Alpino-class frigate

The Alpino class were a group of two frigates built for the Italian Navy during the Cold War.

Design
The design was originally conceived as an enlarged version of the s. The design was however changed radically with a CODOG machinery suite comprising gas turbines and diesels. These ships introduced the use of ship-based helicopters and variable depth sonar into the Italian Navy.

The ships underwent significant modernisation in the 1980s with the fitting of new sonar and electronic warfare equipment.

Ships
Initially four ships were planned to be ordered in 1959 to 1961. These ships were to be named Circe, Climene, Perseo and Polluce in honour of the Second World War-era s of those names. These ships were postponed while the designs were updated and two ships were ordered in 1962. Both vessels were built by CNR in Riva Trigoso and named after types of soldiers and specifically after two Second World War-era s.

The ships were used as auxiliary vessels from the mid-1990s. The Carabiniere was used as a trials ship for new missiles (PAAMS) and radar.