Soldati class destroyer

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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; 12 ships built in 1938-39 and a second batch of 7 ships built in 1942 as part of the war effort.

Contents 1 Design 2 General characteristics 3 Ships 3.1 Batch 1 3.2 Batch 2 4 References

[edit] Design

This class were essentially a repeat of the Oriani destroyer design. The anti-aircraft armament was increased and a 120mm 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.

[edit] General characteristics

• Displacement: 1,620 tons standard, 2,550 tons full load
• Length: 106.7 m
• Beam: 10.15 m
• Draught:3.15 m
• Machinery: 2 shaft Belluzzo or Parsons type turbines, 3 Yarrow type boilers, 48,000 hp
• Speed:38 knots
• Range:2,200 nautical miles at 20 knots
• Armament:
  • 4 120 mm guns (2x2)
  • 1 120 mm starshell gun (replaced by 37 mm guns in some ships in 1942
  • 12 13.2 mm machine guns (replaced by 20 mm guns)
  • 6 533 mm torpedo tubes
• Crew: 206

[edit] Ships

[edit] 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.
• Ascari, named after the Ascari (Colonial Soldier) - Built by OTO Livorno, completed 6 May 1939, 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 - Vuilt 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.

[edit] Batch 2

• Bombardiere ("bomber") - Built by CNR Ancona, completed 15 July 1942. Sunk on 17 January 1943 by British submarine United.
• 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 ("legionaire") - Built by OTO Livorno, completed 1 March 1942, transferred to the French Navy as a war reparation served as the Duchaffaultt 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.

[edit] References

• Whitley, M.H. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Cassell Publishing. ISBN 1-85409-521-8. 
• page from Uboat.net

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