Vulcano-class logistic support ship

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"LSS, Logistic Support Ship" redirects here. For the general topic, see logistics ship.

Vulcano in July 2023 in Genoa
Class overview
NameVulcano class
BuildersFincantieri
Operators Italian Navy
Preceded byStromboli class
SubclassesBâtiment ravitailleur de forces
Cost€374.6 million (2019) for the first unit
Built2016–present
In commission2021–present
Planned
Building1× French Navy
Completed
Active2 (1x French Navy; 1x Italian Navy)
General characteristics
TypeLogistic support ship
Displacement27,200 t (26,800 long tons) full load
Length
  • 193 m (633 ft 2 in) LOA
  • 175.9 m (577 ft 1 in) LPP
Beam27.2 m (89 ft 3 in)
Height16.3 m (53 ft 6 in)
Draft8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
Propulsion
  • CODLAD scheme which drive two propellers
  • 2 × MAN 20V32/44CR diesel engines, 24,000 kW (32,000 bhp)[1]
  • 2 × electric engines Marelli Motori 1.5 MW (2,000 bhp) each
  • 4 × MAN 6L27/38 diesel generators, 8,336 kW (11,179 bhp)[1]
  • 1 × emergency diesel generator, 855 kW (1,147 bhp)
  • 2 × electric engines on Marelli Motori shafts 1.65 MW (2,210 bhp) each
  • 4 × diesel generators for SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction)
  • 2 × thrusters, 1.0 MW (1,300 bhp) each
  • 2 shafts
Speed
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
  • 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) on electric engines
Range7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Endurance30 days
Complement188 (+5) + 42 transported + 13 hospitalised
Crew167
Sensors and
processing systems
  • [2]
  • 1 × GEM Elettronica Columbus/N 3D radar[3]
  • 1 × Leonardo IFF
  • 2 × GEM Elettronica MM/SPN-760, navigation dual-band radars, X/Ku
  • 1 × GEM Elettronica helicopter landing radar[4]
  • Leonardo Link 11-16-22JREAP
  • 2 × Leonardo Janus-N IRST system
  • Leonardo obstacle avoidance sonar
  • FFBNW Torpedo Detection Sonar
  • CMS, Command Management System Leonardo SADOC Mk4, with 8 consoles (PPA and LHD Trieste simplified version)
  • SMS, Ship Management System "SeasNavy" of Seastema (Fincantieri), with other 8 consoles, integrated with CMS SADOC Mk4
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • FFBNW CESM
  • FFBNW RESM
Armament
Aircraft carried2 helicopters AW-101
Aviation facilities
Notes
  • 4 × RAS (replenishment at sea) Hepburn stations
  • 1 × Astern Fuelling Station (F76-F44)
  • 2 × 30 tonnes to 20 m, stabilized cranes (one, on left, for offshore duties)
  • 2 × 7.3 m (24 ft) RHIB
  • 2 × 10 m (33 ft) tenders
  • FFBNW 2 × CB90 type boats
  • Transported cargoes up to 15,500 t (15,300 long tons)

The Vulcano class is a class of replenishment oiler used by the Italian Navy, with lead ship Vulcano of the class entered service on 12 March 2021.[5] The ships are designed to support fleet operations with fuel and dry stores and expected to replace the Stromboli class, another class of replenishment oiler from the Navy. Vulcano was financed under the 2014 Naval Law,[6] for €346 million, then increased to €374.6 million, when the length was extended by 12 metres (39 ft). A second ship Atlante was ordered in January 2022 for projected delivery in 2025. The Navy also had an option for a third ship of the class.[7] However, under the Italian MoD’s Multi-Year Defence Planning Document (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa, DPP) for the 2023-2025 timeframe, a fourth ship was added to the program.[8]

The French Navy through OCCAR ordered three modified ships of the class to replace its Durance-class tankers to be delivered in 2023, 2025 and 2027. A fourth ship to be ordered is projected for service entry after 2030.[9] The program is known as the Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces (BRF).[10][11] France officially joined the program in October 2018.[12][13] The French BRF ships are 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) longer at 194 m (636 ft 6 in) and 31,000 tons full load displacement compared to 27,200 tons, reflecting the French fleet's greater need for aviation fuel.[14]

