Capitani Romani class cruiser

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 prominent Ancient 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 and sonar; 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 Boats 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 in Port 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 after Gaius Marius, built by OTO Livorno, launched 17 August 1941; captured in La Spezia by the Germans, with only the hull completed. Used as a floating oil tank and scuttled in 1944.
*"Claudio Druso", named after Nero Claudius Drusus, built by CdT Riva Trigoso, construction cancelled June 1940. Scrapped 1941-1942.
*"Claudio Tiberio", named after the Emperor Tiberius, built by OTO Livorno, construction cancelled June 1940. Scrapped between November 1941 and February 1942.
*"Cornelio Silla", named after Lucius Cornelius Sulla, built by Ansaldo Genoa, launched 28 June 1941; captured in Genoa by the Germans while fitting out; never completed. Sunk in an air raid in July 1944.
*"Giulio Germanico", named after Germanicus, built by Castellamare shipyard, launched 20 July 1941; captured by the Germans in Castellammare 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 Emperor Augustus, built by CNR Ancona, launched 31 May 1942; captured in Ancona by the Germans while being completed; sunk in an air attack on 1 November 1943.
*"Paulo Emilio", named after Lucius 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 after Scipio 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 Emperor Trajan, built by CNR Palermo, Launched 1941; not completed. Sunk in Palermo by British human torpedo attack in 1943.
*"Vipsanio Agrippa", named after Marcus 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]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Condottieri class cruiser — Raimondo Montecuccoli at Venice Class overview Operators …   Wikipedia

  • Le Fantasque class destroyer — The Le Fantasque class of six large, very fast destroyers (also referred to as the Le Malin class) was ordered under the French naval programme of 1930. They served in World War II for both Vichy France and the Free French Forces.The original… …   Wikipedia

  • Fantasque class destroyer — Fantasque Class overview Name: Malin or Fantasque Preceded by: Vauquelin class destroyer …   Wikipedia

  • Navigatori class destroyer — Destroyer Nicoló Zeno Class overview Operators …   Wikipedia

  • List of World War II topics (C) — # C 108 Flying Fortress # C 46 Commando # C 47 Skytrain # C 54 Skymaster # C 76 Caravan # C 87 Liberator Express # C 14 class missile boat # C Force # C. Douglas Dillon # C. Dupre # C. Farris Bryant # C. J. Bolin # C. P. Stacey # C. R. Boxer # C …   Wikipedia

  • HMS Unseen (P51) — was a Royal Navy U class submarine built by Vickers Armstrong at Barrow in Furness.Career Unseen spent most of her eventful wartime career in the Mediterranean, where she sank the Italian merchants Zenobia Martini , Le Tre Marie and Rastello (the …   Wikipedia

  • List of cruisers — This is a so far incomplete list of cruisers 1860 present. It includes protected, light, armoured, battle , heavy and missile cruisers. Dates are launching dates. Argentina * Patagonia (1885) * Necochea (1890) Renamed Veinticinco de Mayo * Nueve… …   Wikipedia

  • Regia Marina — Otheruses4|the Royal Navy of Italy|other Royal Navies|Royal Navy (disambiguation)Infobox Military Unit unit name=Regia Marina (RM) caption=Regia Marina Ensign. The Merchant Navy ships had a similar ensign, without the crown dates=1861 1946… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”