- Capitani Romani class cruiser
Capitani Romani was a class of cruisers of the Italian
Regia Marina (Navy). They were essentially designed to out-run and out-gun the large new French destroyers of the "Fantasque" and "Mogador" classes. They were originally classed as "Esploratori Oceanici" ("ocean scouts"). Twelve hulls were ordered in late 1939, but only four were completed, just three of these before the Italian armistice in 1943. The ships were named after prominentAncient Romans .Design
The design was fundamentally a light, almost unarmoured hull with a large power plant and cruiser style armament.
During design development, the design was modified to sustain the prime requirements of speed and firepower. The target speed was over convert|40|kn|km/h|0, but as design progressed, it was realised that the ships would be too heavy. Features had to be omitted - the aircraft were removed, anti-aircraft weaponry was reduced and the ships were left virtually unarmoured. As a result, the three completed warships achieved convert|41|kn|km/h|0 during trials.
The trading of protection for speed and weaponry has a parallel in the
battlecruiser concept, which also intended to out-run more powerful opponents, while being able to force action when they had the advantage. This concept, however, was unproven in action (apart from an engagement by "Scipione Africano").The nearest Italian design to see significant combat were the earliest of the "Condottieri" class cruisers (the "Di Giussano"s). They were also fast, lightly armoured but lacked
radar andsonar ; all four were sunk by torpedo. Two were sunk in a night ambush and one by submarine (thus demonstrating that high speed is of no help without awareness of an enemy's presence). The fourth was pursuing destroyers (its design purpose) which lured it on to a light cruiser which disabled and sank it. Again, the Italian ship was unaware of the threat until too late.Action
Only "Scipione Africano" saw combat. Equipped with the Italian developed EC.3 "Gufo" radar, she detected and engaged 4 British
Motor Torpedo Boat s lurking 5 miles ahead during the night of 17 July 1943, while passing the Messina straits at high speed. She sank MTB 316 and heavily damaged MTB 313. A dozen of British seamen lost their lives in this action. "Attilio Regolo" was torpedoed by HMS|Unruffled|P46|6 and subsequently interned inPort Mahon .Ships
Four of these ships were scrapped before launch. Five were captured by the Germans in September 1943, still under construction. All five were sunk in harbour, one was raised and completed. Three were completed before the Italian armistice.
*"Attilio Regolo", named after
Marcus Atilius Regulus , built by OTO Livorno, completed May 1942. Commissioned in August and used as a mine-layer until seriously damaged by a torpedo in October. Ceded to France in 1948 renamed "Chateaurenault".
*"Caio Mario", named afterGaius Marius , built by OTO Livorno, launched 17 August 1941; captured inLa Spezia by the Germans, with only the hull completed. Used as a floating oil tank and scuttled in 1944.
*"Claudio Druso", named afterNero Claudius Drusus , built by CdT Riva Trigoso, construction cancelled June 1940. Scrapped 1941-1942.
*"Claudio Tiberio", named after the EmperorTiberius , built by OTO Livorno, construction cancelled June 1940. Scrapped between November 1941 and February 1942.
*"Cornelio Silla", named afterLucius Cornelius Sulla , built by Ansaldo Genoa, launched 28 June 1941; captured inGenoa by the Germans while fitting out; never completed. Sunk in an air raid in July 1944.
*"Giulio Germanico", named afterGermanicus , built by Castellamare shipyard, launched 20 July 1941; captured by the Germans inCastellammare di Stabia , almost completed. Scuttled by the Germans on 28 September 1943; raised and completed by the Italians after the war. Renamed as "San Marco" , served as a destroyer leader until scrapped in 1971.
*"Ottaviano Augusto", named after the EmperorAugustus , built by CNR Ancona, launched 31 May 1942; captured inAncona by the Germans while being completed; sunk in an air attack on 1 November 1943.
*"Paulo Emilio", named afterLucius Aemilius Paulus Macedonicus , construction cancelled in June 1940. built by Ansaldo Genoa, Scrapped between October 1941 and February 1942.
*"Pompeo Magno", named after Pompey the Great, built by CNR Ancona, launched 24 August 1941, completed. Renamed as "San Giorgio", served as a destroyer leader until 1963. Became a training ship in 1965 and decommissioned and scrapped in 1980.
*"Scipione Africano": named afterScipio Africanus , built by OTO Livorno, launched January 12, 1941 and completed on April 23, 1943. Ceded to France in 1948 and first renamed "S7", then renamed "Guichen". Scrapped 1979.
*"Ulpio Traiano", named after the EmperorTrajan , built by CNR Palermo, Launched 1941; not completed. Sunk inPalermo by Britishhuman torpedo attack in 1943.
*"Vipsanio Agrippa", named afterMarcus Vipsanius Agrippa , built by CDT Riva Trigso, construction stopped June, 1940. Scrapped 1941-1942.External links
* [http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/italian_cruisers.htm Photos of "Capitani Romani" ships]
* [http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/captured/index.html Details of Regia Marina ships captured by the Germans]
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