Comandanti Medaglie d’Oro class Destroyer

The Comandanti Medaglie d’Oro class, also known as the “Comandanti class” or “Medaglie d’Oro class” in naval litterature, were the last destroyer class planned for the Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) with 24 vessels ordered, later reduced to 20, the first laid down by September 1942, a year before the Italian surrender.
This wartime class was a replacement for the preceding Soldati, and very different in many aspects. But they were were laid down too late to see their construction proceed, with various delays and bottlenecks. Only nine had been laid down, only Comandante Margottini launched. The remainder were cancelled following the German occupation of Italy. None was ever completed, but their design is well known and they showed a departure from previous designs that motivates a fully fledge article. They were an interesting what-if, not without influence on cold war Italian destroyer designs.

Development

A Brand new Destroyer Design

In 1941 already, it was clear that wartime operations revealed many shortcomings in the current designs used by the Regia Marina at sea since June 1940. Operation Reports piled up at Supermarina’s desks calling for improvements and pointing out various shortcomings in terms notably of armament, seen as weak and vulnerable, as it was concentrated on two twin mounts, which worked to reduce weight on a pure design level, but were not ideal in combat as a single hit could disable half the artillery. That twin mount configuration was not unique to Italy and would eventually become standard on destroyers at the end of the war. However there were some that preferred a return to a more traditional approach with separated guns, and also to an increase in firepower, both in main gun caliber and an increase in AA defence as well, the other major issue pointed out in operations.

By mid-1941, the Ministero della Marina concluded the existing destroyer program (Btch 2 Soldati and a possible batch 3) was barely sufficient to replace losses and authorized a new design incorporating war experience. The first point of focus was to improve on radically increasing anti-aircraft armament based on the preceding Soldati class. It already has proven inadequate. However it was also decided to improved the sustained speed and range. General Carlo Sigismondi, of the Corps of Naval Engineering, assisted by Lieutenant Colonel Giuseppe Malagoli, were tasked of this design. They started with an enlarged version of the Soldatis, with 20% more horsepower and 30% more range.

To improve stability, the beam was radically increase, by two meters (6 ft 7 in). This opened brand new possibility by offering new margins of improvements, albeit with a much larger displacement, that did not mattered as all previous limiutations had been nullified by the war anyway. To kill two birds with one stone, for this new design that was worked on from early 1941, it was decided for example to swap to a heavier, and at the same time more dual-purpose artillery. The greatest change of the design was the swap to the new and more capable armament of 135-millimetre (5.3 in) guns, the same mounted also on the ambitious Capitani Romani light cruiser program.

These new single mounts came out with a 45 degrees elevation, thus, a limited capability against low-flying aircraft. The other point was the AA armament, by boosting the number of 37-millimetre (1.5 in) Scotti and Breda AA guns and replaced previous 13.2 mm Breda HMGs by 20 mm equivalents. The end product was indeed significantly larger than all previous Italian destroyers and somewhat recalled the contemporary US Fletcher class.

An ambitious Program in Three Series

Arguably, the Italian program for destroyer, cruiser, and submarines in 1941 was quite ambitious. One on hand, there were 26 planned light cruisers, the Capitani Romani seen above, and 48 destroyers or more, in series of eight ships, following the path of the Soldati. About 50 submarines of the “metals” series were also planned as well as new series of midget subs and specialized ASW vessels (The VAS series and more of the excellent Gabbiano class corvettes).

To bounce on the “Capitani Romani”, a personal naming choice by Mussolini of naming cruisers after Roman Statesmen, generals and admirals, the new destroyers would motivate would-be destroyer captains to great deeds. Being a wartime class, there had been already generous distribution of Italy’s greatest award, the La medaglia d’oro al valor militare (M.O.V.M.), the Gold Medal of Military Valor, an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia, for deeds of “outstanding gallantry in war by junior officers and soldiers”. It had been already awarded, for many posthumously, to destroyer captains in particular and it was understood as a way to honor them as well as motivate a new generation of captains.

