Caio Duilio D554 serves the modern Italian Navy in the guided-missile destroyer role - though she is considered a frigate type under some classifications.
The French and the Italians share the Horizon-class stealth-minded guided-missile frigate design. In the former, these are the "Forbin" and the "Chevalier Paul" while, in the latter, these comprise the "Andrea Dorio" and the "Caio Duilio" (the subject of this article). While DCNS Lorient handled construction of the French warships, several local Italian shipyards were part of the Marina Militare's building effort where the class is further differentiated as the Orizzonte-class. As air defense destroyers, their primary ocean-going role is in airspace denial and neutralization of inbound aerial targets. They can also serve as command and control ships, hunt enemy submarines, and deal with ranged surface threats due to their weapon balance.
NOTE: Some sources will classify the Horizon-class ships as guided-missile frigates.
Caio Duilio was ordered for the Italian Navy on October 27th, 2000 and saw her keel laid down by Italian shipbuilding industry on September 19th, 2003. She was put out to sea on October 23rd, 2007 and was formally commissioned for service on April 3rd, 2009. She homeports out of La Spezia along the upper West coast of the Italian boot and fights under the motto of "Nomen Numen". As of April 2018, she remains in active service.
As built, the warship displaces 7,770 tons under full load and has an overall length of 501.5 feet, a beam of 66.6 feet, and a draught of 24.9 feet. A fuel-efficient COmbined Diesel-Or-Gas (CODOG) arrangement is used for power that consists of 4 x Avio (General Electric) LM2500 gas turbines and 2 x SEMT-Pielstick 12 PA6 STC marine diesel engines driving 2 x Shafts astern. 1 x Bow thruster is also fitted for precision maneuvering and there is additional power from 2 x Power stations and 4 x Isotta Fraschini VL1716T2ME diesel generators. Maximum speed (under full gas turbine power) in ideal conditions reaches 29 knots and cruising (under the diesel marine units) is about 18 knots. Range is out to 7,000 nautical miles when heading consistently under 18 knots.
Armament is a mix of projectile-based and missile-based weapons. There are 3 x 76mm OTO-Melara "Super Rapid " turreted main guns carried along with 2 x 25mm /80 caliber OTO-Melara (Oerlikon) autocannons. 2 x EuroTorp torpedo launchers handle a stock of MU90 lightweight torpedoes. The heart of this craft, however, is its DCNS "Sylver" A50, a 48-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) housing either MBDA "Aster 15" or the longer-range MBDA "Aster 30" surface-to-air missiles (and additional sixteen cells are supported as needed). 8 x S/S Teseo Mk2/A missile launchers are also present. In 2017, a pair of SITEP LRAD MASS CS-424 acoustic guns were fitted to combat specialized threats to the ship.
The combination hangar/helo-deck set over the stern can launch and retrieve a medium-lift helicopter, typically the AgustaWestland AW101 or NHIndustries NH90 is seen. These helicopters can be utilized in the at-sea resupply role or modified to serve as Search and Rescue (SAR) or submarine/anti-ship platforms as needed, broadening the tactical value of the vessel.
Caio Duilio's profile exhibits many physical features consistent with modern ship design: an unbroken, full-length bow line, slab-sided panels, enclosed primary structures, etc... The smoke funnels are concentrated near midships and are fully-enclosed with a low-profile design approach used. The main mast, also wholly enclosed, sits atop the bridge superstructure while a secondary mast is set at midships with a third, shorter, mast set over the aft superstructure section. The flightdeck with its attached hangar facilities make up the stern section.
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Horizon-class / Andrea Doria-class / Orizzonte-class Hull Class
2 Number-in-Class
Andrea Doria (D553); Caio Duilio (D554) Ships-in-Class
Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.
Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.
Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.
Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.
501.5 feet (152.86 meters) Length
66.5 feet (20.27 meters) Beam
25.0 feet (7.62 meters) Draught
7,050 tons Displacement
2 x General Electric / Avio LM2500 gas turbines with 2 x SEMT Pielstick 12 PA6 STC diesel engines and 4 x Isotta Frashini VL1716T2ME diesel generators driving power to 2 x Shafts under stern; 1 x Bow thruster. Propulsion
1 x 48-cell DCBS Vertical Launch System (VLS) for Aster 15 or Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles.
3 x 76mm /62 caliber Oto-Melara Super-Rapid firing turreted deck guns.
8 x Terseo Mk2/A anti-ship/anti-surface missile launchers.
2 x 25mm /80 caliber Oto-Melara (Oerlikon) KBA Anti-Aircraft (AA) autocannons.
2 x SITEP LRAD MASS CS-424 acoustic guns (post-2017 fit).
2 x EuroTorp B515/1 torpedo tubes (supporting the MU90 torpedo series).
Support for up to 2 x Medium-lift navy helicopters through hangar-helipad combination section at the stern; typically the AgustaWestland AW101 or NHIndustries NH90 series.
Images
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Image from the official website of the Italian Navy - www.marina.difesa.it
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