The first War Ship to bear the name “Sentinella” was a “Guardiano” Class cannon-boat built at the Arsenale Shipyards, La Spezia, in 1874. Was launched on December 31 the same year and delivered to the Italian Navy on October 27, 1875. Designed by Benedetto Brin, was entirely made of iron, and measured 30.5 m in over-all length, 8.3 m in breadth, displaced 259 tons and was equipped with a 220 mm gun. Top speed was 8 knots. Manned by a crew of 48, was mostly used in missions on metropolitan waters, such as harbor defence, or as a platform for naval artillery experiments. The unit was unrigged on May 22, 1904.

The second unit to bear the name Sentinella was built at the C.R.D.A Shipyards in Monfalcone in 1954 and lived an eventful life. Launched on November 11, 1955, was classified as “Antisubmarine Patrolling Unit – P499.” Was armed with two Bofors 40/56 mm cannons and other antisubmarine weapon systems. On September 29, 1956, after a long lasting renovation which included a thorough reconstruction of the bow, was reclassified as “Antisubmarine Corvette – F598.” On May 1, 1965 she was then declassified as “Cannonboat” and renamed “Fulmine.” Was manned by a crew of 70, displaced 325 tons, measured 49.6m in over-all length, 6.9m in breadth, top speed 30 knots. During her service life she engaged in many exercises involving also the High Seas Fleet. She was mainly used for Fishing Patrolling in the Straits of Sicily and the Adriatic Sea. Was unrigged on May 1, 1970.

The current ITS Sentinella was laid on the stocks on October 2, 1995 at the Clemna Shipyards in Cadimare, La Spezia; launched on November 13, 1997, and delivered to the Italian Navy on July 10, 1998. Was first based in Taranto for a basic training course. Then, from February 25 to September 18, 1999, she was engaged in the Adriatic Sea (Durres, St Nicholas, in Albania, and Brindisi and Ancona in Italy) to fight illegal immigration. Since her return to La Spezia, in 1999, she has been part of the CPU for MFO patrolling the waters off the Straits of Tiran.

ITS Sentinella, has been specifically designed to carry out “peace monitoring” tasks within the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai peninsula as a replacement for the superb units of the “Alberi” class (former minesweepers modified in the 50’s and now laying in ordinary).

Considering their mission and operational environment, the Units of the Esploratore Class feature specific characteristics, such as a reduced displacement, speed, endurance and comfort on board. The crew has been cut down to 16, giving priority to the automation of the ship’s equipment. These works resulted in units perfectly fit to carry out their institutional tasks within the MFO mission, such as patrolling, surveillance, the ability to perform a ready deployment, as well as Search and Rescue operations.

The unit’s motto: “I keep on the alert,” reminds of a sentry’s task and it comes from a famous 1915 Italian song.

The Crest depicts the silhouette of the unit while sailing, and it is surmounted by the crowned tower with rostra, to symbolize the crown the Roman Senate awarded to naval commanders who proved their honour and valour in battle.

Beneath the crown, between two five-pointed stars, is the motto and in the lower part the name of the Unit: “Nave Sentinella” (Ship Sentry).