Comandante Cigala Fulgosi
(Nuova Unità Minore Combattente / New Minor Combatant)
The Cigala Fulgosi and her three sisters have been called corvettes and they have been called small frigates. By whatever name you call these ships, their stealth design is unmistakable. The Cigala Fulgosi Class small frigates strongly resemble the French La Fayette Class frigates, but they are far smaller Corvettes. The strong visual resemblance between the two designs is largely due to the requirement to use angular planes in both designs in order to deflect radar reflection. Though originally said to be replacements for the Sparveiro Class hydrafoils, the ships in the class are in reality supplements for the Minerva Class frigates.
Four second line combatant units of the Commander Cigala Fulgosi class, of approximately 1,500 tons, were constructed in the ship yards of Riva Trigoso. The four are all named after famous commandants of the Italian Navy. Endowed with a simplified combat system, they are intended for patrolling and the control of the mercantile traffic and surveillance in the seas next to Italy. Their entrance into service permited lightening the engagement of the frigates that have sophisticated abilities to combat, which are intended for more complex missions and perations in the presence of contemporary threats.
The four NUMC (Nuova Unità Minore Combattente / Nuove Unitá Minori Combattenti / New Combatant Smaller Unit / New Minor Combatant) offshore patrol vessels are named Comandante Cigala Fulgosi, Comandante Borsini, Comandante Bettica and Comandante Foscari. The first one was launched in October 2000. A contract was entered in April 1999 with Fincantieri, Muggiano for the construction of four units. Commandante Cigala Fulgosi P490 was the lead ship laid down on October 7, 2000 and launched on July 31, 2001. The other three are Commandante Borsini P491, Commandante Bettica P492, and Commandante Foscari P493. The lead unit was completed with combat system when delivered in January 2002. The other ships follow at roughly four month intervals.
While the first three NUMC vessels feature an all-steel superstructure, the superstructure of the fourth unit [Comandante Foscari] is constructed from glass-reinforced plastic, including the most of the mast and the entire telescoping helicopter hangar. This composite superstructure is 40% lighter, lowering the ship's center of gravity and reducing fuel consumption, and at the same time offering less maintenance and longer service life.
Cigala Fulosi, the first of a class of four Units, above all represents a considerable improvement of the combatant platforms of second line in the general architecture, in the logistic sistemazioni, the automation of the platform functions and for the presence of Sistema di Comando and Controllo of last strongly integrated generation. The Unit is in a position to leading operations of patrolling to medium range. Such operations, schematically in presence and surveillance in international waters, vigilance of the marine frontiers and surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone, priority are finalized to the protection of the national interests, but they are not, however, to exclude participations and missions of aid. Particularly innovative, they are the solutions adopted to the ends of the reduction of the signature radars, comprehensive of the obvious participations on the geometric shapes of the Unit that has carried to the inusuale inclination of the external walls of the hull and the superstructure.
The breast, to mirror, supports a flight deck from which it is approached the hangar of telescopic type, in a position to receiving helicopters AB 212 and NH 90. Technology, reliabilities and emergency characterize this Ship, realize answer to the requirements of indispensable renewal are manifested in the last years, renewal that cannot moreover prescind from the presence of the man of sea of which, indeed, they come valued the high professionality and the specific competences, so that, coadiuvato from means adapt to you, can face R-al.meglio the institutional tasks assegnatigli.
The ship door the name of an Official valoroso of the Italian Navy, the Lieutenant commander Giuseppe CIGALA FULGOSI, military of indiscussa mind nobility that has served just the Country during according to world-wide conflict with illuminated temerarietà and greatest skill. During the Clay battle it was distinguished for the heroic action, conduct on the Aegean Mar 22 May 1941, against a formation of the Royal Navy that been worth the medal of gold to the valor military; of continuation filler the motivation: "Commander of Torpedo boat of supply to a group of motor-sail boats with Germanic troops directed to Clay for the occupation of the island, sighted in broad daylight an important enemy naval formation of cruisers and naval destroyer, maneuvered with great skill and decision in order to hide the convoy to the opposing ships; one launch therefore to the attack with reckless daring, defying the crushing superiority of the enemy and its violent shooting, and torpedoing a cruiser that sank hit in full load. With its audacious and crowned gesture from the happened one the maxim of the Unit "Virtutis saved the convoy from sure destruction" Comes Fortune "previously assigned to the R. Saint Ct. Martino, comes translate in Italian language with" the similar fortune of the value ", where the term fortune is from agreeing in the classic meaning of" good fate ", that is" the good fate accompanies R-he who is behaved with value ". During its operating life, Ship Cigala Fulgosi has taken part from the june to July 2003 to Operation "ANCIENT BABILONIA-IRAQ FREEDOM".
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