Etna-class cruiser
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: |
_crowned.svg.png){kind=small} Regia Marina Royal Thai Navy |
| Built: | 1939–1942 |
| Completed: | 0 |
| Cancelled: | 0 |
| Lost: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Cruiser |
| Displacement: | 5,900 long tons (6,000 t) standard |
| Length: | 153.8 m (504 ft 7 in) overall |
| Beam: | 14.47 m (47 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion: |
2 shaft geared turbines 3 boilers 40,000 hp (29,800 kW) |
| Speed: | 28 knots (32 mph; 52 km/h) |
| Complement: | 580 |
| Armament: |
(as redesigned for Italy) • 6 × 135 mm (5.3 in)/45 calibre guns (3x2) • 10 × 65 mm (2.6 in) guns (10x1) • 20 × 20 mm (0.79 in) guns (10x2) |
| Armour: |
60 mm main belt 20-35 mm deck |
This article is about the uncompleted World War II cruisers. For the 1880s cruiser class, see Etna class protected cruiser.
The Etna class were two cruisers originally ordered in Italy for the Thai Navy in 1938 and subsequently requisitioned for service by the Italian Navy on the outbreak of World War II, neither ship was completed and the damaged hulls were scrapped after the war.
Design
The Thai Government ordered two light cruisers from CRDA, Trieste in 1938. The ships were to displace 5500 tons and be armed with 6 six inch guns in three twin turrets. Work on the vessels continued after Italy entered the war at a slowed pace until the Italian Government took over the contract in late 1941.
The Italians modified the design to have 135 mm guns as main armament and 65mm guns as anti-aircraft armament. The Aircraft equipment and torpedo tubes were also deleted and the superstructure modified. Extra cargo space comprising four holds of 600 cubic meters total volume, was also included to enable the ships to act as fast transports to North Africa. Collapsable crane derricks were fitted to access the cargo space. Extra accommodation was fitted in the former seaplane hangar and on the main deck.
Ships
| Ship | Laid down | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etna (ex Taksin) | 23 September 1939 | 28 May 1942 | Scuttled September 1943 |
| Vesuvio (ex Naresuan) | 26 August 1939 | 6 August 1941 | Scuttled September 1943 |
When Italy surrendered to the western Allies in September 1943 the hulls of the ships were 53% complete. Although both vessels were sabotaged before being captured by the Germans, the Nazis were able to continue some construction work before abandoning the project. The ships were scuttled in Trieste harbour in 1945. The hulls were re-floated and scrapped in the late 1940s.
References
- Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1947
- Whitley M.J. Cruisers of World War Two - an International Encyclopedia, 1995 ISBN 1 86019847
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