Albatros F543

This page is about the Italian gunboat Albatros F543. For the German motor torpedo gun boat, see Albatros.

Albatros

RN Gabbiano

Albatros

RN Gabbiano

Italy

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.0	4.0	4.0

Class:

Gunboat

Frigate

Research:220 000

Purchase:640 000

Show in game

Description

Laid down on 27 June 1953, launched on 18 July 1954, and entered into service on 1 June 1955, the Albatros F543 was the first ship of the Albatros-class corvettes to be built. With the role of convoy flanking and anti-submarine search, she was in service from 1955 until October 1962 under the 10th A/S Squadron of the 1st Naval Division. She would only carry out escort missions, submarine search operations, and intercoastal patrols, and in fact, she would be used for Fisheries Surveillance in the Sicilian Channel until June 1983 when she was transferred back to La Spezia, only to be removed from service after 3 years and decommissioned in 1986.

Introduced in Update "Wind of Change", the Albatros F543 is a very good corvette thanks to its firepower: the SMP 3 cannons can only equip HE and HE-VT shells, but thanks to its continuous and quick firing without overheating compared to other 76 mm cannons, you can cause a lot of explosive damage and continuous crew loss to enemy vessels. Meanwhile, the 40 mm Breda-Bofors cannons with their rapid fire rate can quickly destroy any small targets. Additionally, the 76 mm are able to be equipped with HE-VT, and the Albatros is equipped with a radar that can lock on to enemy aircraft, so it will be child's play to destroy enemy aircraft.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Hull16 mm (steel)

Superstructure4 mm (steel)

Number of section6

Displacement950 t

Crew117 people

The survivability of the Albatros F543 is decently able to withstand several enemy hits, the crew consists of 117 people so you have decent survivability against enemy damage to the hull, armaments, and fires on the ship. However, if the ship is under continuous enemy fire, it is not able to respond to enemy fire because many times they will start to shoot down all your armaments first so in the end try to avoid such situations where possible.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB54 / 25 km/h

RB39 / 18 km/h

For a frigate, the Albatros F543 is very manoeuvrable and decently fast, which allows it to dodge some enemy fire coming towards your ship and also to dodge any torpedoes or enemy bombs. It can accelerate both forward and backward quickly, but it struggles to slow down, so, in this case, it can help to steer left and right to slow down further.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode	Upgrade Status	Maximum Speed (km/h)		Turn Time (s)	Turn Radius (m)
		Forward	Reverse
AB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	54	25
RB/SB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	39	18

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB9 106 → 11 610

RB13 108 → 16 712

Total cost of modifications185 000

293 000

Talisman cost1 900

Crew training185 000

Experts640 000

Aces1 400

Research Aces620 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

240 / 440 / 100 %

184 / 184 / 184 %

Modifications

Seakeeping	Unsinkability	Firepower
Dry-Docking Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 320 Rudder Replacement Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 220 Propeller Replacement Research: 9 400 Cost: 15 000 250 Engine Maintenance Research: 15 000 Cost: 24 000 400	Damage Control Division Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 320 Fire Division Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 220 Smokescreen Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 220 Shrapnel Protection Research: 9 400 Cost: 15 000 250 Ventilation Research: 9 400 Cost: 15 000 250 New Pumps Research: 15 000 Cost: 24 000 400 Ammo Wetting Research: 15 000 Cost: 24 000 400	76 mm OM-2 HE Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 320 Auxiliary Armament Targeting Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 220 76 mm OM-2 HE-VT Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 220 Primary Armament Targeting Research: 9 400 Cost: 15 000 250 Improved Rangefinder Research: 9 400 Cost: 15 000 250 Bomb mortar Research: 15 000 Cost: 24 000 400

Focus on unlocking OM-2 HE and OM-2 HE-VT shells after repairs and extinguishers to give you an advantage in firepower against both naval and air targets

Armament

Primary armament

2 х Turret76 mm/62 SMP 3 gun

Ammunition504 rounds

Belt capacity14 rounds

Fire rate90 shots/min

Vertical guidance-15° / 85°

The main armament is composed of two 76 mm SMP 3 in single positions, located one in front and one in the back. They do not overheat. The guns can only be loaded with high-explosive shells: OM-1 and OM-2. OM-2 has more explosive filler than OM-1, and these bullets are able to disable any component present in enemy ships from the armament up to the engines thanks to its explosive potential. Always try to disable the enemy armament before any other component.

In contrast, the HE-VT shells are perfect for shooting down enemy air targets from long to short range, and this projectile also has great explosive power with 0.864 kg of explosive so can destroy even a strategic bomber (B-17, He 177, etc) with a single shot.

