new 6,850 tonne frigate,it is difficult to see why the United States' Navy could not do the same.


They could even share the Royal Navy's design (though the current design needs more work,note the poor firing arcs of the Phalanx).

The end result might be a frigate looking a little like this.

The configurable deck mentioned above is a flat load bearing area with access to the sea or pierside.

It may be enclosed or open.

It has connections for communications,power,potable and waste water services.

Items may be secured here by means of tie downs built in to the deck,bolts or welds.

Although it will be most often used as a location for boats and davits,the configurable deck can carry many other items including mines,mine hunting equipment,vehicles,submersibles,accommodation,stores,cruise missiles,sensors or any other mission specific equipment which the frigate may be required to carry either temporarily or permanently.

The unusual location of the Magazine Torpedo Launch System (an alternative to the Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes found on American ships) is based on the principle of,as far as is practical,keeping ordnance towards the extremities of the hull for damage control purposes as well as allowing a simple arrangement of torpedoes stored facing for'ard but launching on each beam.

That location was originally conceived as a suitable place for heavyweight torpedoes,which are not commonly carried by modern surface combatants.

Electro Magnetic Aircraft Launch System Launches It's First Aircraft

There are those who have suggested that electro magnetic catapults are a high risk technology which will not be ready in time for Britain's Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.

We have disagreed with this point of view in an earlier post.

For some time now,we have been waiting for the American Electro Magnetic Aircraft Launch System (E.M.A.L.S.) to conduct it's first aircraft launch.

With all the excitement at this time of year we almost missed it.

Here it is:



"LAKEHURST,N.J. (Dec. 16, 2010)

The Navy launches the first aircraft,an F/A-18E Super Hornet,from the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) at Naval Air Systems Command,Lakehurst, N.J..

The Navy has used steam catapults for more than 50 years to launch aircraft from aircraft carriers.

EMALS is a complete carrier-based launch system designed for Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and future Ford-class carriers.

Newer,heavier and faster aircraft will result in launch energy requirements approaching the limits of the steam catapult,increasing maintenance on the system.

The system's technology allows for a smooth acceleration at both high and low speeds, increasing the carrier's ability to launch aircraft in support of the warfighter.

EMALS will provide the capability for launching all current and future carrier air wing platforms from lightweight unmanned aerial vehicles to heavy strike fighters.

The first ship components are on schedule to be delivered to CVN 78 in 2011. (U.S. Navy video/Released)"

The above quote and video is taken from the excellent  United States Navy Visual News Service.

(United States Navy Visual News Service now defunct,dead link removed on 02/09/2020)

Brazilian Type 26 Frigates

This article by Reuters suggests that the United Kingdom and Brazil are about to sign a defence agreement.

The Financial Times is also reporting this potentially significant export order.

The articles state that Brazil may buy 6 patrol boats and 5 or 6 Type 26 frigates.

While this is very good news for the British defence industry,if it is true (there was recent talk of Brazil buying Italian frigates),it also tells us something about the Royal Navy's future Type 26 frigates.

The contract is said to be for up to £2,900 Million of ships.

Of these,the 6 patrol boats are expected to cost £60 to £80 Million each.

This means the frigates will cost between £2,540 Million and  £2,420 Million.

This gives us a potential price range of between £508 Million and £403 Million for the Type 26 frigate.

Which would seem to confirm the figure of £400 Million each which has been mentioned previously in connection with the Type 26.

The benefits of a longer production run and this reasonable price bodes well for the future of the Royal Navy's frigate programme.

Indeed,£400 Million is just over one third of a Type 45's programme unit cost and just two thirds of the Type 45's production unit cost.

At that price the Royal Navy could have had 16 Type 26 frigates for the cost of 6 Type 45 destroyers.

That Brazil would consider buying these warships before they have even left the drawing board suggests the Royal Navy may have got things very right with the Type 26.

While many British defence procurements cause significant damage to the United Kingdom's economy and at the same time undermine the country's political independence,the Type 26 export order will be of considerable economic benefit and help to sustain the independence of action of the British armed forces,without which they have no reason to exist.

It is politicians who ultimately decide how much money is spent on defence and programmes like this which create jobs and tax revenues are far more likely to generate support than,for example,the decision to buy Chinook helicopters from America rather than Merlins from England.

We shall have to wait for this to be confirmed,and to find out the details but the only potential downside to this is the possibility that those 5 or 6 frigates have been axed from the Royal Navy's future fleet as part of the forthcoming defence cuts.

In which case it could be very bad news indeed.

Nevertheless,we should never forget that it is defence exports such as this which subsidise the massive drain on the public purse which is the British armed forces.