Minerva-class corvette

Minerva-class corvette
The ship Urania
Class overview
Name:	Minerva
Builders:	Fincantieri
Operators:	Marina Militare
In commission:	1987
Completed:	8
Active:	6
Retired:	2
General characteristics
Type:	corvette
Displacement:	1,285 tonnes
Length:	87 m
Beam:	10.5 m
Draught:	3.2 (4.8) m
Propulsion:	2 Diesel Grandi Motori Trieste BM-230.20 DVM outputting 11.000 HP (8.088 kW)
Speed:	25 knots
Range:	3,500 nm at 18 knots
Complement:	7 officers, 113 men
Sensors and processing systems:	AA/ASu-Radar Selenia SPS-774 (RAN 10S) E/F Band 1 SMA SPS-728 Navigation radar Sonar: Raytheon/Elsag DE-1167
Electronic warfare & decoys:	Fire control: 1 Selenia SPG-75 (RTN 30X) for Albatros and 76mm Communication: IPN-10 (Mini-SADOC), Link 11
Armament:	1 Otobreda 76 mm Sea Sparrow or Selenia Aspide in a 8-cell launcher 6 × 324mm TLS ASW torpedoes 4 heavy machine guns

The Minerva-class is a series of corvettes of the Italian Marina Militare. They were built in two series of four units in the 1980s and 1990s. The ships have fairly good speed and armament, including a 76mm general-purpose gun, but, due to their emphasis on anti-submarine warfare, they lack anti-missile capabilities. These units are designed to operate in coastal areas. Their main missions include sea police, patrolling, policing fishing areas and training naval commandos.

Ships of the class

Name	Pennant number	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned	Current status
Minerva	F 551	Fincantieri, Riva Trigoso	11 March 1985	3 April 1986	10 June 1987	Retired
Urania	F 552	Fincantieri, Riva Trigoso	4 April 1985	21 June 1986	1 June 1987	Active
Danaide	F 553	Fincantieri, Muggiano	26 June 1985	18 October 1986	9 September 1987	Active
Sfinge	F 554	Fincantieri, Muggiano	2 September 1986	16 May 1987	13 February 1988	Active
Driade	F 555	Fincantieri, Riva Trigoso	18 March 1988	11 March 1989	19 April 1990	Active
Chimera	F 556	Fincantieri, Riva Trigoso	21 December 1988	7 April 1990	15 January 1991	Active
Fenice	F 557	Fincantieri, Riva Trigoso	6 September 1988	9 September 1989	11 September 1990	Active
Sibilla	F 558	Fincantieri, Muggiano	16 October 1989	15 September 1990	16 May 1991	Retired on October 1, 2012

As of 2013, Minerva and Sibilla have been placed in reserve. These two units of the Minerva-class Corvettes were considered by the Philippine Government to be purchased, although, there were still no additional information about the acquisition of the ships.

References

• Saunders, Stephen (2002). Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0710624328.