Model 1st Series

Model 2nd Series

Plan 2nd series

Plan 3rd Series

The Comandanti class was divided into three distinct series, with planned improvements between them:
First series: Eight ships, four single 135/45 mm guns, twelve 37/54 mm AA guns (single mounts), two triple 533 mm TTs, and usual DCR/DCT.
Second series: Eight ships, five single 135/45 mm guns, eight 37/54 mm in new quad mounts, eight 20mm/65 mm AA guns also in quad mounts and as above.

Third series: Four ships with two separate boiler-turbine groups and as above except twelve 20mm/65 mm guns in quad mounts.
All went with the same hull, structures and engines, which developed 60,000 hp (in all series), 20,000 hp more than the Soldatis to reach 34 knots, but sustained at full load in adverse weather conditions.

Design of the Medaglie d’Oro class

1st serie model appearance

There were many differences, as well as still many similarities of the “Comandanti” compared to the previous Soldati class. The hull was still the traditional cut shape with a forecastle, not a flush deck hull as seen in some publications, albeit this was perhaps reserved for the 3rd series. Conway’s take on these:

Designed to incorporate war experience, these ships were basically enlarged Soldati class vessels with substantially increased AA capability and improved stability. The initial design followed closely the “Soldati” layout with five 135mm guns (2×2, 1×1) but this was subsequently modified to four single DP mountings, in a superfiring arrangement fore and aft — the first use of a true AA main armament in an Italian destroyer. The 135mm/45 guns, the heaviest weapons of an Italian destroyer design, were the same as those fitted in the Doria and “Romani” classes but new mountings were to be provided.

These were backed up by 12-37mm AA, two in the bridge wings, two abreast the foremast on the forecastle deck, two abaft the funnel, one on the platform between the TT and two abreast it on the upper deck, and three at the forward end of the after superstructure. No provision was made for 20mm guns, but Gufo radar, with aerials on the forward director, and a secondary director, on the after superstructure, were to be fitted.

To compensate for the additional topweight of this armament and the additional structure, and to increase the internal volume for machinery and magazines, beam was increased by 7ft (2.15m) and length by 46ft (14m), keeping the length-to-beam ratio to about 9.8:1 compared with 10.5:11 in the “Soldatis”. Installed power was raised to 60,000hp but specified speed was only 35kts, representing a new policy of giving maximum nominal speed rather than the excessive figure expected on forced power trials. The machinery was arranged as in the “Soldatis”, with 2 boiler rooms and one engine room except in position which was to be of modified design with alternate engine and boiler rooms on the unit system which necessitated the provision of two funnels.

Hull and general design

Cdt Margottini, 1st Series, overview.

The Comandanti Medaglie d’Oro-class measured between perpendiculars 115 meters (377 ft 4 in) for an overall length of 120.7 meters (396 ft), so significantly more than the Soldatis (14 m or 42 feet) and catching up with foreign designs. Their beam was gamed-changing as seen above, now up to 12.3 meters (40 ft 4 in) for a mean draft of 3.6 meters (11 ft 10 in). First design calculations planned a displacement standard of 2,100 metric tons (2,100 long tons) and then 3,000 metric tons (3,000 long tons) at deep load. This was a 500t difference with the Soldatis. The crew would have comprise 15 officers and 262 enlisted men, versus 206 on the Soldati, quite a large difference explains mostly by the added AA guns crews. So if the ship were roomier, the internal accomodations would feel just as cramped.

There are several aspects that needed to be emphasised: First off, the ratio was still 1:10 preserving the lenght/width ratio for speed. Second, the forecastle was longer, now cut at the level of the main funnel, and there was a gradual slop of the foredeck to preserve seaworthiness, with apparently a knuckle right below the portholes. On the latter chapter, no portholes were cut out in the hull pase this serie below the foredeck, eletric lighting was mandatory. This was mostly to save construction time. There were counterkeels and more of the underhull retook most of the aspects seen on previous designs.

