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Two frontline surface combatants for the modern Italian Navy today (2018) are Andrea Doria (D553) and Caio Duilio (D554). These are formed from the French-Italian joint-venture which produced the "Horizon-class". The Horizon-class was to originally have eight warships under its name but budget constraints eventually led to just four being completed - two for the Italian Navy and two for the French Navy (FS Forbin, FS Chevalier Paul - both detailed elsewhere on this site). All four are in active service as of this writing (2018).

Andrea Doria leads the Italian half of the Horizon-class which is recognized locally as the "Orizonte-class" (and also the Andrea Doria-class). The primary classification of the warship is destroyer though its qualities can also make the vessel a frigate in some sources. Nevertheless, at its core, it is a multirole ship intended to cover a variety of requirements for the Italian Navy including airspace denial, anti-ship sorties, fleet defense and land-attack.

The warship was ordered on October 27th, 2000 and built by Fincantieri shipbuilders of Riva Trigoso. Her keel was laid down on July 19th, 2002 and she was launched on October 14th, 2005. The vessel was formally commissioned on December 22nd, 2007.

Andrea Doria displaces 7,050 under load and has a length of 501.5 feet with a beam measuring 66.5 feet and a draught of 24.9 feet. Power is a mix of systems designed to accomplish general cruising and high-speed dashing actions. There are 2 x Avio (General Electric) LM2500 gas turbines with 2 x SEMT Pielstick 12 PA6 STC diesel engines driving 2 x Shafts under stern. A single bow thruster is added for fine-tuned controlling when docking. Maximum speed in ideal conditions can reach 29 knots and range is listed at out to 7,000 nautical miles when cruising at 18 knots.©MilitaryFactory.com

The ship's complement is 230 made up of officers, non-coms, enlisted and security staff (it can house up to 255 personnel). It can stay on station for up to forty-five days before requiring resupply. Onboard is a mix of advanced digital processing systems that allow the vessel to search, track and engage targets at range. This includes the SeleX RAN 30X/I surface-search radar, the Selex SPY-790 multi-function 3D phased array radar, the Thales-Selex S1850M long-range 3D radar and the RTN-30X electro-optical sensor. The Netuno 4100 serves as the Electronic Warfare (EW) fit and an anti-torpedo system is standard. Hull-mounted sonar allows the ship to track undersea threats as well.

Armament includes 3 x 76mm /62 caliber OTO-Melara Super-Rapid turreted deck guns (updated in 2018) as well as 2 x 25mm /80 caliber OTO-Melara (Oerlikon) Anti-Aircraft (AA) autocannons. 2 x SITEP LRAD MASS CS-424 mounts serve as acoustic weapons (added 2018). Key to Adrea Doria's function, however, is her missile stable. This is led by a single 48-cell DCNS SYLVER Vertical Launch System (VLS) which can fire Aster 15 or Aster 30 series surface-to-air missiles. There are also 8 x TESEO Mk.2/A surface-to-surface / anti-ship missiles available.

Externally the warship features the usual modern stealth qualities including a minimizing of protrusions and slab-sided hull superstructure integrating seamlessly to the primary hull structure. The bridge is seated at the end of the forecastle in the usual way and the primary mast is an enclosed pyramidal structure. The smoke funnels are of a low-profile design and also wholly enclosed near midships. A secondary superstructure makes up the aft-section of the warship and the helipad / hangar area there serves up to 2 x Medium-lift navy helicopters. These rotary-wing units can further be outfitted for the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) role and serve as Over-the-Horizon (OtH) platforms when needed - broadening the tactical value of the Andrea Doria considerably.©MilitaryFactory.com

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