Sparviero

Sparviero

Sparviero

Italy

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.7	3.7	3.7

Class:

PREMIUM

Motor gun boat

Boat

Purchase:3 850

Show in game

Description

During the 1970s, a project named "Swordfish" was created with the goal of developing a hydrofoil that would be fast and manoeuvrable for coastal and sea patrols. The project began with the USS Tucumcari, then progressed to the Pegasus class. Eventually, the P-420 Sparviero was created as part of the project, equipped with a single 76 mm OTO-MELARA gun and later fitted with OTOMAT anti-ship missiles. Its purpose was to replace the outdated Italian torpedo boats; however, it was later discovered that hydrofoils like the Sparviero were too expensive to maintain. The Sparviero P-420 was the prototype of the subsequent Nibbio class, while the mass production vessels of the Nibbio class, funded by the 1975 Naval Law, incorporated improvements in hydrodynamics, electronics, and other aspects. CNR Muggiano built six units of the Nibbio class by 1983. The Sparviero undertook several training and coastal control missions, until it was decommissioned after the Cold War along with the other vessels of the Nibbio class.

Introduced as a premium pack during Update "Starfighters", it was removed from the store after the 2020 New Year sale and reintroduced later in 2021 as a premium vehicle purchasable in-game with Golden Eagles in Update "Ixwa Strike". The Sparviero exhibits remarkable agility and speed. Its armament consists of a single 76 mm OTO-MELARA cannon, which proves effective against almost all encountered enemy targets. However, due to its hydrofoil design, it can be challenging to handle, so it is advisable to slow down when engaging enemy vessels. Its survivability is not among the best, meaning you'll have to be cautious when facing other enemy ships.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Hull8 mm (steel)

Superstructure3 mm (steel)

Number of section3

Displacement63 t

Crew10 people

The Sparviero's crew is protected by 8 mm of armour around the hull, and 3 mm of armour around the superstructure. This lacklustre armour isn't substantial enough to protect the ship from constant damage from machine guns or auto cannons. The gun in particular is extremely easy to disable thanks to its size and position on the ship. The Sparviero has the best chance for survival when it is on a flanking rout using its high speed to avoid frontal engagements. The gunboat also lacks anti-aircraft guns controlled by AI to defend against planes, but that can be countered by loading the variable time shell and shooting manually at aircraft.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB124 / 27 km/h

RB93 / 20 km/h

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode	Upgrade Status	Maximum Speed (km/h)		Turn Time (s)	Turn Radius (m)
		Forward	Reverse
AB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	124	27
RB/SB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	93	20

The Sparviero is one of the few ships equipped with a hydrofoil, allowing the gun boat to reach a high speed of 93 km/h when raised out of the water, but while out of the water the ship becomes difficult to manoeuvre in tight environments. In contrast, the Sparviero can only move 20 km/h in reverse, but the hull will remain in the water. While the ship's hull is submerged, the hydrofoils pose a risk of ramming parts of the environment, such as reefs and land under shallow water, so it is recommended to learn what positions might pose a threat to beaching the boat.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB1 902

RB2 370

Crew training10 000

Experts400 000

Aces940

Research Aces960 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 110 / 180 / 50 %

2 × 166 / 166 / 166 %

Modifications

Seakeeping	Unsinkability	Firepower
Dry-Docking Rudder Replacement Propeller Replacement Engine Maintenance	Damage Control Division Fire Division Smokescreen New Pumps	76mm_it_oto_sapom_navy_sap_ammo_pack 76mm_it_oto_mom_navy_he_vt_ammo_pack Primary Armament Targeting Improved Rangefinder Artillery Support

Armament

Primary armament

Turret76 mm/62 OTO-Melara Compact automatic gun

Ammunition115 rounds

Vertical guidance-15° / 85°

Sparviero is equipped with the amazing 76 mm/62 OTO-Melara Compact automatic gun in a single turret on the bow of the boat right before the bridge. The 76 mm gun comes stocked with HE-MOM, SAPOM, and HE-MOM with a variable time fuse. Both HE-MOM shells have 15 mm of pen at any range with an explosive mass of 750 g, while the SAPOM can pen 60 mm at a range of 100 m with an explosive mass of 455 g. The best loadout for the Sparviero is half a loadout (or more) or SAPOM, while the rest is dedicated to HE-MOM with variable time fuse. Both HE shells do the same damage towards ships, so it is more desirable to bring the more versatile shell that can also be used against aircraft.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		100 m	1,000 m	2,000 m	3,000 m	4,000 m	5,000 m
76/62 HE-MOM	HE	15	15	15	15	15	15
76/62 SAPOM	SAP	60	49	40	32	26	21
76/62 HE-VT MOM	HE-VT*	15	15	15	15	15	15

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (s)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
76/62 HE-MOM	HE	925	6.35	0	0.1	1,080	79°	80°	81°
76/62 SAPOM	SAP	925	6.35	0.01	4	655.2	47°	60°	65°

Proximity-fused shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Arming distance (m)	Trigger radius (m)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
									0%	50%	100%
76/62 HE-VT MOM	HE-VT*	925	6.35	0	0.1	500	6	1,080	79°	80°	81°

Usage in battles

Being one of the fastest boats in naval forces, the Sparviero excels in rushing advantageous positions to defend capture points and flank enemy routes. The gunboat shouldn't be used for contesting points directly due to its weak crew size, and protection unless the area has already been cleared. The largest threat to the Sparviero are similar hydrofoils and faster patrol boats such as the PG 02, and the PT-811 which can contest the Sparviero from reaching flanking spots, using their superior speed and firepower. Similarly tiered destroyers such as the USS Barker also pose a threat because their main armaments can hullbreak the smaller gunboat.

