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 replenishment oiler, 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 m. 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 potential fourth ship of the class 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 m longer at 194 m 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. A second ship of the class, Jacques Chevallier for the French Navy, began sea trials in December 2022. 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: She has a cargo capacity of up to 15,500 t, of which, "at least":
 * refuel ships
 * produce fresh water
 * carry cargo
 * Hospital NATO Role 2 LM
 * conduct repairs at sea with integrated maintenance workshops
 * 7.655 t (+9,000 m3) of NATO F76 diesel fuel
 * 3.240 t (+4,000 m3) of NATO F44/JP5 aviation fuel
 * 830 t of fresh water
 * 220 t of ammunitions
 * 40 t of meals (30,000 food rations)
 * 3 m3 of gasoline in barrels
 * 15 t of lubricant in barrels
 * 20 t of solid goods
 * up to 8 × ISO1C standard containers, 28 t each one

Ships of the class
Italics indicate the estimated date