Design and construction

Vulcano was built by Fincantieri as yard number 6259. The stern section was built at the Riva Trigoso Naval Shipyard and the bow section was built at the Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) Naval Shipyard. On the night of 22/23 July 2018, a fire broke out on the ship's stern superstructure.[15]

Vulcano is designed as a support ship able to supply a large naval squadron at sea.[16] She was commissioned in March 2021. The lead ship of the French Navy's Jacques Chevallier sub-class began sea trials in December 2022[17] and was commissioned in November 2024.[18] Steel was cut on a second ship for the French Navy in February 2022[19] and on a second ship for the Italian Navy in July 2022.[20] The second vessels for the French and Italian navies (Jacques Stosskopf & Atlante) both began sea trials in the first half of 2025.[21][22]

The ships have the capability to:

  • refuel ships
  • produce fresh water
  • carry cargo
  • Hospital NATO Role 2 LM[23]
  • conduct repairs at sea with integrated maintenance workshops

She has a cargo capacity of up to 15,500 t, of which, "at least":

  • 7.655 t (7.534 long tons) (+9,000 m3) of NATO F76 diesel fuel[24]
  • 3.240 t (3.189 long tons) (+4,000 m3) of NATO F44/JP5 aviation fuel
  • 830 t (820 long tons) of fresh water
  • 220 t (220 long tons) of ammunitions
  • 40 t (39 long tons) of meals (30,000 food rations)
  • 3 m3 of gasoline in barrels
  • 15 t (15 long tons) of lubricant in barrels
  • 20 t (20 long tons) of solid goods
  • up to 8 × ISO1C standard containers, 28 t (28 long tons) each one

Ships of the class

Italics indicate the estimated date

Pennant no. Name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Homeport
 Italian Navy
A 5335 Vulcano Fincantieri (Muggiano) 13 October 2016[25] 22 June 2018 12 March 2021 La Spezia
A 5336 Atlante 28 June 2023[26] 18 May 2024[27][28][29] 2025 Taranto
TBC TBC TBC
 French Navy Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces[13]
A 725 Jacques Chevallier Chantiers de l'Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire) 24 December 2021[30] 29 April 2022[31][32] 20 November 2024[33] Toulon;[34][35][36][37][38]
first steel cut in May 2020[39][40][41][42]
A 726 Jacques Stosskopf[43] 6 December 2022[44] 19 August 2024[45] 2025 Toulon
Émile Bertin[43] 8 August 2024[46] 2027 Brest
Gustave Zédé[43] TBC Projected beyond 2030[9] Toulon

