New Coatings, Possible LIBs, for Italy's Next Todaro Class / Type 212As

Italy's Todaro Class (right-click mouse then "Translate to English")

Pennant number	Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned
S526	Salvatore Todaro	3 July 1999	6 November 2003	29 March 2006
S527	Scirè	27 May 2000	18 December 2004	19 February 2007
S528	Pietro Venuti	9 December 2009	9 October 2014	planned for August 2016
S529	Romeo Romei	2012	4 July 2015	planned for late 2016 (to 2018)
S530	With LIBs?			planned
S531	LIBs?			planned

 A snippet from Undersea Defence Technology - UDT 2016 Oslo (Norway) June 1 to 3, 2016. The  Italian Navy is planning new coatings for existing Fincantieri - Muggiano built Todaro Class / 212A design submarines and may even install Lithium-ion Batteries on future Todaros. 

Upgrades likely shared with the Germany Navy's current/future TKMS Type 212As include a new plastic anechoic coating for the submarine hull and sail. At the UDT 2016 website it is described as a fluoropolymer coating. The coating can be retrofitted to the Italian Navy's 2 operational subs (Salvatore Todaro and Scirè) to the soon to be commissioned (Pietro Venuti and Romeo Romei). 

The coating will be more resistant to biological agents sticking to it, easier to maintain, and permit lower fuel consumption (as much as 12% less) as it is smoother (more hydrodynamic) than other coatings especially at the quiet, economical patrol speed, likely 4 to 5 knots.

Although Italy has naval budget problems partlyy due to high expenditure searching for and picking up refugees crossing the Mediterranean, Italy may order two additional Todaros. It is possible that these two, operational in the 2020s, will have Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs).

Also see the informative UDT 2016 seminar description, on June 3, 2016, presented by Mr Alexander Janke (Since 2013 he has been Project Manager Lithium-ion Battery System Development/Project Manager Battery Systems).

Pete