The superstructures were however brand new. The bridge for example, was one deck higher due to the superfiring mount forward, and that urged compensatory measures to preserve stability. This brodge was composed of an enclosed navigation bridge and an ipen bridge above. It was narrow, simplified, recalling German destroyer designs albeit with limited wings. This bridge supported also the main fire control system, topped with a Gufo radar. Their mast was a solid tripod with platform for a detector, and a pole mast extension but no cable support struts on secondary mast.

Further aft, the two triple torpedo tubes banks were now topped by a flying walkway all the way from the funnel to the quarterdeck house. The deck’s sides were left clean to install AA gun mounts all the way from the forecastle to the poop, free of obstructions, with the best being the single 37mm mounts on elevated platforms, which had the best arcs. The stern was also brand new, of the “semi-transom” type poop, with a flat section better suited to drop mines, and rounded edges meeting the hull.

Powerplant

The Comandanti Medaglie d’Oros were equipped on paper with two Parsons geared steam turbines. Each was driving one propeller shaft, and the propeller was a traditional fixed-pitch three bladed bronze model likely identical or larger in diameter to the Soldati’s. Steam came from three-drum boilers, one after the other in the same room and exhausted through tuncation in a single massive funnel. This single compartment aft of the bridge was inherited from previous destroyers configurations and known as a potentially weakness.

The turbines would have been Italian-made given UK was unlikely to deliver any of these, now at war with Italy since 10 June 1940. Types would differ between yards, with models such as Belluzo, and each was separated in its own engine room aft of the boiler room, separated by a longitudinal bulkhead. In total they were rated produce a total of 60,000 shaft horsepower (45,000 kW), so much more than the previous classes, to preserve top speed on that larger hull with an ideal top speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) in service, which was less than the reports wanted. They carried a total of 740 metric tons (730 long tons) of fuel oil for an estimated range of 3,300 nautical miles (6,100 km; 3,800 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). To compare, this was 2,340 nmi at 14 knots for the Soldatis, so significantly better. For once, the Regia Marina would received destroyers that had “legs” for fleet work across the Mediterranean.

Armament of the Medaglie d’Oro class

Going from four guns in two twin mounts to four in single mounts since a step back in time but it made sense based on early combat reports, to better preserve firepower. It made statistically twice more difficult to put their battery out of action. The single 120 mm (4.7 in) star shell gun, already criticized on the Soldati was eliminated from the design. Instead, nighttime illumination was provided by two multi-barrel rocket launchers, one mount on each side of the bridge.

Main: 135 mm (5.3 in) DP Modello 1938

The Comandanti like the Capitani Romani class main battery was made of 135 mm (5.3 in) DP guns. In the first case, this armament was on single mounts inside turrets, a bit like the US Fletcher class. These turrets were integral, with just a small access door on the back, also acting as spent cartridge evacuator.

These had a rate of fire of 8 rounds a minute, for a range of 19,500 m (21,300 yd). These 135/45 mm gun were considered the best Italian naval gun of World War 2. They had a 45° elevation and a 19.6 km range, and were very accurate with a dispersion 25% lower than the old 120mm/50 models. Still, they lacked a satisfactory anti-aircraft ammunition, and proper direction for an effective barrage. They were made by OTO and Ansaldo and accuracy was helped by their placement in single mount avoiding twin barrel dispersion. More on navweaps. The Serie I was given a classic configuration of two forward, two aft superfiring, but the series II added a firth gun located just in front of “X” gun aft, on a sponsons platform at the same level. Unlike the Fletcher design, to which these were sometimes compared, both aft guns were quite close. This forced engineers to relocated 37 mm guns in more massive, but compact quad mounts for the 37 mm and 20 mm to preserve defensive firepower.

