Soldati class destroyer

The "Soldati "class (also known as "Camicia Nera" class) were a group of destroyers built for the Italian Navy during World War II. The ships were named after military professions ("Artigliere", for example, meaning "artilleryman"). There were two batches; twelve ships were built in 1938-39, and a second batch of seven ships were ordered in 1942, although only five were completed.

Ten ships of the class were lost during the war. Of the survivors three were transferred to the French Navy and two to the Soviet Navy as war reparations, while two served in the Italian post-war navy, the Marina Militare.

Design

This class were essentially a repeat of the "Oriani" destroyer design. The anti-aircraft armament was increased and a 120 mm starshell gun was installed amidships. In batch two, the starshell gun was replaced by a single full size 120 mm gun. Some ships were fitted with radar in 1942.

hips

Batch 1

* "Alpino", named after the Alpini military corps - Built by CNR Ancona, completed 20 April 1939, Lost 19 April 1943 when it was bombed by the US Air Force in La Spezia Harbour.
* "Artigliere" - Built by OTO Livorno, completed 14 November 1938, lost 12 October 1940, sunk by HMS "York" at the battle of Cape Passero.
* "Ascari", named for the Italian term for a locally conscripted soldier of a colony - Built by OTO Livorno, completed 6 May 1939, took part of the successful attack on Harpoon convoy in June 1942, lost on 24 March 1943 after hitting a mine.
* "Aviere" ("aviator") - Built by OTO Livorno, completed 31 August 1938, lost on 17 December 1942.
* "Bersagliere" - named after the Bersaglieri - Built by CNR Palermo, completed on 1 April 1939, lost on 7 January 1942 after being bombed in Palermo harbour.
* "Camicia Nera" ("blackshirt"), renamed "Artigliere" after the fall of the Fascist regime in 1943 - Built by OTO Livorno, completed 30 June 1938, given to the Soviet Navy as war reparations, served in the Black Sea as the Z12, decommissioned in 1958.
* "Carabiniere" - named after the Carabinieri - built by CT Riva Trigoso, completed on 20 December 1938. It served in the post war Italian Navy (Marina Militare), being decommissioned on 18 January 1965.
* "Corazziere" ("cuirassier") - Built by OTO Livorno, completed 4 march 1939, scuttled during the Italian Armistice of 9 September 1943.
* "Fuciliere"' ("Fusilier") - Built by CNR Ancona completed 10 January 1939, given to the Soviet Navy as war reparations, served in the Black Sea as the Z12, decommissioned in 1958.
* "Geniere" ("Engineer") - Built by OTO Livorno, completed 14 December 1938. It was lost on 1 March 1943 when it was bombed by USAAF in Palermo Harbour.
* "Granatiere" ("grenadier") - Built by CNR Palermo, completed on 1 February 1939, served in the post war Italian Navy (Marina Militare), being decommissioned on 1 July 1958.
* "Lanciere" ("lancer") - Built by CT Riva Trigoso, completed 25 March 1939, lost in a storm on 23 March 1942 following the Second Battle of Sirte, with five survivors in the crew.

Batch 2

* "Bombardiere" ("bomber") - Built by CNR Ancona, completed 15 July 1942. Sunk on 17 January 1943 by British submarine HMS|United|P44|2.
* "Carrista" ("tank crew") - Built by OTO Livorno, not completed, cancelled 1941.
* "Corsaro" ("corsair") - Built by OTO Livorno, completed on 16 May 1942, mined of 9 January 1943.
* "Legionaro" ("legionnaire") - Built by OTO Livorno, completed 1 march 1942, transferred to the French Navy as a war reparation served as the "Duchaffault" until June 1954.
* "Mitragliere" ("machine gunner") - Built by CNR Ancona, completed 1 February 1942, transferred to the French Navy as a war reparation, served as the "Jurien de la Graviere" until June 1954.
* "Squadrista" ("Fascist squad man") - Built by OTO Livorno, not completed.
* "Velite" - Built by OTO Livorno, completed on 31 August 1943, transferred to the French Navy as a war reparation, served as the "Duperre" until June 1954.

References

*cite book|first=M.H.|last=Whitley|title=Destroyers of World War 2|year=1988|publisher=Cassell Publishing|id=ISBN 1-85409-521-8
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=562&navy=IT page from Uboat.net]