Esploratore-class patrol boat

The Esploratore class^[2] is a series of four coastal patrol boats of the Italian Navy. They were designed and built specifically for use by the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) peace-keeping mission in the Sinai (Red Sea). The mission is to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Straits of Tiran, safeguard human life at sea and protect the marine environment. Compared to the Alberi class they replaced, these ships feature lighter displacement, improved speed, longer range, and a crew requirement reduced by 40%.

Patrol ship Vedetta (P 407), Tiran strait, 2007
Class overview
Name	Esploratore class
Builders	Cantieri Navali Istria, CLEMNA and SIMAN Srl in Cadimare, La Spezia
Operators	Italian Navy
In commission	1997–2005
Building	4
Active	4
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Displacement	- 181.5 t (178.6 long tons) standard - 211 t (208 long tons) full load
Length	- 37.16 m (121 ft 11 in) LOA - 34.65 m (113 ft 8 in) LPP
Beam	7.06 m (23 ft 2 in)
Draught	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Propulsion	- 2 shafts - 2 x diesel engines Isotta Fraschini V-1712-T2-MD 3,260 kW (4,370 bhp) [1] - 2 x diesel engines generator Scania, 135 kW (181 bhp) each
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) maximum
Range	2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
Crew	16 (2 officers, 14 sailors)
Sensors and processing systems	2 x GEM Elettronica navigation radars
Armament	1 x 12,7 mm Browning M2HB (A61ADF) 2 × 7,62 mm MG 42/59 machine guns

Ships

Italian Navy – Esploratore class
Ship	Pennant number	Hull number	Shipyard	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned	Motto
Esploratore	P 405	195 [3]	Istria, Cadimare La Spezia	14 February 1995	4 November 1996	14 July 1997	Videx post fata surgo
Sentinella	P 406	196 [4]	Istria, Cadimare La Spezia	14 February 1995	13 November 1997	10 July 1998	All'erta sto
Vedetta	P 407	197 [5]	CLEMNA, Cadimare La Spezia	14 February 1995	11 January 1997	29 July 1999	Cor meum vigilat
Staffetta	P 408		SIMAN Srl,[6] Cadimare La Spezia	24 May 1997	12 January 2001	6 July 2005	Ubi navis ibi Patria