Fire Control

Since the Freccia, and up to the Soldati, all Italian destroyers benefited from the same modern fire control system, inspired by the Navigatori class. Fire direction was optimized for daytime actions, with two three meters (10 in) Officine Galileo/Zeiss stereoscopic rangefinders. One set was on a platform aft of the bridge, with the main tower on the bridge’s roof containing the San Giorgio general aiming system. There was a second Zeiss/San Giorgio rangefinder positioned on the intermediary platform between TT banks. Nighttime firing systems were only installed on some units well into WW2.

Also, a San Giorgio kinematic tele-inclinometer was placed under the crow’s nest. But a modernized FCS was mounted on the Comandanti, the single RM-2 gunnery director. The major visual different being the addition of the typical EC-3 Gufo radar in a double antenna arrangement atop the FCS. The way this new data was fed to the FCS is however subject to debate. The only comparable arrangement that saw active service was on the only three “Capitani” class cruisers ever completed, and for a very short time. The second series was to incorporate another director amidships, between torpedo tubes to control the three aft guns, but without the Gufo radar.

Breda 37 mm/54 AA (1.5 in)

The Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda) was a 1.5 in automatic anti-aircraft gun produced by Breda, used by both the Regia Marina and Regio Esercito during World War II. It came with a standard light asingle mount for battleships and cruisers. Close to the equivalent FLAK 38, Nazi Germany used many captured weapons after the surrender of Italy as the 3.7 cm Breda (i). It went all the way back to the Model 1932, water-cooled. For the Comandanti these were of the Modello 1939, air-cooled. It was fed by a flat magazine of six rounds that could be loaded one after another by gravity like the Bofors in order to maintain a high rate of fire.

It was possible to select alternate rates of fire as well, 60, 90 or 120 rpm. The twin mountings for Models 1938 were very heavy and thus eliminated from the “Comandante” serie I. Instead all were of the single unshielded Model 1939 in single collapsible mounts less vibrations-prone thanks to the addition of an equilibrator. Two were located on the bridge’s wings, two n deck abaft the bridge forward, two on a platform aft of the funnel, three aft amidship between the TT banks, inc. two on deck, one of the structure in the axis, and the last three aft on the structure, with the axis gun elevated on its own platform. Series II and III would have been fitted with quadruple mounts, but they were never ready before the Italian surrender in September 1943. Compared to the already bulky German Flakvierling, they would have been very heavy indeed. See on Navweaps

Breda 37 mm/54 AA single mount specs

Barrel and breech 277 kg (611 lb) M38 wt mount, 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in) long oa, 1.998 m (6 ft 7 in) (L/54) barrel alone
Shell: Fixed QF HE 37 x 232mm SR 1.25–1.63 kg (2 lb 12 oz – 3 lb 9 oz)
Gas operated, auto, 6 rds magazines, muzzle velocity 800 m/s (2,600 ft/s), 60-90-120 rpm
Elevation −10° to +90°, traverse 360°
Effective firing range 4,000 m (4,400 yd), max. 7,800 m (8,500 yd).

20 mm/65 AA (0.8 in) Flakvierling (Serie II)

Ideally the Comandante Medaglie d’Oro could have been fitted on the Serie II with Breda 20mm/65 but they were not provided, as the company worled on a more ampbious sxtuple mount instead, the Model 1941 (see below). So instead, the RM decided to adopt the German-provided and already well tested Flakvierling, the German quad 20mm/65 already fitted on multiple Kriegsmarine’s vessels. They would have been placed on the centerline amidships.