References

  1. ^ a b "MAN 175D Wins First Orders". Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  2. ^ "Leonardo, global leader for the naval sector" (Press release). Leonardo Company. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Columbus" (PDF). GEM Elettronica. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  4. ^ "HASR-100" (PDF). GEM Elettronica. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  5. ^ Archus, Dorian (12 March 2021). "Italian Navy commissions Vulcano Logistic Support Ship". Naval Post. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Le navi del programma 2014" (in Italian). Italian Navy. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Fincantieri to Build Second LSS for the Italian Navy". SeaWaves Magazine. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  8. ^ Peruzzi, Luca (20 November 2023). "Italian MoD's Defence Planning Document 2023-2025: New Naval And Joint Programs". Naval News. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b Groizeleau, Vincent (13 April 2023). "Dernière navigation pour le BCR Marne, qui passe le flambeau au BRF Jacques Chevallier". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  10. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (14 April 2021). "Marine nationale : le BRF Jacques Chevallier sera livré en 2023". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  11. ^ Cabirol, Michel (15 June 2018). "Pétrolier ravitailleur : la France monte à bord du programme italien Vulcano". Le Tribune (in French). Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  12. ^ Peruzzi, Luca (26 October 2018). "Euronaval 2018: France joins LSS programme to meet FLOTLOG requirement". IHS Jane's 360. Paris. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  13. ^ a b "OCCAR: order of a new fleet of logistic support ships for the French Navy". European Defence Review. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  14. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (18 May 2020). "Construction Begins for French Navy's Next Gen Replenishment Tanker Chevallier-class 'BRF'". Naval News. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  15. ^ Peruzzi, Luca (25 July 2018). "Fire breaks out on unfinished Italian support ship". Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018. A fire broke out, for reasons unknown, aboard the logistic support ship (LSS) Vulcano on the night of 22/23 July.
  16. ^ Parapetto, Marco (30 June 2016). "Stato Maggiore Marina" (PDF). Naples Shipping Week (in Italian). Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  17. ^ "En images : Première sortie d'essais en mer pour le BRF Jacques Chevallier | Mer et Marine". 22 December 2022.
  18. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (28 November 2024). "Le BRF Jacques Chevallier admis au service actif". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  19. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (7 February 2022). "Fincantieri Cuts Steel For French Navy Second Logistic Support Ship". Naval News. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Fincantieri Cuts Steel of Second LSS for Italian Navy". 21 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Italian Logistic Support Ship (LSS) Atlante Successfully Completes First Sea Going Review and First Sea Going". OCCAR. 25 March 2025.
  22. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (10 April 2025). "Le BRF Jacques Stosskopf débute ses essais en mer". Mer et Marine.
  23. ^ "Keel Laying Ceremony in Castellammare di Stabia for LSS". OCCAR. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  24. ^ "LSS: Logistic Support Ship" (in Italian). Marina Militare. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  25. ^ "Riva Trigoso: Works start on the Logistic Support Ship" (Press release). Fincantieri. 2 December 2016.
  26. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (29 June 2023). "Marine italienne : le second ravitailleur du type Vulcano mis sur cale". Mer et Marine.
  27. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (21 May 2024). "Le deuxième des nouveaux ravitailleurs italiens du type Vulcano mis à l'eau". Mer et Marine.
  28. ^ "A vessel in a dock". Archived from the original on 21 May 2024.
  29. ^ "A vessel in a dock". Archived from the original on 21 May 2024.
  30. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (24 December 2021). "Low Key Keel Laying For French Navy's New Class Of Logistic Support Ship". Naval News. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  31. ^ Daheron, Nicolas (29 April 2022). "Saint-Nazaire. Chantiers de l'Atlantique : le navire militaire Jacques-Chevallier mis à flot". Ouest France (in French). Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  32. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (27 April 2022). "French Navy's First BRF Supply Ship to be Launched on Friday". Naval News. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  33. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (28 November 2024). "Le BRF Jacques Chevallier admis au service actif". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Le BCR Somme naviguera jusqu'en 2027 | Mer et Marine". 8 December 2022.
  35. ^ "A vessel in a dock". Archived from the original on 15 July 2024.
  36. ^ "Half a vessel in a dock". Archived from the original on 15 July 2024.
  37. ^ "A vessel in a dock". Archived from the original on 15 July 2024.
  38. ^ "A middle part of a vessel". Archived from the original on 15 July 2024.
  39. ^ "Construction Begins for French Navy's Next Gen Replenishment Tanker Chevallier-class 'BRF'". 18 May 2020.
  40. ^ "Some technician and some managers". Archived from the original on 11 August 2022.
  41. ^ "A presentation about vessels". Archived from the original on 24 May 2022.
  42. ^ "Managers during Covid pandemic visiting a harbour". Archived from the original on 24 May 2022.
  43. ^ a b c Lagneau, Laurent (18 May 2020). "Le futur Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces prendra le nom de l'ingénieur du génie maritime " Jacques Chevallier "". Opex360 (in French). Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  44. ^ "Fincantieri Lays Keel of French Navy's 2nd BRF Forward Section". 12 December 2022.
  45. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (30 August 2024). "Chantiers de l'Atlantique : nouvelles images de la mise à l'eau du Jacques Stosskopf". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  46. ^ Lagneau, Laurent (18 August 2024). "Fincantieri a posé la quille du troisième Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces destiné à la Marine nationale". zone Militaire (in French). Retrieved 5 December 2024.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vulcano (A 5335).
  • Ships Marina Militare website