Italian frigate Luigi Rizzo foiled a pirate attack in the Gulf of Guinea

Italian Navy’s FREMM class frigate Luigi Rizzo (F 595), which is currently conducting presence and surveillance activities in the Gulf of Guinea, has foiled a piracy attack on 26th March, Italian Navy has announced via social media accounts.

On completion of joint drills with a Spanish naval asset, Luigi Rizzo was carrying out a patrol off the coast of Nigeria and she received a notice of an ongoing pirate attack against a cargo ship about 100 nautical miles away during the patrol mission.

After getting the emergency signal, Luigi Rizzo immediately sent her helicopter in support of the threatened unit and headed to the location of the event at maximum speed.

While underway to the area, Frigate Rizzo established radio communication with the captain of the Greek flagged merchant ship, and the captain said that a small fast boat with armed men on board is approaching and harassing. The attempt of the small boat failed because of the presence and intervention of Luigi Rizzo and her helo.

Luigi Rizzo is still monitoring the area in order to ensure maritime safety and freedom of navigation in areas of interest.

ITS Luigi Rizzo :

ITS Luigi Rizzo (F595) is the sixth Italian FREMM frigate and the second in GP (General Purpose) version. The unit – built in the Fincantieri shipyard in Riva Trigoso – was launched on 19 December 2015 and later transferred to Muggiano shipyard’s floating dock (La Spezia) for the completion of outfitting and sea acceptance trials.

Main Specifications:

• Length: 144 m
• Beam: 19,40 m
• Displacement : 6700 t.
• Speed : 27 Kts
• Main Machinery: CODLAG One 32 MegaWatt gas turbine; Two 2.15 MegaWatt electric diesels.
• Electrical equipment: Four 2.2 MegaWatt Isotta Fraschini Diesels

Features distinguishing the FREMM GP from the ASW variant include a stern launching ramp for Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) and a different armament.

ITS Rizzo is equipped with Oto-Melara 127/64 LW gun with high precision munition guided Vulcano system with fully automated Ammunition Handling System.

Special search capabilities and armaments enable this frigate to execute the whole range of missions assigned to the units of this class:

• Constabulary Role, including the conduct of counter-terrorism and surveillance operations, fight against illegal trafficking, prevention and monitoring of illegal migration, protection of sea lines of communication and shipping,
• Support – Land Operations, including escort for convoys or naval forces in transit, protection of naval forces and land sites and anti-aircraft defence,
• Fight against surface threats,
• Surveillance and intelligence activities,
• Power Projection Support, including coordination and control of ship-to-shore manoeuvres, infiltration of special forces, and naval gunfire support.

The ship’s design has adopted innovation and flexibility concepts, which enable ITS Rizzo to be deployed for the conduct of missions of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (dual-use function), with the following capabilities:

• telemedicine interventions
• helicopter evacuation of personnel
• drinking water supply
• hot meal preparation;
• electric power delivery configuration

ITS Rizzo – which was delivered to the Italian Navy on 20 April 2017 – is based in La Spezia within the First Naval Division(COMDINAV UNO).