Breda 20 mm/65 AA (0.8 in) Modello 1941 (Serie III)

Mass: 330 kg (730 lb), full size 3.34 m (10 ft 11 in), barrel 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Crew: 3–6. Shell: 20×138mmB 20 mm (0.79 in). Gas-operated, at 840 m/s (2,800 ft/s).
Effective range 1,500 m (4,900 ft), max 5.5 km (3.4 mi)
Feed system: 12 round strip, 240 rounds per minute
Telescopic predictor sight.
As above to make room, they would have been delivered in sextuple mounts. These, unlike the 37mm, the Modello 1941 with this perculiar mount were indeed produced in small quantities in 1943, and planned not only for the last batch of “Capitani” class cruisers, but also the battleship Impero, and aircraft carrier Aquila (22x sextuple mounts), and Comandanti Medaglie d’Oro class destroyers in two of such mounts.

533 mm SI 270 Torpedoes

Like previous destroyers, the Medaglie d’Oro were given the same two triple in-line torpedo launchers, 533 mm, San Giorgio type. They were placed in the axis, one between the two funnels and the second behind the aft funnel. The aiming was electrically controlled by the Fire Direction system and its two stations:
-One for daytime launching, located in the crow’s nest
-One for night launching, on the bridge.
They were given the 53.3 cm (21″) Si 270/533.4 x 7.2 “M” model. This was a model manufactured in Naples (Silurificio Italiano).
There were no reloads.
Specs SI 270:
Weight; 3,748 lbs. (1,700 kg)
Overall Length: 23 ft. 7 in. (7.2 m)
Warhead: 595 lbs. (270 kg)
Range/Speed settings: 4,400 yards (4,000 m)/46 kts, 8,750 yards (8,000 m)/35 kts., 13,100 yards (12,000 m)/29 kts
Powered by Wet-heater. Later versions went to 48/38/30 knots on the same ranges settings.

ASW Grenades

Two racks were planned at the poop, for the launch of thirty-four 100 kg depth charges. Stocks were later strengthened with more modern charges, some of which were German WB D of 125 kg and WB F of 60 kg as well as 30 kg “intimidatory” bombs, which were a warning charge to force a submarine to surface.
They also had two launchers, trainable mortars projecting 100 kg (220 lbs.), normally fired at a 45-degree angle. In all, sxity-four grenades were provisioned for each Medaglie d’Oro class
The standard depth charges while in service were likely the following:
B TG Monc. 50/1936 (1936): 141 lbs. (64 kg) or 110 lbs. (50 kg), unknown settings.

Mines

For mine laying, all units were equipped with rails, and could carry up to 52 Vickers-Elia mines (760 kg) or 64 Bollo mines (590 kg). It seems during the war they received the option to laid P.200 type or 104 Bollo type, or German antenna mines. The standard Vickers Elia models weighted 1,676 lbs. (760 kg), with 320 lbs. (145 kg) warhead. No paravanes would have been mounted.

Smoke Projectors

To complement protection, they would have likely been equipped with admiralty chlorohydrin type smoke generators, placed at the base of the funnels, in complement to the diesels located aft on the starboard side.


What-if rendition of Cdt. Margottini if commissioned in late 1943-early 1944.

⚙ specifications Series I
Displacement	2,100 long tons (2,100 t) standard, 3,000 long tons (3,000 t) full load
Dimensions	120.7 x 12.3 x 3.6 m (396 ft x 40 ft 4 in x 11 ft 10 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines, 3 three-drum boilers, 60,000 shp (45,000 kW)
Speed	35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range	3,300 nmi (6,100 km; 3,800 mi) at 20 knots
Armament	4× 135 mm DP, 12× 37 mm AA, 2×3 533 mm TTs, 52 mines, 2 DCT, 64 depth charges
Sensors	EC-3 ter Gufo search radar
Crew	15 officers and 262 enlisted men

Sensors

This was the first Italian destroyer class designed from the start to receive the Italian-made EC3/ter “Gufo” (Owl) in short supply by 1942-43. It was also likely to be the EC.3/ter radar. All ships would have been probably fitted also with at least a basic hydrophone, and if available, with the German S-Gerät sonar. Picture: Control panel of the Gufo radar. The EC-3 Gufo Radar had a frequency of 400–750 MHz with a PRF of 500 Hz, a beamwidth of 6° (horizontal), 12° (vertical), a Pulsewidth of 4 μs, with 3 revolutions a minute, a peak power of 10 kW and range of 25–80 km (16–50 mi) depending of the conditions.

