Italian destroyer Antoniotto Usodimare
 Antoniotto Usodimare at Taranto
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Kingdom of Italy | |
| Name | Antoniotto Usodimare |
| Namesake | Antoniotto Usodimare |
| Builder | Odero-Terni-Orlando, Genoa-Sestri Ponente |
| Laid down | 1 June 1927 |
| Launched | 12 May 1928 |
| Completed | 21 November 1929 |
| Fate | Sunk by torpedo, 8 June 1942 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type | Navigatori-class destroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 107.3 m (352 ft) |
| Beam | 10.2 m (33 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines |
| Speed | 32 knots (59.3 km/h; 36.8 mph) |
| Range | 3,800 nmi (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) (designed) |
| Complement | 222–225 (wartime) |
| Armament |
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Antoniotto Usodimare was one of a dozen Navigatori-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the late 1920s. Completed in 1929, she served in World War II.
Design and description
The Navigatori-class destroyers were designed to counter the large French destroyers of the
Jaguar and Guépard classes.[1] They had an overall length of 107.3 meters (352 ft), a beam of 10.2 meters (33 ft 6 in) and a mean draft of 3.5 meters (11 ft 6 in).[2] They displaced 1,900 metric tons (1,900 long tons) at standard load, and 2,580 metric tons (2,540 long tons) at deep load. Their complement during wartime was 222–225 officers and enlisted men.[3]
The Navigatoris were powered by two
kW)[3] and a speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) in service, although the ships reached speeds of 38–41 knots (70–76 km/h; 44–47 mph) during their sea trials while lightly loaded.[4] They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).[3]
Their
13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns. They were equipped with six 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. The Navigatoris could carry 86–104 mines.[4]
Construction and career
Antoniotto Usodimare was
laid down by Odero-Terni-Orlando at their Genoa-Sestri Ponente shipyard on 1 May 1927, launched on 12 May 1929 and commissioned on 21 November.[2]
In early June 1942, the Italian submarine Alagi fired on the Italian destroyer Premuda (former Yugoslav destroyer Dubrovnik), mistaking her for a British destroyer owing to her similarities with a British H-class destroyer. The attack missed Premuda and struck Antoniotto Usodimare, sinking her.[6]
Citations
Bibliography
- Ando, Elio (1978). "The Italian Navigatori Class, 1928". In ISBN 0-85177-131-9.
- Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-544-8.
- Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
- Roberts, John (1980). "Italy". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 280–317. ISBN 0-8317-0303-2.
- ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
- Sadkovich, James J. (1994). The Italian Navy in World War II. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-28797-8.
- ISBN 1-85409-521-8.
External links
- Antoniotto Usodimare Marina Militare website
 Regia Marina | |
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 Kriegsmarine |
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