Military


Audace

The units of the Audace [Audacious] class are an improvement of the Guided Missile Destroyers of the Impavido [Fearless] class, with increase of dimensions and power of the helicopter unit and the armament. They constitute an important contribution for the power and the modernization of the Navy.

Under current plans about 2005-7 two new escort ships will be deployed to substitute for the destroyers Ardito and Audace.

Commissioned in 1972, the Italian navy's two 'Audace' class destroyers have proved highly successful and formed the basis for the 'Animoso' class currently completing. They ship a powerful general-purpose armament, including Otomat SSMS, Standard SAMs and homing antisubmarine (A/S) torpedoes. Both are fitted with stabilizers and their pair of AB 212 ASW helicopters provide over-the-horizon guidance for the Otomats as well as good anti-submarine capability. As originally built they had two OTO-Melara 5-in guns, but the 'B' turret was removed during modernization and replaced by an octuple SAM launcher firing Aspide semi-active radar homing missiles. They also had two twin 21-in torpedo tubes in transom mounts, but these have been removed.

Specifications

Audace
CountryITALY
Displacement3,600 t / 4,554 t
Length140.7 m
Beam14.65 m
Draft4.6 m
Speed33 kts
Crew380
Propulsion4 boilers for one total power of 73,000 HP
Armament
  • 1 TARTAR / SM-1MR missile launcher
  • 1 ALBATROS missile launcher w/ 8 cells
  • 1 127/54 milimeter OTO gun
  • 4 76/62 milimeter OTO compact guns
  • 2 light torpedo tubes MK 32 triple A/S for torpedo
  • 1 arranges rocket launcher SCLAR
    • Helicopters2 AB-212
    ShipsAudace
    Ardito







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