The Navigatori class were a group of Italian destroyers built in 1928–1929 for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy), named after Italian explorers. They fought in World War II. Just one vessel, Nicoloso Da Recco, survived the conflict.
Design
These ships were built for the Regia Marina as a reply to the large contre-torpilleurs of the Jaguar and Guépard classes built for the French Navy. These ships were significantly larger than other contemporary Italian destroyers and were initially classed as esploratori or scouts. They were re-rated as destroyers in 1938.
The main armament was a new model 120-millimeter (4.7 in)/50 gun1 in three twin turrets which allowed for 45° elevation. The torpedo launchers consisted of two triple banks, each unusually comprising two 533 mm (21 in) separated by one 450 mm (18 in). Two rangefinder positions were provided; one above the bridge and one in the after superstructure.
Unit machinery was used comprising four boilers in two widely spaced boiler rooms and two turbine rooms. The forward unit drove the port shaft and the aft unit drove the starboard shaft. Trials were run light and with overloaded machinery leading to speeds of up to 43.5 knots (80.6 km/h; 50.1 mph) which were not achievable under service conditions.
The ships were fast, but were found to lack stability and were rebuilt with clipper bows, increased beam and reduced superstructure in the late 1930s.
During the war the torpedoes were replaced by triple 21-inch tubes and extra anti-aircraft guns were added.
Ships
Construction data| Ship | Named after | Builder | Commissioned | Operational history |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvise Da Mosto | Alvise Cadamosto | CNQ, Fiume | 15 March 1931 | Sunk by HMS Aurora and HMS Penelope near Tripoli, 1 December 1941, while escorting the tanker Iridio Mantovani |
| Antonio da Noli | Antonio da Noli | CT, Riva Trigoso | 29 December 1929 | Sunk by mines in the Strait of Bonifacio on 9 September 1943 |
| Nicoloso da Recco | Nicoloso da Recco | CNR, Ancona | 20 May 1930 | Decommissioned on 15 July 1954 and scrapped |
| Giovanni da Verrazzano | Giovanni da Verrazzano | CNQ, Fiume | 25 September 1930 | Sunk 19 October 1942 by HMS Unbending |
| Lanzerotto Malocello | Lanzerotto Malocello | Ansaldo, Genoa | 18 January 1930 | Lost on 24 March 1943 to a mine north of Cape Bon |
| Leone Pancaldo | Leon Pancaldo | CT, Riva Trigoso | 30 November 1929 | Bombed and sunk on 30 April 1943 |
| Emanuele Pessagno | Emanuele Pessagno | CNR, Ancona | 10 March 1930 | Torpedoed and sunk by British submarine HMS Turbulent, 29 May 1942 |
| Antonio Pigafetta | Antonio Pigafetta | CNQ, Fiume | 1 May 1931 | Captured by the Germans after the Italian armistice with the Allies, served as TA44; sunk at Trieste by air raid on 21 February 1945 |
| Luca Tarigo | Luca Tarigo | Ansaldo, Genoa | 16 November 1929 | Sunk by British destroyers on 16 April 1941 |
| Antoniotto Usodimare | Antoniotto Usodimare | Odero, Sestri Ponente | 21 November 1929 | Sunk by the Italian submarine Alagi, 8 June 1942 |
| Ugolino Vivaldi | Ugolino Vivaldi | Odero, Sestri Ponente | 6 March 1930 | Following the Italian Armistice, she was damaged by German coastal artillery in the Strait of Bonifacio and bombed by German aircraft while attempting to reach internment in Spain. Unable to reach Spain, she was scuttled by her crew on 10 September 1943. |
| Nicolò Zeno | Nicolò Zeno | CNQ, Fiume | 27 May 1930 | Scuttled in Trieste on 9 September 1943 to prevent capture by the Germans following the Italian Armistice |
Notes
Bibliography
- Ando, Elio (1978). "The Italian Navigatori Class, 1928". In Preston, Antony (ed.). Super Destroyers. Warship Special. Vol. II. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-131-9.
- Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-544-8.
- Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
- Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
- Roberts, John (1980). "Italy". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 280–317. ISBN 0-8317-0303-2.
- Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (3rd. rev. ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
- Shores, Cull & Malizia (1991). Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942. Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-16-X
- Smigielski, Adam (1995). "Italy". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. pp. 195–218. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopaedia. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.
Further reading
- Cernuschi, Enrico (2022). "Esploratori of the Regia Marina, 1906—1939". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2022. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 147–160. ISBN 978-1-4728-4781-2.
External links
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Campbell, pp. 335–338 ↩