The Sparviero is a fairly complicated hydrofoil to play, it's a ship that needs to be played for quite a while to be fully understood. With its light armour, it will be hard to come out of a solo encounter as a winner. This ship should be played in a group, be it with other Sparviero or other ships, NEVER be alone. With its excellent rate of fire, it can take out light ships in a few shots. It is recommended to bring 60 SAPOM and 35 HE-VT MOM shells. Unfortunately with the low penetration of the SAPOMs you will only be able to shoot at small and light targets, or aim at precise modules on the slightly larger ships, for example the main turrets or engines.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Amazing speed
• Effective cannon
• Access to a radar

Cons:

• Low crew count
• Inadequate armour
• Lacklustre firing angles (blind spot at the rear of the ship)
• Awkward mobility

History

In the 1970s, on a derivation of the American "pegasus" project, the 928-22A "swordfish" project was born, which was to be known as the "Sparviero" (P420), It was a missile hydrofoil with "submerged wings" designed to replace torpedo boats and motorboats in the difficult Adriatic theatre.

The program was to be financed by the 1975 Naval Law and after the prototype "Sparviero", CNR Muggiano would construct 6 units, finally completed in 1983.

Built in light alloy with a honeycomb structure, they were armed with a 76/62 OTO super fast gun and 2 OTOMAT missiles.

At 23 metres and about 60 tons fully loaded, it had the concentrated firepower of a frigate, governed by a crew of 10 men.

The Sparviero P420 hydrofoil is the prototype of the Nibbio class, a series of missile hydrofoils that remained as a remnant of the NATO program in seven examples including the prototype Sparviero.

These hydrofoils entered service during the '70s in the MMI (Italian Navy), the hydrofoils were classified with P and the pennant number, all 7 examples were put into service and these were:

• Sparviero - P420
• Nibbio - P421
• Falcone - P422
• Astore - P423
• Grifone - P424
• Gheppio - P425
• Condor - P426

The end of the Cold War also decreed the decommissioning of the hydrofoils, which were partially replaced by new smaller units, such as the Commander class, whose operational capabilities are extended by the availability of a helicopter on board.

These hydrofoils remained in service until they were decommissioned during the early 2000s.

Japanese service

3 Nibbio-class ships were built for Japan and delivered between 1993 and 1995 but they had a different armament from the Italian ones, a JM61-M Vulcan 20 mm minigun and 4 SSM-1B missiles.

The class was renamed to Missile-Tei 1-Go and consisted of:

• PG-01
• PG 02
• PG-03

Devblog

During the 1960s, the Alinavi consortium developed a hydrofoil attack craft on the basis of the PGH-2 Tucumcari design, previously built by Boeing. In the early 1970s, a prototype was ordered for construction, receiving the name "Sparviero". The Sparvieros served faithfully with the Italian Navy until early in 2000 before being finally decommissioned.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Sparviero from live.warthunder.com.

Images

Store Pack Images

• Devblog Images
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Videos

Sparviero | Premium Flipped Review - Flipped StuG

See also

• USS Tucumcari
• Albatros
• PG 02

External links

• [Devblog] Italian Fleet Early Access Packs: Geniere & Sparviero
• Italian Navy Awards Contract For Prototype Hydrofoil Boat — USNI Notebook | Proceedings - June 1971 Vol. 97/6/820

OTO Melara
Light Tanks/IFVs
Centauro	Centauro I 105 · Centauro I 105 R · Centauro I 120 · VRCC
Dardo	Dardo · VCC-80/30 · VCC-80/60
Other	C13 T90 · R3 T106 FA
MBTs
OF-40	OF-40 · OF-40 Mk.2A · OF-40 (MTCA)
Ariete	Ariete (P) · Ariete · Ariete PSO · Ariete AMV
Other	M47 (105/55)
Tank Destroyers	M113A1 (TOW)
SPAA	R3 T20 FA-HS · SIDAM 25 · SIDAM 25 (Mistral) · OTOMATIC
Patrol Boats
Sparviero-class	Sparviero*
See Also	OTO
	*Built by OTO Melara in La Spezia under the Alinavi S.p.A. consortium

Italy premium ships
Motor torpedo boats	Freccia P-493 · MAS 569 · MS 444 · MC 485
Motor gun boats	Sparviero
Sub-chasers	Folaga
Destroyers	RN Aquilone · RN Aviere · RN Geniere · RN Tigre · Geniere
Heavy cruisers	RN Pola
Battleships	RN Leonardo da Vinci