Spica class torpedo boat
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The Spica class were a class of torpedo boats of the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during World War II. These ships were built as a result of a clause in the Washington Naval Treaty, which stated that ships with a tonnage of less than 600 tons could be built in unlimited numbers. Thirty two ships were built in total, between 1934 and 1937, 30 of which entered service with Italy and 2 which were transferred to Sweden in 1940. Although commonly referred to as torpedo boats, the Spica class were similar in design to destroyer escorts and were used in anti-submarine duties. 23 would be lost during World War II.
[edit] Specifications
- Displacement
- Standard: 795 tons
- Maximum: 1,020 tons
- Length: 83.5 m (274 ft)
- Beam: 8.1 m (26.57 ft)
- Draught 2.55 m (8.37 ft)
- Propulsion
- 2 steam turbines, 19,000 shp total
- 2 shafts
- Maximum speed: 34 knots
- Complement: 116
- Aramament
- 3 100 mm (3.94 in) guns
- 10 20 mm anti-aircraft guns
- 2 13.2 mm (0.52 in) anti-aircraft machine guns
- 4 450 mm torpedo tubes
- up to 20 mines
[edit] Ships
Ship | Builder | completed | Fate |
---|---|---|---|
Airone | Ansaldo , Genoa | 10 May 1938 | Sunk 12 October 1940 by cruiser HMS Ajax |
Alcione | Ansaldo, Genoa | 10 May 1938 | Sunk 11 December 1941 by submarine HMS Truant |
Aldebaran | Ansaldo, Genoa | 6 December 1936 | Sunk 20 October 1941 by mines laid by submarine HMS Rorqual |
Altair | Ansaldo, Genoa | 23 December 1936 | Sunk 20 October 1941 by mines laid by submarine HMS Rorqual |
Andromeda | Ansaldo, Genoa | 6 December 1936 | Sunk 17 March 1941 |
Antares | Ansaldo, Genoa | 23 December 1936 | Sank Greek submarine Proteus in December 1940, Sunk 28 March 1943 |
Aretusa | Ansaldo, Genoa | 1 July 1938 | Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare, Decommissioned 1 August 1958 |
Ariel | Ansaldo, Genoa | 1 July 1938 | Sunk 12 October 1940 by cruiser HMS Ajax |
Astore | BS Napoletani | 30 May 1935 | Sold to Sweden as the Remus in 1940, Decommissioned 1958 |
Calipso | Ansaldo, Genoa | 16 November 1938 | Sunk 5 December 1940, by mines east of Tripoli |
Calliope | Ansaldo, Genoa | 28 October 1938 | Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare, Decommissioned 1 August 1958 |
Canopo | CT Riva Trigoso | 31 March 1937 | Sunk 3 May 1941 |
Cassiopea | CT Riva Trigoso | 26 April 1937 | Sank British destroyer HMS Pakenham near Marettimo island, on 16 April 1943. Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare, Decommissioned 1959 |
Castore | CNR , Ancona | 16 January 1937 | Sunk 2 June 1943 by HMS Jervis and Greek destroyer Vasilissa Olga (D 15) |
Centauro | CNR , Ancona | 16 June 1936 | Sunk 4 November 1942, bombed in Benghazi harbour |
Cigno | CNR , Ancona | 15 March 1937 | Sunk 16 April 1943 near Marettimo island, by HMS Paladin and HMS Pakenham, the latter being also sunk in the same engagement |
Circe | Ansaldo, Genoa | 4 October 1938 | Sank HMS Grampus in 1940, Sank submarines P38 and HMS Tempest, Sunk by collision 27 November 1942 |
Climene | CNR , Ancona | 24 April 1936 | Sunk 28 April 1943, by submarine HMS Unshaken |
Clio | Ansaldo, Genoa | 2 October 1938 | Sank HMS Grampus in 1940, Sank HMS Triton, Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare, Decommissioned 1959 |
Libra | CNQ Fiume | 19 January 1938 | Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare, Decommissioned 1964 |
Lince | CNQ Fiume | 1 April 1938 | Sunk 28 August 1943 by submarine HMS Ultor |
Lira | CNQ Fiume | 1 January 1938 | Scuttled 9 September 1943, repaired by the Germans, and served as the TA49, sunk by bombing 4 November 1944 |
Lupo | CNQ Fiume | 28 February 1938 | Captained by Francesco Mimbelli during the Battle of Crete, Sunk 2 December 1942 by aircraft while picking up survivors from Circe |
Pallade | BS Napoletani | 5 October 1938 | Sunk 5 August 1942 by bombing in Naples |
Partenope | BS Napoletani | 26 November 1938 | Scuttled 11 September 1943 |
Perseo | CNQ Fiume | 1 February 1936 | Sunk 4 May 1943 by HMS Nubian, HMS Petard and HMS Paladin |
Pleiadi | BS Napoletani | 4 July 1938 | Sunk 14 October 1941 by bombing in Tripoli harbour |
Polluce | BS Napoletani | 8 August 1938 | Sunk by torpedo bombers, 4 September 1942 |
Sagittario | CNQ Fiume | 8 October 1936 | Sank British MGB 639 off Tunis, on 28 April 1943. Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare, Decommissioned 1964 |
Sirio | CNQ Fiume | 1 March 1936 | Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare, Decommissioned 1959 |
Spica | BS Napoletani | 30 May 1935 | Sold to Sweden as the Romulus in 1940, Decommissioned 1958 |
Vega | CNQ Fiume | 12 October 1936 | Sunk by HMS Hereward 10 January 1941 |
[edit] References
- M.J Whitley, Destroyers of World War 2, 1988 Cassell Publishing ISBN 1 85409 521 8