Italian ship Elettra

Elettra (A 5340) is an Italian Navy SIGINT vessel designated as 'Nuova Unità Polivalente di Supporto (NUPS).^[4]
Designed to carry out research and surveillance activities, the vessel's platform was developed from the RV Alliance built for NATO.
Her propulsion system, based on two permanent magnet electric engines, constitutes a technological breakthrough and she is the first surface vessel in the world to be powered by this type of engine. The main characteristics of this propulsion system are: high reliability, high efficiency, low maintenance and low underwater radiated noise^[5]

Elettra A 5340, October 2013, La Spezia
History
Italy
Name	Elettra
Ordered	1999
Builder	Fincantieri - Cantiere Navale del Muggiano (La Spezia)
Laid down	20 January 2001 [1]
Launched	24 July 2002
Commissioned	2 April 2003
Homeport	La Spezia
Identification	Pennant number: A 5340
Motto	Anima i silenzi aerei
Status	Active as of 2018
General characteristics
Type	Auxiliary ship
Displacement	3,180 tonnes (full-load).[2] 2,466 tonnes (empty)
Length	93.5 m (306 ft 9 in)
Beam	15.5 m (50 ft 10 in)
Draught	4.83 m (15 ft 10 in)
Propulsion	2 x diesel-generators engines GMT-Wärtsilä CW 12V200 (2.200 kW each) 2 x permanent magnetic electric engines ABB (1.500 kW each) 2 x diesel-generators auxiliary engines Isotta Fraschini IF V1708T2 (770 kW each)[3] 1 x emergency diesel-generator 2 x propeller 1 x bow thruster
Speed	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Range	8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement	30 crew 65 electronic technicians
Sensors and processing systems	2 x navigation radar Kelvin Hughes Nucleus 6000 (X band) EM Ship log 3-band satellite terminal
Armament	2 × OTO Melara KBA 25/80 mm
Notes	flight deck only for RPV FLUME Passive stabilisation plant 1 x 180 t/m crane 1 x 55 t/m crane 2 x cranes for service boats

Characteristics

The vessel is fitted with:

• advanced electronic intelligence gear, including 27 various electronic and acoustic reconnaissance systems
• submersible ROV, which can operate at a maximum depth of 1,000 meters
• an echo sounder
• a rear flight deck can deploy unmanned aerial vehicles
• 1 x compression chamber DRASS Galeazzi for 8 persons ^[6]

Ships

	Pennant number	Hull number	Owner	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned	Motto	Note
Italian ship Alliance (A 5345)	A 5345	921 [7]	NATO operated by Italian Navy	18 July 1984	9 July 1986	6 May 1988 [8]		about 50 Billions Lire contract
Ta Kuan	AGS-1601	5942 [7]	Taiwan Navy	October 1993 [9]	17 December 1994 [10]	26 September 1995		about 100 Billions Lire contract
Italian ship Elettra (A 5340)	A 5340	6080 [7]	Italian Navy	March 2000	24 July 2002	2 April 2003	Anima i silenzi aerei	About 139 Billions Lire contract[11]