# Vulcano-class logistic support ship

The Vulcano class is a class of replenishment oiler used by the Italian Navy, with lead ship Vulcano of the class entered service on 12 March 2021. The ships are designed to support fleet operations with fuel and dry stores and expected to replace the Stromboli class, another class of replenishment oiler from the Navy. Vulcano was financed under the 2014 Naval Law, for €346 million, then increased to €374.6 million, when the length was extended by 12 metres (39 ft). A second ship Atlante was ordered in January 2022 for projected delivery in 2025. The Navy also had an option for a third ship of the class. However, under the Italian MoD’s Multi-Year Defence Planning Document (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa, DPP) for the 2023-2025 timeframe, a fourth ship was added to the program.
The French Navy through OCCAR ordered three modified ships of the class to replace its Durance-class tankers to be delivered in 2023, 2025 and 2027. A fourth ship to be ordered is projected for service entry after 2030. The program is known as the Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces (BRF). France officially joined the program in October 2018. The French BRF ships are 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) longer at 194 m (636 ft 6 in) and 31,000 tons full load displacement compared to 27,200 tons, reflecting the French fleet's greater need for aviation fuel.

## Design and construction

Vulcano was built by Fincantieri as yard number 6259. The stern section was built at the Riva Trigoso Naval Shipyard and the bow section was built at the Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) Naval Shipyard. On the night of 22/23 July 2018, a fire broke out on the ship's stern superstructure.
Vulcano is designed as a support ship able to supply a large naval squadron at sea. She was commissioned in March 2021. The lead ship of the French Navy's Jacques Chevallier sub-class began sea trials in December 2022 and was commissioned in November 2024. Steel was cut on a second ship for the French Navy in February 2022 and on a second ship for the Italian Navy in July 2022.
The ships have the capability to:
* refuel ships
* produce fresh water
* carry cargo
* Hospital NATO Role 2 LM
* conduct repairs at sea with integrated maintenance workshops
She has a cargo capacity of up to 15,500 t, of which, "at least":
* 7.655 t (7.534 long tons) (+9,000 m3) of NATO F76 diesel fuel
* 3.240 t (3.189 long tons) (+4,000 m3) of NATO F44/JP5 aviation fuel
* 830 t (820 long tons) of fresh water
* 220 t (220 long tons) of ammunitions
* 40 t (39 long tons) of meals (30,000 food rations)
* 3 m3 of gasoline in barrels
* 15 t (15 long tons) of lubricant in barrels
* 20 t (20 long tons) of solid goods
* up to 8 × ISO1C standard containers, 28 t (28 long tons) each one

## Ships of the class

Italics indicate the estimated date
| Pennant no. | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Homeport |
| Italian Navy |||||||
| A 5335 | Vulcano | Fincantieri (Muggiano) | 13 October 2016 | 22 June 2018 | 12 March 2021 | La Spezia |
| A 5336 | Atlante | Fincantieri (Muggiano) | 28 June 2023 | 18 May 2024 | 2025 | Taranto |
| TBC | TBC | Fincantieri (Muggiano) | | | TBC | |
| French Navy Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces |||||||
| A 725 | Jacques Chevallier | Chantiers de l'Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire) | 24 December 2021 | 29 April 2022 | 20 November 2024 | Toulon; first steel cut in May 2020 |
| A 726 | Jacques Stosskopf | Chantiers de l'Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire) | 6 December 2022 | 19 August 2024 | 2025 | Toulon |
| | Émile Bertin | Chantiers de l'Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire) | 8 August 2024 | | 2027 | Brest |
| | Gustave Zédé | Chantiers de l'Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire) | TBC | | Projected beyond 2030 | Toulon |