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
OM-1 HE	HE	11	11	11	11	11	11
OM-2 HE	HE	12	12	12	12	12	12
OM-2 HE-VT	HE-VT*	12	12	12	12	12	12

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
OM-1 HE	HE	930	6.3	0	0.1	777.6	79°	80°	81°
OM-2 HE	HE	930	6.43	0	0.1	864	79°	80°	81°

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%
OM-2 HE-VT	HE-VT*	930	6.43	0	0.1	500	15	864	79°	80°	81°

Secondary armament

Turret2 x 40 mm L70 Bofors-Breda gun

Ammunition2400 rounds

Belt capacity4 rounds

Fire rate240 shots/min

The secondary armament consisting of a twin 40 mm Breda-Bofors turret is a great secondary for the simple fact that you have a high rate of fire and can use this armament against both coastal ships except those that have high survivability (LE Orla, HMS Peacock) and in particular very effective against air targets due to rapid fire and the radar which you can use to manually lock on to aircraft and shoot them.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
HEI-T	HEFI-T	5	5	5	5	5	5

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
HEI-T	HEFI-T	1,000	0.96	0	0.1	184	79°	80°	81°

Additional armament

Setup 12 x B TG 100 depth charge

2 x Mk.10 "Hedgehog" mortar

The Albatros can also be equipped with two Mk.10 Hedgehog mortars and two B TG 100 depth charge launchers, both of which are submarine-specific armaments but being that they are not in War Thunder, you can use them against both small and large ships, both of which cause severe hull damage, incapacitating the enemy ship and causing it to flood quickly.

Usage in battles

When preparing to use the Albatros F543 in battle, it is advisable to start with another ship or boat, allowing the enemy to approach closer to your spawn. Once the conditions are right, spawn the Albatros F543 (this will usually be at the destroyer spawn since it is a frigate). Engage the enemy vessels using your 76 mm cannons: while stock, you will only have the OM-1, but after researching the OM-2 HE, you will be able to inflict significant damage to enemy ships due to the explosive mass of the shell. Aim your shots at the main guns and then at the bridge to disable the enemy's most lethal armament. Keep an eye on the radar for incoming enemy planes, and use the 40 mm Bofors-Breda to take them down. Alternatively, lock onto the enemy plane and take shots with the 76 mm OM-2 HE-VT to effectively shoot down the plane attacking you or an ally. For air and naval targets, the 40 mm Bofors-Breda can be left in AI mode. Depending on the map, it's recommended to play around a sheltered position for safety to take cover if the main armament gets destroyed.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent AA armament
• The main armament does not overheat
• Search and Track radar for air targets

Cons:

• Low speed and acceleration
• Don't have any AP rounds

History

Albatros-class

The Albatros-class consisted of 10 ships built by Italy to give to some NATO nations using American funds to increase the defence capabilities of these nations under the Mutual Defence Assistance Program. All Albatros-class corvettes were originally equipped with two 76 mm SMP 3 cannons placed at the front and rear, a twin 40 mm Breda-Bofors turret at the rear, and a Hedgehog launcher to attack submarines. Later, the various nations would alter the armament to their own configurations.

Of the Albatros-class, 3 corvettes would be built for Italy, 4 corvettes for Denmark (known as the Triton-class), 2 corvettes for Indonesia (heavily modified and slightly enlarged, forming the Pattimura-class), and finally 1 corvette for the Dutch navy.

Service history

Laid down on 27 June 1953, launched on 18 July 1954 and entered into service on 1 June 1955, the Albatros F543 was the first ship of the Albatros class to be built, to support allied ships in convoy in the role of submarine-destroyer and in defence against enemy small ships, and to patrol the coasts. She was assigned to the 10th A/S Squadron of the 1st Naval Division until October 1962, and on 4 March 1956, she was awarded the combat flag by the ANMI (Associazione Nazionale Marinai d'Italia) Group of Ivrea in Genoa. After active service, she went on to serve as a training ship, carrying out fishing surveillance missions in the Sicilian Channel until June 1983, before being permanently transferred to La Spezia where, in 1986, she was taken out of service and decommissioned.

Devblog

In the early 1950s, the Italian Ansaldo shipyard designed a new class of corvettes that subsequently ended up being selected by NATO to equip several member states' navies under the Mutual Defence Assistance Program (MDAP). As a result, Ansaldo initially received orders to construct a total of eight ships, of which three were destined for service in the Italian navy, one with the Dutch and the last four with the Danish navy. Several years after the initial order was placed, Indonesia also expressed interest in procuring the Albatros-class corvette, as it became known, for its own navy and subsequently placed an order for two vessels to be constructed.

The Albatros-class was the first series of warships constructed by Italian shipyards following the end of WWII. Albatros itself was completed and commissioned in 1955, with the remainder of the ships being delivered to their respective operators until 1957. In service, the Albatros corvettes experienced some issues with their primary weapon - the automatic 76mm SMP 3 cannons - being considered too complex. Despite this and the vessels perceived lacklustre speed, Albatros-class corvettes were considered successful and would end up serving up until the early 1990s before the Italian navy finally decommissioned their last vessels from active service.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Albatros F543 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

F543 Albatros - Albatros-Class Corvette - Italian Top Tier Corvette Review - Cmdr. Tyrael

See also

• Sparviero
• 76 mm/62 OTO-Melara Compact

External links

• [Devblog] Albatros sub-chaser (F 543): Sea Shredder

Royal Dockyard of Castellammare di Stabia (Regio Cantiere di Castellammare di Stabia)
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