Spica-class torpedo boat

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. Twenty-three were lost during World War II.

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
• Armament
  • 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

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 29 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 southeast of 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 southeast of 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 HMS 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 TA-49, sunk by bombing 4 November 1944
Lupo	CNQ Fiume	28 February 1938	Along with Lince, torpedoed the British tanker Desmoulea (8120 tn) in the Kasos straits on 31 January 1941, disabling her for the rest of the war. Captained by Francesco Mimbelli during the Battle of Crete, where she survived a battle against three cruisers and five destroyers, saving half of a small ships convoy. Sunk 2 December 1942 by destroyers HMS Jervis, Javelin, Janus and Kelvin while picking up survivors from italian cargo ship Veloce en route to Tripoli
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	Successfuly protected a German convoy of caiques during the Battle of Crete against a British squadron of three cruisers and four destroyers, slightly damaging destroyer HMS Kingston. Sank British MTB-639 off Tunis, on 28 April 1943 whilst escorting a steamer. 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

References

• M.J Whitley, Destroyers of World War 2, 1988 Cassell Publishing ISBN 1 85409 521 8
• Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare: Le Navi d'Italia. V. I cacciatorpediniere italiani, 1900-1971 (Fioravanzo, Pollina, Ricciardi, Gnifetti). Rome, 1971. (In Italian)