Beograd class destroyer

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The Beograd Class destroyers were built for the Yugoslav Navy in the late 1930's. The ships fought in World War II. Two of the three were captured by the Italian Navy after the Invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941 and one of those was subsequently captured by the Germans.

Contents

[edit] Design

Following the large destroyer Dubrovnik the Yugoslavs decided on a smaller size for this group of ships. The ships were designed by the French company A & Ch de la Loire. One ship was built in France and the other two in Yugoslavia . The armament was provided by the Czech company Skoda and the machinery by Yarrow Shipbuilders.

[edit] General characteristics

  • Displacement: 1,210 tons standard, 1,655 tons full load
  • Length: 98 m
  • Beam: 9.45 m
  • Draught: 3.18 m
  • Machinery: 2 shaft geared steam turbines, 3 boilers, 40,000 hp
  • Speed: 38 knots
  • Armament
    • 4 - 120mm guns
    • 4 - 40 mm guns
    • 2 - machine guns
    • 6 - 21 inch torpedo tubes (3x2)
    • 30 mines
  • Crew: 145

[edit] Ships

Ship Builder Launched Completed Fate
Beograd A&Ch de la Loire, Nantes 23 December 1937 28 April 1939 Captured by Italy 17 April 1941, renamed Sebenico, Captured by Germans scuttled 1 May 1945
Ljubiana Yarrow, Krajievica 28 June 1938 December 1939 Captured by Italy 17 April 1941, Sunk 1 April 1943
Zagreb A&Ch de la Loire, Split 30 March 1938 August 1939 Scuttled 17 April 1941

[edit] Yugoslav Service and Capture

The Ljubiana was in dockyard on 17 April 1941 and was captured. The Zagreb was blown up in Kotor to prevent capture. The Beograd was at sea and damaged by dive bombing. She limped home to Kotor and was captured.

[edit] Italian Service

The Ljubiana was renamed Lubiana by the Italians and the Beograd was re-named Sebinico by the Regia Marina. Both ships served as convoy escorts on the supply run to North Africa. The Lubiana was sunk by grounding in the Gulf of Tunis on 1 April 1943 . The Sebenico was captured by the Germans in Venice after the Italian Armistice in September 1943.

[edit] German Service

The ship was renamed TA43 and entered Kriegsmarine service on 17 October 1944. She served in the Northern Adriatic Sea and was heavily damaged by Yugoslav artillery in April 1945. The ship was scuttled in Trieste on 1 May 1945

[edit] References