HITROLE N

Also known as

HITROLE N/NT
HITROLE-NT
Leonardo HITROLE N
OTO HITROLE 12.7 mm naval turret

HITROLE N is Leonardo's lightweight 12.7 mm remote-controlled naval weapon station. The HITROLE N/NT family is a stabilized shipboard mount used on frigates, offshore patrol vessels, and support ships for close-in defense and small-craft interdiction.

HITROLE N, Remote 12.7 mm weapon station, Naval Systems

Image source: Seaforces: HITROLE-NT Leonardo Remote Naval Weapon System Oto Melara

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: Italy
Built by: Leonardo S.p.A. (former Oto Melara)
Type: Remote 12.7 mm weapon station
Service note: 2000s-present
Designed: 2000s
Unit cost: About EUR 400,000 per system (implied by a reported EUR 10 million contract for 25 HITROLE NT systems)
Produced: 2008-present

naval shipboard remote weapon station 12.7 mm machine gun

Specifications

Caliber: 12.7 mm / .50 caliber
Armament: 12.7 mm FN Mod. M2HB/QCB machine gun or 40 mm automatic grenade launcher
Weight: 220-260 kg
Length: 1.74 m
Training arc: +/- 155°
Elevation arc: -15° to +50°
Ready to fire rounds: 130-400
Stabilization: Integrated gyros

Carrier Platform

Bundeswehr identifies five HITROLE N weapon stations with 12.7 mm machine guns on the F125 class.

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

Baden-Württemberg / F125 frigate, Stabilization frigate class, Naval Systems

Baden-Württemberg / F125 frigate

Stabilization frigate

Bundeswehr identifies five HITROLE N weapon stations with 12.7 mm machine guns protecting the F125 class against small surface threats such as speedboats.

Sources: Bundeswehr: Baden-Württemberg-class F125 frigates

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: In service on frigates, offshore patrol vessels, and support ships for close-in defense and small-craft interdiction.
Used by: German Navy, Royal Netherlands Navy, Mexican Navy

Media

HITROLE N Images

HITROLE N, Remote 12.7 mm weapon station, Naval Systems - view 1 — Source: Seaforces: HITROLE-NT Leonardo Remote Naval Weapon System Oto Melara

HITROLE N, Remote 12.7 mm weapon station, Naval Systems - view 2 — Source: Seaforces: HITROLE-NT Leonardo Remote Naval Weapon System Oto Melara

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Sources

Seaforces: HITROLE-NT Leonardo Remote Naval Weapon System Oto MelaraPublisher: seaforces.org | Note: Supports the HITROLE N/NT naval system description, its 12.7 mm remote-station role, specifications, current users, and page-hosted image URLs. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Leonardo: Naval Systems brochurePublisher: Leonardo | Note: Supports Leonardo manufacturer background and the HITROLE naval family context, including the 12.7 mm and 40 mm configuration description. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Defense Industry Daily: EUR 80M to OTO Melara for F125 Frigate Gun SystemsPublisher: Defense Industry Daily | Note: Supports the reported EUR 10 million contract for 25 HITROLE NT systems, which implies an approximate per-system cost. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Bundeswehr: Baden-Württemberg-class F125 frigatesPublisher: Bundeswehr | Note: Supports the F125 frigate carriage relationship and identifies five HITROLE N weapon stations with 12.7 mm machine guns on the class. | Accessed: 2026-06-27