Capitani Romani class cruiser
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The Italian Capitani Romani class of cruisers were essentially designed to out-run and out-gun the large new French destroyers of the Le Fantasque and Mogador classes. They were originally classed as Esploratori Oceanici or 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.
| Capitani Romani class |  |
|---|---|
| Image:RN Attilio Regolo - foto ufficiale.jpg Attilio Regolo |
|
| General Characteristics (as completed) | |
| Displacement: | 5420 tons (full load) 3750 tons (standard) |
| Length: | 142.2 metres (overall) |
| Beam: | 14.4 metres |
| Draught: | 4.1 metres |
| Propulsion: | 2 shafts geared turbines 4 boilers, 110,000 shp |
| Speed: | 41 knots |
| Range: | 4,350 miles at 18 knots, 1400 tons of fuel oil |
| Complement: | 418 |
| Armament: | 8 × 135 millimetre (mm) (5.3 in), 45 calibre guns 8 × 37 mm guns 8 × 20 mm machine-guns 8 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 70 mines |
Contents |
[edit] 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 40 knots, 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 41 knots 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 Giussanos). 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, demonstrating that high speed is of no use if you're unaware of your enemy's presence. The fourth was pursuing destroyers (its design purpose) which lured it on to a heavy cruiser which disabled it and sank it. Again, the Italian ship was unaware of the threat until too late.
[edit] Action
Only Scipione Africano saw combat. Equipped with EC.3 radar, she sank the British torpedo boat MTB-316 and heavily damaged MTB-260 during the night of 17th July 1943. Attilio Regolo was torpedoed by HMS Unruffled and subsequently interned in Port Mahon.
[edit] 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 28th 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, launched 20th July 1941; captured by the Germans in Castellammare di Stabia, almost completed. Scuttled by the Germans on 28th 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 31st May, 1942; captured in Ancona by the Germans while being completed; sunk in an air attack on 1st November, 1943.
- Paulo Emilio, 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 24th August 1941, completed. Became a training ship in 1964.
- 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 attack in 1943.
- Vipsanio Agrippa, named after Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, built by CDT Riva Trigso, construction stopped June, 1940. Scrapped 1941-1942.
