Curtatone-class destroyer

The Curtatone class were a group of destroyers built for the Royal Italian Navy.

A line drawing of Curtatone
Class overview
BuildersCantiere navale fratelli Orlando, Livorno
Operators
Preceded byGenerali class
Succeeded bySpica class
Built1920–1924
In commission1924–1951
Completed4
Lost3
Retired1
General characteristics
TypeDestroyer
Displacement
  • 876 long tons (890 t) standard
  • 890 long tons (900 t) full load
Length84.72 m (277 ft 11 in)
Beam8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Draught2.46 m (8 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 shaft Zoelly steam turbines
  • 4 Thornycroft type boilers
  • 22,000 hp (16,400 kW)
Speed32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range1,800 nmi (3,300 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement117
Armament

They were the first destroyers to be built in Italy after the end of World War I, and were the first ships of this type to use twin rather than single mountings.

The ships were originally ordered at the same time as the Palestro-class destroyers, but were postponed due to steel shortages. The opportunity was taken to modify the design to incorporate experience and lengthen the ships by 4.5 metres (14 ft 9 in).

The ships were later modernized for escort duties with the twin guns being replaced by singles and the triple 450-millimetre (18 in) torpedo tubes replaced by twin 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes. Extra light anti-aircraft guns were also fitted and the 76 mm (3.0 in)/40 caliber guns removed.

Ships

All four ships were built by Orlando yard in Livorno.

Construction data
Ship Laid down[1] Launched Commissioned Service/​Fate
Calatafimi 1 December 1920 17 March 1923 24 May 1924 Captured by the Germans at Piraeus on 9 September 1943 - served as TA19, sunk by Greek submarine Pipinos 19 August 1944 in the Aegean Sea.
Castelfidardo 20 July 1920 4 June 1922 7 March 1924 Captured by the Germans at Piraeus on 9 September 1943 - served as TA16, sunk by Allied aircraft 2 June 1944 in the Aegean.
Curtatone 3 January 1920 17 March 1922 21 June 1923 Sunk by a mine near Athens on 20 May 1941.
Monzambano 20 January 1921 6 August 1923 4 June 1923 Survived the war. It was decommissioned in April 1951.

References
  1. Office of, Naval Intelligence (2013). Italian Naval Vessels World War II Recognition Guide. Periscope Films. p. 44.

Bibliography
  • Fraccaroli, Aldo (1985). "Italy". In Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 252–290. ISBN 978-0-87021-907-8.
  • Whitley, M.J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Cassell Publishing. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.
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