The ''San Giorgio'' class are

amphibious transport dock An amphibious transport dock, also called a landing platform dock (LPD), is an amphibious warfare ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. Several navies currently oper ...

s (LPD) built by

Fincantieri Fincantieri S.p.A. () is an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. Already the largest shipbuilder in Europe, after the acquisition of Vard in 2013, Fincantieri group doubled in size to become the fourth largest in the world (2014 ...

for the Italian Navy. These ships can carry a battalion of troops, and up to 36 armored vehicles. The stern floodable dock can accommodate three landing craft. The ships are based at the

Brindisi Brindisi ( ; ) is a city in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Historically, the city has played an essential role in trade and culture due to its strategic position ...

naval base on the Adriatic coast. ''San Giorgio'' and ''San Marco'' have been modified with longer full-length

flight deck The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is the surface on which its aircraft take off and land, essentially a miniature airfield at sea. On smaller naval ships which do not have aviation as a primary mission, the landing area for helicopters ...

s with four landing spots. ''San Giusto'', the third vessel, has not been modified since construction, however, it featured an improved design, and is normally employed as a

training ship A training ship is a ship used to train students as sailors. The term is mostly used to describe ships employed by navies to train future officers. Essentially there are two types: those used for training at sea and old hulks used to house class ...

Ships

Replacement class

The two oldest vessels of this class are scheduled for replacement. The Italian Navy has received the go-ahead to procure two 16,500-ton amphibious assault ships. According to the Italian MoD’s Multi-Year Defence Planning Document (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa, DPP) for the 2023-2025 timeframe, these ships are to be able to accommodate two LC-23 heavy landing craft for battle tanks or other vehicles and flight deck with multiple helicopter spots alongside extensive hangar and personnel accommodation facilities. A contract is possible in 2024 and delivery is anticipated in the 2028-2030 period.

Improved ''San Giorgio'' or Landing and Logistic Support Ship

In July 2011 the

Algerian Navy The Algerian Naval Force (ANF; , ) is the naval branch of the Algerian military. The naval force operates from multiple bases along the country's nearly coastline, fulfilling its primary role of monitoring and defending Algeria's territorial water ...

placed an order with

for an improved version of the ''San Giorgio'' class amphibious transport ships classified as ''Bâtiment de Débarquement et de Soutien Logistique'' (BDSL). On 8 January 2014 the BDSL was launched on a

barge A barge is typically a flat-bottomed boat, flat-bottomed vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. Original use was on inland waterways, while modern use is on both inland and ocean, marine water environments. The firs ...

at the Fincantieri shipyard in

Sestri Levante Sestri Levante () is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Liguria, Italy. Lying on the Mediterranean Sea, it is approximately south-east of Genoa and is set on a promontory. While nearby Portofino and the Cinque Terre are pro ...

. is fitted with Aster 15 behind the island superstructure, with one OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid at the bow and with two 25 mm remote weapon stations. The BDSL can accommodate three landing craft mechanized, three small landing craft vehicle personnel, one large landing craft personnel and two semi-rigid boats. The

hangar A hangar is a building or structure designed to hold aircraft or spacecraft. Hangars are built of metal, wood, or concrete. The word ''hangar'' comes from Middle French ''hanghart'' ("enclosure near a house"), of Germanic origin, from Frankish ...

can accommodate up to 15 armoured vehicles. The crew will consist of 150 sailors while the ship may accommodate a landing force of 440 soldiers.

References

External links

San Giorgio – Naval Technology
{{Portal bar, Italy, Engineering Amphibious warfare vessel classes San Giorgio class Amphibious warfare vessels of the Italian Navy Helicopter carrier classes Ships built by Fincantieri

Ships

Replacement class

Improved ''San Giorgio'' or Landing and Logistic Support Ship

See also

References

External links