The San Giorgio is an Italian San Giorgio class Landing Platform Dock Amphibious Transport Dock ship, launched in 1987. The ship provides roll-on/roll-off landing capability for land embarkation; air lift through the use off high capacity aircraft such as Chinook-type helicopters; and transportation by sea to shore, using the ship's own systems and landing ships for landing on unprepared shores. The ship has hospital and accommodation facilities which provide the capability for peace time rescue and humanitarian operations. The ship is also fitted for transporting logistic equipment, for embarking trailers, containers and other materials. The San Giorgio is equipped for civil defence missions with drinking water production plant to produce 210 tons per day, facilities for the co- ordination of pollution control for decontamination of heavily oil polluted seas and capacity for expansion of the ship's hospital and medical facilities.
The ship's armaments consist of an Otobreda 76/62 main gun, which is installed on the gun deck at the bow of the ship and two Oerlikon 20 mm machine-guns for close defence. The bridge deck is accommodated in the island on the starboard side. The main flight deck which runs almost the length of the ship, has three helicopter landing spots. The ship can accommodate three Sea King SH-3D helicopters or five Agusta Bell AB-212 helicopters. The San Giorgio can lift a battalion of fully equipped troops, with up to 30 medium tanks such as the Leopard, or up to 36 tracked armoured vehicles type VCC-1. The stern floodable dock, measuring 20.5 x 7 metres, can accommodate three LCM (or MTM) landing craft each capable of transporting 30 tons of materiel. While the dock is not in use, a movable cover installed over the dock allows the passage of vehicles through the stern ramp to the pier. Three davits on the main deck are provided for the deployment of three LCVP (or MTP) landing craft and a patrol boat. A 30 ton lift and a two-hook travelling crane, each hook rated to carry 40 tons, are installed on the ship providing the capability of autonomous loading and unloading operations completely independent of harbour facilities.
The San Giorgio is fitted with a bow ramp for missions involving amphibious (beach) landings. The stern door is constructed in two sections, the lower section is the dock gate providing direct access to the floodable dock. The upper section of the stern door is hinged at the level of the vehicle or garage deck and acts as the stern ramp for embarking or disembarking from the pier. The propulsion system provides a maximum continuous speed of 21 knots. At the economical speed of 16 knots the maximum range of the ship is 7500 nautical miles. Research San Giorgio II
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Abbreviations
Research MTM
