The Italian Navy’s new landing helicopter dock (LHD) Trieste was launched at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia shipyard on 25 May.
The new LHD, which features dual-use capabilities for a wide range of military and humanitarian missions, is being built under a EUR1.1 billion (USD1.3 billion) contract awarded to an industrial consortium comprising prime contractor Fincantieri and Leonardo in July 2015.
The LHD Trieste during its launch. Note the limited space between the shipyard and Castellammare port’s pier: just 450 m for a 214 m hull length, which required specific arrangements to increase hull friction in the water. (Luca Peruzzi)
Following its launch, Trieste will remain at Castellammare di Stabia shipyard for propulsion and navigation outfitting ahead of platform trials, which are scheduled to take place in March 2020. It will then be moved to Fincantieri’s Muggiano shipyard in La Spezia for combat system outfitting and trials, which are scheduled for August 2021, leading to handover to the Italian Navy in 2022.
With a full load displacement of 33,000 tonnes, an overall length of 245 m, and a 47 m beam, the new LHD features a 230×36 m flight deck with a ski-jump (not yet fitted at launch) to support F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) operations and nine helicopter landing spots (six on left and three on the right of the flight deck).
The ship’s armaments include three 76/62 mm Super Rapid guns with DART guided ammunition and three KBA 25 mm remotely controlled guns, the latter being the first ever application of the system. One is placed on a sponson in front of the flight deck structure. (Luca Peruzzi)
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