According to Navy Recognition, the new Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ITS Trieste (L9890) for the Italian Navy conducts sea trials on August 13, 2021.

The LHD ITS Trieste (L9890) was officially launched on May 25, 2019, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Castellammare di Stabia, in the presence of the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, welcomed by Fincantieri’s Chairman Giampiero Massolo and CEO Giuseppe Bono. It is expected to be commissioned in June 2022.

Thanks to her characteristics in terms of construction and weapon systems, the LHD ITS Trieste (L9890) will be able to project – in crisis areas – the landing force of the Italian Navy and support the Defence national capability projection from the sea, as well as ensure the strategic transport of vehicles, personnel and equipment, and to support the Civil Protection in providing assistance to countries and populations in case of natural disasters, thanks to her capability to provide drinking water, power supply, healthcare, and medical support.

The LHD ITS Trieste (L9890) will be the largest vessel of the Italian Navy. The ship will have an overall length of 245 m/803.8 feet, a beam of 47 m/154.2 feet, a depth of 7.2 m/23.6 feet, and a fully loaded displacement of 33,000 tons. The ship will be powered by a COmbined Diesel eLectric Or Gas (CODLOG) propulsion system and an additional electric propulsion system to be used for low-speed sailing. The propulsion system will include two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines providing 102,000 hp/76 MW, two MAN 20V32/44CR diesel engines, four diesel engines generators MAN 9L32/44CR, developing 28,110 hp/21 MW, two 2,250 kW/3,020 hp electric engines, and two shafts. She will be able to reach a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h) with a maximum cruising range of 7,000 nautical miles/8,078 miles/13,000 km at 16 knots/18.4 mph/30 km/h.

The ship will be able to operate up to 12 medium helicopters AgustaWestland AW101 or NH90 naval helicopters or a combination of naval helicopters or Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft.

With over 1,000 sleeping accommodations, the new LHD ITS Trieste (L9890) will feature a 230-meter-long/754.6-foot-long helicopter flight deck, allowing the operation of a battalion consisting of 600 personnel, and a dock garage for 1,200 linear meters of wheeled and tracked vehicles, both civilian and military.

The floodable dock of 50 m/164 feet long and 15 m/49 feet wide will enable the LHD ITS Trieste (L9890) to deploy the most technically advanced amphibious equipment and vehicles of EU and NATO Navies.

The different areas of cargo securing are accessible through cranes, stern and side ramps and cargo handling will be managed by internal ramps and elevators.

A fully equipped hospital will also be available onboard, complete with operating rooms, radiology and analysis rooms, a dentist’s office, and patient rooms capable of hosting 27 seriously injured patients.