Italy's most advanced warship arrives in Ho Chi Minh City for 5-day port call

The ship will stay in the city through Sunday as part of the Italian Navy's deployment to the Indo-Pacific, with activities aimed at promoting Italy's presence in the region and international cooperation in technology, industry, and culture, according to its Commander Lorenzo Malandrucco.

Vietnamese and Italian officials welcomed the ship at Nha Rong Port, including Col. Tran Chi Tam, deputy chief of staff of Vietnam's Naval Region 2 Command, and Italian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Alessandra Tognonato.

Tognonato said the visit reaffirmed the Italian defense ministry's desire to demonstrate the country's capabilities in international waters and strengthen cooperation with partner navies, including Vietnam.

Such cooperation would contribute to protecting maritime communication routes and ensuring freedom of navigation, she said.

During the visit, Tognonato is scheduled to join Malandrucco and Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Marco della Seta in paying courtesy visits to the Naval Region 2 Command, Military Region 7 Command, and the Ho Chi Minh City administration.

The Italian side will also organize an event to introduce its defense industry and a seminar on bilateral cooperation in maritime security and the marine economy aboard the ship.

ITS Giovanni Delle Bande Nere is the most advanced vessel in the Thaon di Revel class currently serving in the Italian Navy, Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper cited Malandrucco as saying.

The warship left the naval base in Taranto, Italy on May 3 and has visited 10 ports during its deployment.

It is the fourth of seven vessels in a program launched in May 2015 to renew the Italian Navy's combat units.

The ship is also the first vessel in the Thaon di Revel class to be built in the full configuration, which is designed to conduct operations on the surface, in the air and underwater. 

The 143-meter-long, 17.5-meter-wide ship has a full-load displacement of 6,400 metric tons.

It uses a combined diesel-electric and gas propulsion system, allowing it to travel at more than 10 knots on electric power and more than 32 knots with its gas-powered system.

With a range of 5,000 nautical miles at 15 knots, the ship has 173 sleeping berths, with eight additional berths available, and a flight deck capable of accommodating SH90 or EH101 helicopters.

Its weapons systems include two DCNS Sylver A50 vertical launch systems with 16 missile launch tubes for Aster 15, Aster 30, Aster 30B1 and Aster 30B1NT missiles, as well as a 127/64 mm Vulcano gun, a 76/62 mm gun equipped with the Strales guidance system, two remotely controlled 25/80 mm machine guns and four 12.7 mm machine guns.

The warship can perform a range of missions, including maritime surveillance and control, monitoring maritime and economic activities, disaster relief, ship escort and maritime interdiction.