Amerigo Vespucci (A 5312)
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The Amerigo Vespucci ( ship identification : A 5312) is the most famous sailing training ship of the Italian Navy . It was named after the discoverer Amerigo Vespucci .
General
Amerigo Vespucci's home port is La Spezia . It is primarily used for the nautical training of the officer candidates of the Accademia Navale . She reports directly to the commander of the fleet .
The ship often takes part in sailing ship parades and regattas. Sightseeing tours are usually offered when the Amerigo Vespucci is in port.
history
The Italian Navy commissioned the construction of two training ships in 1925, designed by Lieutenant Colonel Francesco Rotundi of the Italian Marine Engineers Corps. The design was inspired by the large 74-gun ships in use in the late 18th century . The first of the two ships, the Cristoforo Colombo , was launched in 1928 and was in service with the Italian armed forces until 1943.
In 1945 the ship was handed over to the Soviet Union as a reparation payment . Under the name Dunay (Danube) it was used for a short time as a sailing training ship. When the Soviet Navy no longer had any use for it, it degenerated into a coal hulk and was scrapped in 1972.
The second ship built was the Amerigo Vespucci . It was built in 1930 at the (formerly royal) naval shipyard Castellammare di Stabia in the Bay of Naples . It was launched on February 22, 1931 and entered service on June 6 of the same year. With the exception of World War II, the Amerigo Vespucci was in continuous service. Most of the training takes place in European waters. But she has already sailed to North and South America and crossed the Pacific . A circumnavigation of the world took place from May 2002 to September 2003. Since its commissioning over 80 years ago, it has been used exclusively as a training ship.
The ship was completely overhauled in 1964, 1973 and 1997. From October 2013 to May 2015 it underwent the most extensive major overhaul and modernization work to date in the La Spezia Naval Arsenal .
Ship construction
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The Amerigo Vespucci is a full ship . The hull itself is made of steel (riveted), the sails of linen. Due to the specification of the maximum size and crew number, it was necessary to build in height. This is how the frigate shape came about. Their hallmarks are the high freeboard, the stern gallery and the painted white door bands. She is little like the slimmer clippers and windjammers , the cargo sailors , but more like a warship of earlier centuries. In the superstructures there are numerous navigation instruments, among other facilities.
The ship has three decks that are above the waterline: cannon deck, foredeck and poop deck. It is the only sailing training ship with three decks and yard rigging.
The hull with its three masts is made of steel ribs. The hull is painted black with two white stripes all around. These stripes indicate the two cannon decks of the ships that formed the basis for the design. The ship planks are made of teak , which is replaced every three years. The front and the rear are provided with elaborate decorations. There is a life-size figure head of Vespucci on the front. The stern gallery is only accessible via the captain's salon.
crew
The regular crew consists of 264 soldiers, including 15 officers , 64 NCOs and 185 men . With instructors and candidate officers from the Naval Academy, the crew increases to around 400 (up to a maximum of 450) people. If required, training trips for non-commissioned officers (otherwise sailing training ship Palinuro ), cadets of the naval school Francesco Morosini in Venice ( high school ) as well as for members of the "fleet club" Lega Navale Italiana and various veterans, reservists and sailing clubs are carried out.
photos
Guard utensils
Rear end
figurehead
Armada Rouen 2008
Amerigo Vespucci and Ivlia off the island of Elba, 1991.
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Web links
- Presentation on the website of the Italian Navy (Italian / English)