Maestrale-class frigate

The Maestrale class was a group of eight frigates of the Italian Navy, all built by Fincantieri, at Riva Trigoso except for Grecale, which came from the Muggiano yard at La Spezia. They were designed mainly for anti-submarine warfare but are flexible enough to take on anti-air and anti-surface work, and they served widely in NATO and United Nations missions. The first ship entered service in early 1982 and the rest followed over the next three years. The design grew out of the earlier Lupo class: the Maestrales are larger and heavier, so a little slower at around 32 knots, with two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines and two diesels, a 127 mm gun and a hangar for helicopters. The Bergamini class was meant to replace them.