One of the interesting naval vessels in the Italian Navy the ITS ELETTRA A 5340 called at Valletta, Malta for a diplomatic visit on Friday 20th December entering at 0803 hrs berthing port side alongside Pinto 4 Wharf that forms part of Valletta Cruise Port.
She is an intelligence collector (AGI) designed to provide strategic intelligence data in support of Italian Navy and NATO warships. Sometimes she is referred as electronic warfare vessel and officially she is referred as a multirole support ship. She was built in Italy by Fincantieri at their Cantiere Navale del Muggiano at La Spezia where she was launched on 24th July, 2002 and was commissioned on 22nd April, 2003.
She carries advanced electronic intelligence gear, including 27 various electronic and acoustic reconnaissance systems. She also has a submersible, which can operate at a maximum depth of 1 000 meters. A rear flight deck can deploy unmanned aerial vehicles. Vessel is armed with two OTO Melara KBA 25-mm guns for self-defense.
Complement are a crew of 30 sailors and provides accommodation for 65 intelligence technicians. She is powered by Wartsila diesel engines, has four generators and two electric motors. Vessel has a maximum range of 8 000 nautical miles (14 400 km) at 12 knots.
Interesting to see that on both hull sides she had a sign of KEEP AWAY in both English and ابتعد (Arabic) languages.
She left to sea orders on Sunday 22nd December, 2019 at 0706 hrs assissted by local tugs LIENI and PAWLINA.
Photos by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Sunday 22nd December 2019
