Sparviero-class patrol boat

The Sparviero class, also known as the Nibbio class, are small hydrofoil missile boats capable of traveling at speeds of 46 knots (85 km/h; 53 mph). They were designed for and formerly used by the Italian Navy. The Japanese 1-go-class missile boat is an updated version formerly used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

Italian Sparviero-class hydrofoil Nibbio underway
Class overview
Builders	Fincantieri, Sumitomo
Operators	Italian Navy  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Built	1973–1983 (Italy) 1991–1995 (Japan)
In commission	1974–2010 [citation needed]
Retired	11
General characteristics Sparveiero class[1]
Type	Fast attack hydrofoil
Displacement	60.6 tons full load
Length	22.95 m (75 ft 4 in) 24.56 m (80 ft 7 in) (hydrofoils retracted)
Beam	7.01 m (23 ft 0 in)
Draught	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) (on foils at speed)
Propulsion	CODAG 1 × Rolls-Royce Proteus 15 M560 gas turbine driving waterjet, 3,761 kW (5,044 shp) 1 × Isotta-Fraschini ID38N6V diesel, 1 propeller, 220 kW (290 bhp)
Speed	93 km/h (50 kn)
Range	740 km (400 nmi) at 45 kn (83 km/h) 1,940 km (1,050 nmi) at 8 knots (15 km/h)
Complement	8 enlisted plus 2 officers
Sensors and processing systems	SMA SPQ 701 navigation radar AESN SPG-70 fire control radar
Armament	1 × Otobreda 76 mm gun 2 × Otomat Anti-ship missiles Or 1 × M61 Vulcan 4 × Type 90 Ship-to-Ship Missiles (MSDF loadout)

History

Italy

The Sparviero-class fast attack hydrofoil was designed in Italy by the Alinavi society, a consortium of the American company Boeing, the Italian government's naval research branch, and Carlo Rodriquez , a Messina-based builder of commercial hydrofoils, based on Boeing's Tucumcari for the United States Navy.^[2][3] A prototype, named Sparviero was ordered in 1970 for the Italian Navy,^[4] Sparviero was laid down by Alinavi in La Spezia in April 1971, was launched on 9 May 1973 and commissioned into Italian service on 15 July 1974.^[5][6]

The design used the Boeing Jetfoil system, with one hydrofoil forward and two aft, which folded out of the water when cruising. The boat was propelled at high speeds by a Rolls-Royce Proteus gas turbine driving a water jet, while a diesel engine driving a retractable propeller powered the boat at low speeds. The hull and superstructure were constructed entirely of aluminium. As the design was intended for short-range, high speed operations, no sleeping accommodation was fitted. Armament consisted of two Otomat anti-ship missiles aft and a single Oto Melara 76 mm (3.0 in) rapid-fire gun forward.^[2][3]

It was planned in 1974–1975 to order four more Sparviero-class hydrofoils, to be supplemented by at least two larger Pegasus-class hydrofoils, but plans for a NATO-wide standardisation on the Pegasus class were abandoned. When orders were finally placed in 1977, they were for six more Sparvieros (giving seven in total) and no Pegasus-class boats.^[3][7] The new boats, built by Fincantieri at Muggiano, entered service from 1982 to 1984, and differed from the prototype in having a more advanced installation for the Otomat missiles (using the Teseo control system) and having water injection fitted to the gas turbines.^[2][5][6]

The class proved to be underpowered, and it was hoped to re-engine them with more powerful (4,768 kW; 6,394 bhp) Alison gas turbines, but these plans were later abandoned.^[3][6] All of the Italian boats have now been decommissioned.

Japan

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) selected a modified version of the Sparviero class as a replacement for its PT 11-class torpedo boats. A license agreement was signed in 1991 to build up to 12 Sparvieros, with the first two approved in FY90 and both were laid down by Sumitomo in Uraga on 25 March 1991. An order for a third boat was delayed to help pay for Japan's contribution to the Gulf War, with it not being laid down until 1993. A request for a fourth boat under the FY 95 budget was rejected, and plans for further hydrofoils abandoned.^[3][8]

The Japanese chose different armament than used in the Italian boats, with up to four Type 90 Ship-to-Ship Missiles replacing the Otomats and a non-stabilised 20 mm (0.79 in) M61 Vulcan rotary cannon replacing the larger Oto Melara gun. The main powerplant is a 3,900 kW (5,200 shp) General Electric LM500 gas turbine.^[8]

Military use

Italian boats have all been decommissioned. The Sparviero class was used by the Japanese coastal patrol forces as a fast attack interceptor.

Ships in class

Italy

(All decommissioned)

	Number	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Notes
Sparviero	P 420	April 1971[6]	9 May 1973[6]	15 July 1974[6]	30 September 1991[1]
Nibbio	P 421	1 August 1977[6]	29 February 1980[6]	7 March 1980[6]	10 October 1996[1]
Falcone	P 422	1 October 1977[1]	27 October 1980[1]	7 March 1982 [1]
Astore	P 423	1 July 1978[1]	20 July 1981[1]	5 February 1983[1]
Grifone	P 424	15 November 1978[1]	1 December 1981[1]	5 February 1983[1]
Gheppio	P 425	16 May 1979[1]	24 June 1982[1]	20 September 1983[1]
Condor	P 426	21 March 1980[1]	25 January 1983[1]	7 April 1984[1]

Japan

(All currently decommissioned, but some may have been reactivated in 2014^{[citation needed]})

	Number	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Notes
PG 01	821	25 March 1991[8]	17 July 1992[8]	22 March 1993[8]	6 June 2008[citation needed]
PG 02	822	25 March 1991[8]	17 July 1992[8]	22 March 1993[8]	6 June 2008[citation needed]
PG 03	823	8 March 1993[8]	15 June 1994[8]	13 March 1995[8]	24 June 2010[citation needed]

See also

• HMCS Bras d'Or (FHE 400), a Canadian hydrofoil intended for anti-submarine duties
• HMS Speedy (P296), a Royal Navy Jetfoil mine countermeasure vessel.
• Matka-class missile boat, a class of Soviet PHM
• Sarancha-class missile boat, a class of Soviet PHM

References

1. Baker 1998, pp. 381–382.
2. Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 217.
3. Baker 1998, p. 382.
4. Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 196.
5. Moore 1985, p. 275.
6. Prézelin and Baker 1990, p. 280.
7. Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 197.
8. Baker 1998, pp. 427–428.

• Baker, A.D. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1998. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
• Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
• Moore, John. Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1985. ISBN 0-7106-0814-4.
• Prézelin, Bernard and Baker, A.D. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/1991. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1990. ISBN 0-87021-250-8.
• Saunders, Stephen (RN) Jane's Fighting Ships 2003-2004 ISBN 0-7106-2546-4