Soldati class destroyer

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The Soldati Class were a group of destroyers built for the Italian Navy during World War II. The ships were named after military professions e.g Artigliere = 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.

Artigliere and Camicia Nera, Italian destroyers of the Camicia Nera class, during the battle

1 Design
2 General Characteristics
3 Ships
4 References

[edit] Design

This class were essentially a repeat of the Oriani class 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 120mm gun. Some ships were fitted with Radar in 1942

[edit] General Characteristics

Displacement: 1620 tons standard, 2550 tons full load
Length: 106.7m
Beam: 10.15m
Draught:3.15m
Machinery: 2 shaft Belluzzo or Parsons type turbines, 3 Yarrow type boilers, 48,000 hp
Speed:38 knots
Range:2,200 nm at 20 knots
Armament:
- 4 - 120mm guns (2x2)
- 1 - 120mm starshell gun (replaced by 37mm guns in some ships in 1942
- 12 - 13.2 mm machine guns (replaced by 20mm guns)
- 6 - 533mm torpedo tubes
Crew: 206

[edit] Ships

Batch 1

Alpino - named after the Alpini - built by CNR Ancona, completed 20 April 1939, Lost 19 April 1943, bombed by the US Air Force in La Spezia Harbour
Artgliere - Artilleryman - built by OTO Livorno, completed 14 November 1938, Lost 12 October 1940, sunk by HMS York (90)
Ascari - named after the Ascari (Colonial Soldier)- built by OTO Livorno, completed 6 May 1939, Lost 24 March 1943, mined
Aviere - Aviator - built by OTO Livorno, completed 31 August 1938, lost 17 December 1942
Bersagliere - named after the Bersaglieri - built by CNR Palermo, completed 1 April 1939, Lost 7 January 1942, bombed in Palermo Harbour
Camicia Nera - blackshirt, renamed Artgliere 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 1958
Carabiniere - named after the Carabinieri - built by CT Riva Trigoso, completed 20 December 1938 - served in the post war Italian Navy (Marina Militare) - decommissioned 18 January 1965
Corazziere - built by OTO Livorno, completed 4 march 1939, Scuttled during the Italian Armistice 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 1958
Geniere - Sapper - built by OTO Livorno, completed 14 December 1938, Lost 1st March 1943, bombing by US air force in Palermo Harbour
Granatiere - Grenadier - built by CNR Palermo, completed 1 February 1939, served in the post war Italian Navy (Marina Militare) - decommissioned 1 July 1958
Lanciere - Lancer - built by CT Riva Trigoso, completed 25 March 1939, lost in a storm 23 March 1942 following the Second Battle of Sirte, five survivors

Batch 2

Bombardiere - Bombardier - built by CNR Ancona completed 15 July 1942, lost 17 January 1943, sunk by British submarine HMS United
Carrista- built by OTO Livorno, not completed , Cancelled 1941
Corsaro - Corsair - built by OTO Livorno, completed 16 May 1942, Lost 9 January 1943, mined
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- 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 - built by OTO Livorno, not completed
Velite - built by OTO Livorno, completed 31 August 1943, transferred to the French Navy as a war reparation, served as the Duperre until June 1954