Oriani-class destroyer
 The Italian Poeti class destroyer Oriani
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators | list error: <br /> list (help) Regia Marina French Navy |
| Built | 1935–1936 |
| In commission | 1937–1954 |
| Completed | 4 |
| Lost | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Displacement | list error: <br /> list (help) 1,559 long tons (1,584 t) standard 2,470 long tons (2,510 t) full load |
| Length | 106.7 m (350 ft 1 in) |
| Beam | 10.15 m (33 ft 4 in) |
| Draught | 3.42 m (11 ft 3 in) |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) 2 shaft Parsons type steam turbines 3 Thornycroft type boilers 48,000 hp (35,800 kW) |
| Speed | 38 knots (44 mph; 70 km/h) |
| Range | 2,190 nmi (4,060 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h) |
| Complement | 207 |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) • 4 × 120 mm (4.7 in) guns (2×2) • 4 × 37 mm AA guns (2×2) • 6 × 13.2 mm machine guns • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes (2×3) • 56 mines |
The Oriani Class (also known as the Poeti class), were a group of four destroyers built for the Italian Navy in the late 1930s. They were a repeat of the Maestrale class destroyers, but had increased machinery power and a different anti-aircraft armament. The increase in power, however, disappointed in that there was only a marginal speed improvement. The obsolete 40 mm anti-aircraft guns were finally discontinued, being replaced by extra 13.2 mm machine guns; otherwise armament was unchanged. Significant upgrades were made to the weapons systems of the two ships that survived Matapan, similar to those made to the Maestrales. One torpedo tube mounting was replaced by two 37 mm guns; 20 mm cannon, a 120 mm star-shell gun and depth charge throwers were also installed. Before the end of the war, one ship, Oriani had German Seetakt radar and an additional 20 mm cannon.
Ships
All four ships were built by OTO Livorno and named after poets:
| Ship | namesake | Launched | Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfredo Oriani | Alfredo Oriani | 30 July 1936 | 15 July 1937 | Damaged in the Battle of Matapan, she took part in the successful attack on Harpoon convoy in June 1942. The ship escaped from La Spezia during the Italian Armistice in 1943 and was interned in Malta. She was given to the French Navy as a war reparation, where she served as the D'Estaing until 1954 |
| Vittorio Alfieri | Vittorio Alfieri | 20 December 1936 | 1 December 1937 | Sunk on 28 March 1941 in the Battle of Cape Matapan |
| Giosuè Carducci | Giosuè Carducci | 28 October 1936 | 1 November 1937 | Sunk 28 March 1941 in the Battle of Matapan |
| Vincenzo Gioberti | Vincenzo Gioberti | 19 September 1936 | 27 October 1937 | Sunk on 9 August 1943 by the British submarine HMS Simoom |
See also
Media related to Oriani class destroyer at Wikimedia Commons
References
- Whitley, M.J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Cassell Publishing. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.