Anti-submarine warfare frigate

Circe was laid down as the lead ship of the class on 27 February 1963, but was renamed Alpino in June 1965 prior to being launched on 10 June 1967.^[7] The new name recalled the Alpini. The launch took place in the presence of members of this specialist force, which also shares the ship's motto Di qui non si passa (From here, you shall not pass).^[8] Commissioned on 14 January 1968 with the pendant number F580, Alpino was employed in an escort role, although it was envisioned that this would be more escorting convoys of merchant ships rather than combat fleets in a time of conflict.^[7] The commissioning ceremony was attended by Maria Solimano, mother of Francesco Solimano, a member of the Alpini that received the Gold Medal of Military Valour for his action in Russia during the Second World War.^[9] Between 14 January and 6 June 1973, the ship undertook the longest continuous voyage in the Italian Navy, covering 7,315 nautical miles (13,547 kilometres; 8,418 miles) and travelling as far as the Labrador Sea, for which the vessel was awarded a symbolic Blue Nose.^[10]

Alpino acted as the trial ship for the experimental SPQ-5A Sarchiapone radar between 1973 and 1987. It was reportedly able to locate aircraft during their take-off from the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy at a distance of 350 nautical miles (650 kilometres; 400 miles).^[11] A SLQ-A ECM system was added during the 1970s, subsequently upgraded to SLQ-D.^[1] The onboard helicopters were also replaced by the more capable Agusta-Bell AB-212ASW.^[12] Consideration was given to installing the Sea Wolf surface-to-air missile system to improve anti-aircraft capability, but this was not implemented.^[13]

The ship was upgraded during a refit that ended in June 1985. A new SQS-43 hull-mounted sonar was fitted and the variable depth sonar rendered inoperable.^[14] A SLQ-747 ECM suite was fitted, replacing the SLQ-D.^[1] The vessel was also equipped with the SCLAR decoy-dispenser system which used chaff, flares and other decoys as a form of missile defense.^[6]

Mine warfare flagship

Between 14 April 1996 and 31 January 1997, Alpino was converted into the flagship for mine warfare, as a mine countermeasures support ship, a combat diver support ship and signals intelligence ship with the new pendant number A5384. As part of this conversion, the gas turbines were removed, which reduced the design top speed to 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) and range to 3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). Three of the 76 mm guns were removed and replaced by two Oerlikon 20 mm (0.8 in)/60 anti-aircraft guns. The electronics suite was also updated, with the SPQ-2 radar replaced by a SPS-702 air and surface search radar and a SPN-748 navigation radar. The SLQ-747 ECM suite was retained. The vessel subsequently carried one rather than two helicopters.^[15][16]

The vessel acted in the flagship role to the Gaeta-class minehunters Crotone and Chioggia from 18 March to 22 June 2002 during a NATO training exercise in Northern Europe. From 13 May 2004, Alpino commanded MCMFORSOUTH while on exercise in the Black Sea.^[17] Thirty-eight years after being originally commissioned, the ship was decommissioned on 31 March 2006.^[18]

Citations

Bibliography

• Avery, Derek (1987). Modern Warships. London: William Collins. ISBN 978-0-00458-855-1.
• Baker, Arthur D. (1997). "Combat Fleets". Proceedings. United States Naval Institute. 123 (6): 93–94.
• Blackman, Raymond V. B. (1971). Jane's Fighting Ships 1971–72. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd. ISBN 978-0-35400-096-3.
• Fitzsimons, Bernard (1979). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare. Milwaukee: Purnell Reference Books. ISBN 978-0-83936-175-6.
• Fortunato, E.; Clements, H. A. (1979). "Marine Reversing Gear Incorporating Single Reversing Hydraulic Coupling and Direct-Drive Clutch for Each Turbine" (PDF). ASME 1979 International Gas Turbine Conference and Exhibit and Solar Energy Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
• Galati, Gaspare (2016). 100 Years of Radar. New York: Springer. ISBN 978-3-31900-584-3.
• Hewish, Mark (1976). "World Missiles". Flight International. 109 (2): 1418–1440.
• Moore, John Evelyn (1985). Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 978-0-71060-814-7.
• Saunders, Stephen (2005). Jane's Fighting Ships 2005–2006. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 978-0-71062-692-9.
• Smigielski, Adam (1995). "Italy". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. London: Conway Maritime. pp. 195–218. ISBN 978-0-85177-605-7.
• Vidulich, Tullio (2002). Storia degli Alpini: Le battaglie e le missioni di pace e umanitarie dell'eroica gente di montagna [The History of the Alpini: The Battles, Peace and Humanitarian Missions of the Mountain Heroes] (in Italian). Trento: Panorama. ISBN 978-8-87389-095-9.
• Wertheim, Eric (2005). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 2005–2006: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems. Annapolis MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-934-7.