Italy's Todaro Class (right-click mouse then "Translate to English")
A snippet from Undersea Defence Technology - UDT 2016 Oslo (Norway) June 1 to 3, 2016. The Italian Navy is planning new coatings for existing Fincantieri - Muggiano built Todaro Class / 212A design submarines and may even install Lithium-ion Batteries on future Todaros.
Name | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | |
S526 | 3 July 1999 | 6 November 2003 | 29 March 2006 | |
S527 | 27 May 2000 | 18 December 2004 | 19 February 2007 | |
S528 | 9 December 2009 | 9 October 2014 | planned for August 2016 | |
S529 | 2012 | 4 July 2015 | ||
S530 | With LIBs? | planned | ||
S531 | LIBs? | planned |
Upgrades likely shared with the Germany Navy's current/future TKMS Type 212As include a new plastic anechoic coating for the submarine hull and sail. At the UDT 2016 website it is described as a fluoropolymer coating. The coating can be retrofitted to the Italian Navy's 2 operational subs (Salvatore Todaroand Scirè) to the soon to be commissioned (Pietro Venutiand Romeo Romei).
The coating will be more resistant to biological agents sticking to it, easier to maintain, and permit lower fuel consumption (as much as 12% less) as it is smoother (more hydrodynamic) than other coatings especially at the quiet, economical patrol speed, likely 4 to 5 knots.
Although Italy has naval budget problems partlyy due to high expenditure searching for and picking up refugees crossing the Mediterranean, Italy may order two additional Todaros. It is possible that these two, operational in the 2020s, will have Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs).
Also see the informative UDT 2016 seminar description, on June 3, 2016, presented by Mr Alexander Janke (Since 2013 he has been Project Manager Lithium-ion Battery System Development/Project Manager Battery Systems).
Pete