The Centauro-class ships measured 103.1 meters (338ft 3in) long overall, with a beam of 12 meters (39ft 4in) and a draft of 3.8 meters (12ft 6in). Their crew numbered 207 officers and enlisted men.[1] They displaced 1,680 metric tons (1,650 long tons) at standard load and 2,120 metric tons (2,090 long tons) at deep load.[2] The ships had two Tosi geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by two Foster Wheelerwater-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of 22,000 shaft horsepower (16,000kW) for a speed of 26 knots (48km/h; 30mph). The Centauros had a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600km; 3,500mi) at 20 knots (37km/h; 23mph).[1]
While the guns were American, the sensors and fire-control systems (FCS) were Italian, although based on American equipment. The frigates were initially fitted with a Microlambda MLA-1 early-warning radar and the OTO Melara guns used a MTL-4 gunnery radar on the OG 2 director, an Italian version of the American Mark 39 radar used in the Mark 57 FCS. The MLA-1 systems were replaced by American AN/SPS-6 radars in all four ships by 1960. The Bofors guns used the OG 1 FCS, based on the Mark 51 FCS. A SQS-11A sonar provided data to the anti-submarine weapons.[3]
Castore after her rearmament, 1967
Castore was rearmed in 1966–1967 with three of the first generation of the OTO Melara 76 mm Compact DP guns in single-gun mounts to replace the unsatisfactory Allargato guns and the Bofors guns. The Allargatos were hard to load, difficult to maintain and the mount lacked a sufficient number of ready rounds. The torpedo tubes and two of the short barrel Menon mortars were removed in exchange for two rotating triple tube mounts, one on each side, for 324-millimeter (12.8in)Mark 44 torpedoes. The sensors and fire-control suites were also upgraded, a SQS-36 sonar being added as was a MM/SPQ-2 radar. An OG 3 FCS with an Orion RTN-7X radar replaced the OG 2 director and its Mark 39 radar.[3]
Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1960). Jane's Fighting Ships 1960–61. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co.
Lyon, Hugh & Friedman, Norman (1995). "Italy". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp.195–218. ISBN1-55750-132-7.
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