Maestrale-class destroyer

Destroyer Scirocco at anchor
Class overview
Operators:	Regia Marina  Marina Militare
Built:	1931–1934
In commission:	1934–1954
Completed:	4
Lost:	3
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	1,417 long tons (1,440 t) standard 2,219 long tons (2,255 t) full load
Length:	106.7 m (350 ft 1 in)
Beam:	10.15 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught:	3.31 m (10 ft 10 in)
Propulsion:	2 shaft Parsons type geared turbines 3 Yarrow type small-tube oil-fired boilers 44,000 hp (32,800 kW)
Speed:	38 knots (44 mph; 70 km/h)
Range:	4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Complement:	191
Armament:	as built 4 × 120 mm (4.7 in) guns (2×2) 2 × 40 mm pom-pom guns 4 × 13.2 mm machine guns 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes (2×3) 56 mines

The Maestrale class were a group of destroyers built for the Italian Navy and served in World War II. They were an enlarged version of the Dardo class destroyers. They were 10 m longer and introduced new pattern 120 mm guns. They formed the basis for subsequent Italian destroyer designs; the Oriani and Soldati classes.

Ships

• Maestrale

Built by CT Riva Trigoso,

completed 2 September 1934.

Damaged by a mine on 9 January 1943, She was scuttled on 9 September 1943 during the Italian Armistice while being repaired in Genoa.

• Grecale

Built by CNR Ancona,

completed 15 November 1934.

She survived the war and served in the Marina Militare until 1954.

• Libeccio

Built by CNR Ancona,

completed 23 November 1934.

She was sunk on 9 November 1941 by the British submarine Upholder.

• Scirocco -

Built by CT Riva Trigoso,

Completed 21 October 1934.

Sunk in a storm following the Second Battle of Sirte on 23 March 1942, with only two survivors among the 236-strong crew.

References

• Whitley, M.H. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Cassell Publishing. ISBN 1-85409-521-8. 

External links

• page from Uboat.net