Maestrale-class destroyer

Scirocco at anchor
Class overview
Name	Maestrale class
Operators	Regia Marina  Italian Navy
Preceded by	Folgore class
Succeeded by	Oriani class
Built	1931–1934
In commission	1934–1965
Completed	4
Lost	3
Scrapped	1
General characteristics (as built)
Type	Destroyer
Displacement	1,610 long tons (1,640 t) (standard) 2,208 long tons (2,243 t) (full load)
Length	106.7 m (350 ft 1 in)
Beam	10.15 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught	3.31–4.3 m (10 ft 10 in – 14 ft 1 in)
Installed power	3 three-drum boilers 44,000 hp (33,000 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed	32–33 knots (59–61 km/h; 37–38 mph)
Range	2,600–2,800 nmi (4,800–5,200 km; 3,000–3,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	7 officers and 166 men
Armament	2 × twin 120 mm (4.7 in) guns 2 × single 120 mm (4.7 in) star shell guns 2 × single 40 mm (1.6 in) AA guns 2 × twin 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns 2 × triple 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 2–4 × depth charge throwers 56 mines

The Maestrale class were a group of destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) and served in World War II. They formed the basis for subsequent Italian destroyer designs; the Oriani and Soldati classes.

Design and description

The Maestrale-class destroyers were a completely new design intended to rectify the stability problems of the preceding Folgore class.^[1] They had a length between perpendiculars of 101.6 meters (333 ft 4 in) and an overall length of 106.7 meters (350 ft 1 in). The ships had a beam of 10.15 meters (33 ft 4 in) and a mean draft of 3.31 meters (10 ft 10 in)^[2] and 4.3 meters (14 ft 1 in) at deep load.^[1] They displaced 1,640 metric tons (1,610 long tons) at normal load, and 2,243 metric tons (2,208 long tons) at deep load.^[3] Their complement during wartime was 190 officers and enlisted men.^[4]

The Maestrales were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by a trio of three-drum boilers.^[4] The turbines were designed to produce 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000 kW) and a speed of 32–33 knots (59–61 km/h; 37–38 mph) in service, although they reached speeds of 38–39 knots (70–72 km/h; 44–45 mph) during their sea trials while lightly loaded. The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2,600–2,800 nautical miles (4,800–5,200 km; 3,000–3,200 mi) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) and 690 nmi (1,280 km; 790 mi) at a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph).^[1]

Their main battery consisted of four 50-caliber 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure.^[3] Amidships were a pair of 15-caliber 120-millimeter star shell guns. Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Maestrale-class ships was provided by four 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns. They were equipped with six 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. Although the ships were not provided with a sonar system for anti-submarine work, they were fitted with a pair of depth charge throwers.^[1] The Maestrales could carry 56 mines.^[3]

Ships

• Maestrale (North-West wind)

Built by CT Riva Trigoso,

completed 2 September 1934.

Damaged by a mine on 9 January 1943, she was scuttled on 9 September 1943 during the Italian Armistice while being repaired in Genoa.

• Grecale (North-East wind)

Built by CNR Ancona,

completed 15 November 1934.

She survived the war and served in the Marina Militare until 1964.

• Libeccio (South-West wind)

Built by CNR Ancona,

Laid down 29 Sep 1931

Launched 4 July 1934

completed 23 November 1934.

She was sunk on 9 November 1941 by the British submarine Upholder.

• Scirocco (South-East wind)

Built by CT Riva Trigoso,

Completed 21 October 1934.

Sunk in a storm following the Second Battle of Sirte on 23 March 1942, with only two survivors among the 236-strong crew.

Notes

Bibliography

• Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-544-8.
• Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
• Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: 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 (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
• Smigielski, Adam (1995). "Italy". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 195–218. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.

External links

• page from Uboat.net
• Maestrale-class destroyer Marina Militare website

• v
• t
• e

Maestrale-class destroyers

 Regia Marina

• Maestrale
• Scirocco
• Grecale
• Libeccio

 Marina Militare

• Grecale

• Preceded by: Folgore class
• Followed by: Oriani class

• List of destroyers of Italy