Condottieri class cruiser
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Condottieri class was a sequence of five, different, light cruiser classes of the Regia Marina, although these classes show a clear line of evolution. They were built before World War II to gain predominance in the Mediterranean Sea. The ships were named after military commanders (condottieri) of Italian history.
Each class is known after the first ship of the group:
Cadorna class:
Montecuccoli class
Duca d'Aosta class:
Duca degli Abruzzi class:
[edit] Evolution
The first group, the four Di Giussanos, were built for speed, with virtually no armour and a large power plant - equivalent to that of the heavier Zara class. The two Cadornas retained the main characteristics, with minor changes.
Major changes were introduced for the next pair, the Montecuccolis. Heavier ships, with significantly better protection, and uprated power-plants to maintain the required high speed. The two Aostas continued the trend, thickening the armour and increasing the power plant again.
The final pair, the Abruzzis completed the transition, sacrificing a little speed for further armour and extra barrels for main and secondary batteries.
[edit] External links & References
- Condottieri light cruiser classes
- Anthony Preston (naval historian), The World's Worst Warships. Conway Maritime Press (2002). ISBN 0-85177-754-6
