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Gaeta / Lerici II MHC

The excellent success of the "Lerici" class led the Navy to commission the Intermarine for a 2nd series, which began with the "Gaeta", which differs from the 1st series substantially due to the location of the mast placed close to the funnel instead of behind the wheelhouse as happens on the "Lerici". Other improvements concern the general increase in size, the enhancement of the engine system, the installation of an autopilot for the automatic maintenance of the designated course and the adaptation of the combat system.

MCMVs are unique ships, specially equipped for safely hunting and sweeping naval mines: as they operate in close proximity of the minefield, their features must guarantee the achievement of very low acoustic and magnetic signatures (to avoid the activation of the mines’ sensors) and of very high shock resistance (to withstand the underwater shock wave). The design and construction of sophisticated MCMVs has been for many years, and also today, the Intermarine core business: the validity of the technical solutions carefully studied and adopted by Intermarine is evidenced by the fact that many world’s Navies, among them some of the most prestigious, have in service MCMVs designed and built by Intermarine.

The main reason for this success has been the implementation of an innovative and unique construction technique that has been demonstrated to be ideal for the construction of the hulls of those special vessels used for Mine Warfare. Not less important, although all the Intermarine MCMVs have in common the same concept of hull construction, their configurations (in terms of Mission and Propulsion Systems) are completely different: it can be affirmed that Intermarine has integrated and installed on its MCMVs almost all the main equipment/systems today available in the mine countermeasure market. The high number of variants implemented for so many different Navies is a proof of the capability of the Company of tailoring its basic design on the specific operational, logistic and technical requirements of each and every customer.

The Gaeta is a Mine Hunter Coastal unit specially designed for the location and deactivation / destruction of naval mines. To carry out these operations, the Unit is equipped with a sophisticated sonar system that can be spun up to 270 meters, and with two wire-guided vehicles (ROV - Remote Operated Vehicle), through which it is possible to detect and investigate any object that it lies on the seabed up to a depth of about 600 meters.

Thales signed a significant contract with Intermarine to supply its highly successful Sonar 2093 system to the Italian Navy’s (Marina Militare Italiana) Gaeta-class minehunting fleet. The contract, signed on 18 November 2009, followed on from a main contract agreed in August 2009 between Intermarine and the Italian Navy to refit eight Gaeta-class minehunters as part of a major mid-life technology upgrade. Under the terms of the latest contract, Thales UK will supply eight Sonar 2093 systems. The majority of the manufacturing work will be undertaken at Thales UK’s site in Templecombe, Somerset.

Sonar 2093 is a variable-depth sonar system and is designed for the detection and classification of bottom and moored mines. It is optimised for littoral (coastal) and open-ocean waters and is effective against all known mine types. The system is already in service with the UK Royal Navy’s Sandown-class mine countermeasures fleet and is a proven asset on UK minehunting operations.

Under the main refit contract, signed in Rome in August 2009, Intermarine will engineer, install and integrate the new equipment and systems for the Gaeta’s combat system. Thales will play a central role in the integration and acceptance trials of the Sonar 2093 systems. The Gaeta-class minehunters were originally built by Intermarine and delivered to the Italian Navy between 1992-96. The refit will upgrade the technology used by the eight ships in line with existing and future operating scenarios. Ed Lowe, managing director of Thales UK’s naval business, says: “This is a major contract for Thales UK’s underwater systems business and for the mine warfare business in particular.” “The new contract is the culmination of nearly 10 years of patient effort and is a major boost in our drive to achieve more export business. It will bring the number of these systems we have delivered worldwide to 50.”

Although the main operational use is oriented towards reclamation operations of marine areas with the presence of ordnance, due to the peculiarities that characterize this type of naval units, they also lend themselves to a "dual use". The "dual" employment has been achieved over time through collaborations with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, with the National Judiciary and with other State Bodies and Departments, all of whom are interested in various capacities in exploring the depths of the sea with the purpose of researching and investigating ship or aircraft wrecks, finds of historical interest or any other object lying on the seabed, also for purposes related to the preservation of the marine ecosystem, often with scientific purposes.

Furthermore, having a multi-seat, helicopter transportable hyperbaric chamber, and medical personnel specialized in underwater physiopathology, the Unit can be usefully employed in support of operations of divers operating even at deep altitudes. For this purpose, the ship, if necessary. Finally, as a further more general institutional use, the Units are regularly engaged in the protection of the interests of the nation such as the control of maritime borders, the protection and rescue of human lives at sea and the surveillance of respect for the marine ecosystem with anti-pollution purposes.