Saettia class

CP-902 U. Diciotti in Mitillini Harbour, Greece
Class overview
Name:	Saettia class
Builders:	Fincantieri to Muggiano and Riva Trigoso (La Spezia) shipyards
Operators:	Italian Coast Guard (Saettia Mk1 and Saettia Mk2)  Iraqi Navy (Saettia Mk4) Maritime Squadron AFM (Saettia Mk3)  Panamanian Public Forces (Saettia Mk2)
Preceded by:	Kondor I-class (Malta)
Subclasses:	Malta - P61 Iraq - Saettia MK4
Built:	1984-2009
In commission:	1999-2009
Building:	Italy: 6, Malta: 1, Iraq: 4
Planned:	Italy: 6, Malta: 1, Iraq: 4
Completed:	Italy: 6, Malta: 1, Iraq: 4
Active:	Italy: 4, Malta: 1, Iraq: 2, Panama: 2
General characteristics
Class and type:	Saettia Mk1
Displacement:	390 t (380 long tons)
Length:	- 51.7 m (170 ft) LOA - 47.2 m (155 ft) LPP
Beam:	8.10 m (26.6 ft)
Draft:	2.1 m (6.9 ft)
Propulsion:	- 4 x shafts with variable-pitch propellers - 4 x diesel engines MTU 16V538TIB93, 13,000 kW (17,000 bhp) - 3 x diesel engines generators Isotta Fraschini L1306 T2 ME, 3 x 150 kW (200 bhp)
Speed:	40 knots (74 km/h)
Range:	1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
Boats & landing craft carried:	2 x RHIBs
Complement:	29
Sensors and processing systems:	- 2 navigation radar, X and S band, GEM Elettronica SPN-753 - IRST fire control system
Armament:	1 × Otobreda KBA 25/80 mm; 2 x 12.7mm MGs
General characteristics
Class and type:	Saettia Mk2
Displacement:	427.0 t (420.3 long tons), full load
Length:	- 52.8 m (173 ft) LOA - 47.2 m (155 ft) LPP
Beam:	8.10 m (26.6 ft)
Draft:	2.1 m (6.9 ft)
Depth:	5.4 m (18 ft)
Propulsion:	- 2 x shafts with variable-pitch propellers - 4 × diesel engines Isotta Fraschini V1716 T2 MSD, 4 x 2,360 kW (3,160 bhp) - 3 x diesel engines generators Isotta Fraschini L1306 T2 ME, 3 x 208 kW (279 bhp) - 1 x emergency diesel engines generator - 1 x bow thruster
Speed:	max 31 knots (57 km/h)
Range:	1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h)
Endurance:	7 days
Boats & landing craft carried:	2 x RHIBs
Complement:	29
Sensors and processing systems:	- 2 navigation radar, X and S band, GEM Elettronica SPN-753XS(V)2 - IRST fire control system GEM Elettronica EOSS/100
Armament:	1 × Oerlikon 20/70 mm; 2 x 12.7mm MGs
Notes:	VERTREP capability
General characteristics
Class and type:	Saettia Mk3
Displacement:	391.0 t (384.8 long tons), full load
Length:	- 53.4 m (175 ft) LOA - 47.2 m (155 ft) LPP
Beam:	8.10 m (26.6 ft)
Draft:	2.1 m (6.9 ft)
Depth:	5.4 m (18 ft)
Propulsion:	- 2 x shafts with variable-pitch propellers - 2 × diesel engines Isotta Fraschini V1716 T2 MSD, 2 x 2,360 kW (3,160 bhp) - 3 x diesel engines generators Isotta Fraschini L1306 T2 ME, 3 x 208 kW (279 bhp) - 1 x bow thruster
Speed:	23 knots (43 km/h)
Range:	2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h)
Boats & landing craft carried:	1 x 7 meter RHIB
Complement:	25
Sensors and processing systems:	Surface Search E/F-Band; Navigation I-Band
Armament:	1 × Otobreda KBA 25/80 mm; 2 x 12.7mm MGs
Aviation facilities:	flight deck for 1 x medium helicopter (AB-212 class)
General characteristics
Class and type:	Saettia Mk4
Displacement:	401.0 t (394.7 long tons), full load
Length:	- 53.4 m (175 ft) LOA - 47.2 m (155 ft) LPP
Beam:	8.10 m (26.6 ft)
Draft:	2.1 m (6.9 ft)
Depth:	5.40 m (17.7 ft)
Propulsion:	- 2 shafts with variable-pitch propellers - 2 × diesel engines Isotta Fraschini V1716 T2 MSD, 2 x 2,360 kW (3,160 bhp) - 3 x diesel engines generators Isotta Fraschini L1306 T2 ME, 2 x 208 kW (279 bhp) - 1 x emergency diesel engines generator
Speed:	23 knots (43 km/h)
Range:	2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h)
Boats & landing craft carried:	1 x 11 meter RHIB on stern ramp + 1 x 5 meter RHIB
Complement:	38
Sensors and processing systems:	Surface Search E/F-Band; Navigation I-Band
Armament:	1 × Otobreda Marlin 30 mm; 2 x 12.7mm MGs

The Diciotti class is an Italian designed offshore patrol vessel, presently in use with the Italian Coast Guard, Iraqi Navy, Armed Forces of Malta, and Panama SENAN. These ships are designed and built by Fincantieri on the bay of La Spezia to Muggiano and Riva Trigoso shipyards.

Based on the earlier experimental Saettia class (Saettia MK1), the Diciotti class (Saettia MK2) is an advanced and improved version with a longer length, more power and hence greater patrol endurance.

In 2003, the Armed Forces of Malta ordered a replacement for the former East German Kondor class patrol boats P29, P30 and P31, due to the increase in flow of refugees from North Africa to Europe.

The design for P61 (Saettia MK3) provides a clear rear half to the ship, providing sufficient space with reinforcement to land a helicopter, up to the size of an AW139. P61 has the capability of carrying out patrols up to Sea State 5, and withstand sea conditions up to Sea State 7. It can launch a rib patrol boat via a rear launch ramp up to Sea State 4. This combination of modifications increases vessel weight to 450-tonnes, and reduces standard crew capacity to 25. Maximum unrefueled patrol length at 20 knots (37 km/h) is 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km).

The €17m Euros contract, financed entirely from the 5th Italo-Maltese Financial Protocol, covered the construction of the vessel together with an associated training and logistic support package. The ship was commissioned on October 1, 2005 and operational from November 5, 2005. P61 acts as the flagship of the Armed Forces of Malta.