The Logistic Support Ship (LSS) Vulcano (A5335), named after one of the Eolian Islands North of Sicily, had her First Sea Going on 5th December 2019, logging her first nautical miles in the in the Gulf of La Spezia. This step of the programme is a key contractual milestone towards the delivery of the ship to the Italian Navy (FOAR), scheduled for September 2020.
During the First Sea Going (FSG), several Platform and Combat Systems installed onboard have been tested, especially the propulsion, steering and navigation systems.
Only four years and a half have elapsed since the signature of the LSS contract in May 2015 and the FSG. This is a great achievement for Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’ARmement (OCCAR) as contracting authority, given the exceptional challenges to finalize, under extreme time constraints, the reconstruction works of the aft part of the ship, after her launch in June 2018. The LSS Vulcano (A5335) FSG bears witness of the success brought by the combined efforts of OCCAR, Italy as Participating State and Industry.
The Vulcano (A5335) is expected to complete her sea trials by September 2020 and to be delivered to the Italian Navy that same month.
With France joining in January 2019, four more Logistic Support Ships will follow the path of their elder sister Vulcano (A5335), being the first delivery expected by the end of 2022.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
| MAIN CHARACTERISTICS | |
| Length overall | 193 m/633.2 feet |
| Length between perpendiculars | 176 m/577.4 feet |
| Moulded breadth | 24 m/78.7 feet |
| Depth to main deck (deck 1) | 16.3 m/53.5 feet |
| Full load displacement | 27,200 t |
| Transported cargoes | up to 15,500 t |
| Speed (maximum/cruise) | about 20/16 knots/23/18.4 mph/37/30 km/h |
| Range at 16 knots | 7,000 NM/8,055 miles/12,964 km |
| Crew + additional personnel | 235 people + 13 hospitalized |
| ENERGY AND PROPULSION SYSTEMS | |
| Propulsion system | COmbined Diesel-eLectric And Diesel (CODLAD) – 2 × DE + 2 EM/2 × Featherable Controllable Pitch Propellers (FCPP) |
| Generating sets | 4 + 2 Shaft generators + 1 Emerg. |
| HELO CAPABILITIES | |
| Flight deck | for NH90 or EH101 |
| Hangar | for 2 EH101 |
| COMBAT SYSTEM | |
| 1 Internal Networking System | |
| 1 Combat Management System (CMS) | |
| 1 Integrated Int/Ext Communication System | |
| 1 Integrated Navigation System | |
| 2 Navigation Radars | |
| 1 Helo Decking Radar | |
| 1 2D Surveillance Radar 2D RAN 21S | |
| 1 Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF) Interrogator System | |
| 1 IFF Transponder System | |
| 1 IR Surveillance System (2 turrets) | |
| 2 Secondary Caliber Guns – 25 mm | |
| 2 Long Range Acoustic Devices | |
| 1 Obstacle Avoidance Sonar | |
| 1 Diver Detection Sonar | |
| 1 Electronic Warfare (EW) System (RESM/CESM – Radar Electronic Support Measures/Communications Electronic Support Measures)* | |
| 1 Fire Control System (ADT)* | |
| 1 Quick Point Device System (2 Pointing Devices)* | |
| 1 Main Caliber Gun – 76 mm SR* | |
| 1 Decoy Launching System (2 Launchers)** | |
| 1 Torpedo Detection System** | |
| 1 Reaction Management System** | |
| 1 Bathy Termograph Unit** | |
* Fitted for
** Space foreseen for