Construction of the Medaglie d’Oro

Twenty vessels of this class were ordered and a further four were projected, but only nine were laid down and none was completed. Those laid down were Comandante Baron, (comandante Borsini and Comandante Margotuni (by OTO, Leghorn); Comandante Botti and Comandante Rota by CRDA, Trieste; Comandante Casana and Comandante Dell’anno by CNR, Ancona; and Comandante de Cristofaro and Comandante Roscana by CT, Riva Frigoso. The last-named was laid down in 1942 and the remander in 1943. The vessels not laid down were Comandante Cor, Comandante Espositto, Comandante Fiorello, Comandante Giannattaño, Comandante Milano and Comandunte Navara ordered from CRDA, Trieste.

Comandante L’ontuna, Comuandante Moccagatta and Comandante Rodocanacchi from OTO Leghorn; and Comandante Grobbe and Comandante Giorgis from CT, Riva Trigoso. All unit under construction were seized by the Germans in September 1943 and later broken up on the stocks except for Cristofaro and L’oscano which were badly damaged during Allied air raids and Margotini which was launched by the Germans and later found at La Spezia in two halves.

The ships were named after captains who were posthumous recipients of the Medaglie d’Oro as seen above. The first series of eight ships was ordered on 27 September 1941. The second series of eight ships was ordered in 1942. Four of the third series were ordered on 7 October 1942, another four authorized but no date given. The last four were cancelled in April 1943 for cheaper Ariete-class torpedo boats.

Construction was much delayed by Allied bombing in 1943, which damaged facilities at the Livorno shipyard. The two ships under construction there, Comandante Borsini and Comandante Fontana, were reassigned to the second series. Comandante Giorgis and Comandante Giobbe were transferred to the first series. Comandante Margottini was the only one launched, not by the Italians but by the Germans that took over the program for theior own needs in the Mediterranean, by early 1944. However they were not interested in completing the class, but in that case to make the slipway available for new construction. By August 1943, material shortages already almost stalled the aloready slugdish pace of building so much that Sumermarina planned the launch of the 3rd-series for early 1946. All the material for the 1t series and 50% for the second series had been allocated at that point. All remaining ships were cancelled after the Armistice.

Now the question remains: What about the Marina Militare, which was established postwar, completing these ships in a modernized way ?. The were many arguments against this. First off, apart Margottini that was the exception to the rule as she was launched on a very incomplete state, her hull was probably around 90% complete and she was launched prematurely, all the remaining vessels in slips were ranging from 8 to 3% assembled on the slipway. Meaning completion would still have needed major resources and cost, especially for a budget-restricted postwar Italy.

In their favor the “Medaglie d’Oro” were arguably better than all previous Italian destroyer designs, and could have been kept relevant until 1960 with US electronics funded through MDAP, perhaps replacement of their 135 mm mounts by US 5-in/38 mounts for standardization on the long run. However by the standards of 1950, their ASW suite was completely obsolete. They were also not large enough to receive many additions, notably new sensors without compromising stability. So it was probably for the better, it made much more sense to start again from a blank page, integrating this time not only all wartime tech evolution, but 1950s standards in construction, and better integration of weaponry and armament, specially if Italy could provided a large platform to receive US armament and sensors, on the Impetuoso class.

Naming

Comandante Margottini: Carlo Margottini (1899 –1940)
Comandante Baroni: Enrico Baroni (1892–1940)
Comandante Borsini: Costantino Borsini (1906–1940)
Comandante Botti: Ugo Botti (1903–1940)
Comandante Casana: Costanzo Casana (1900–1942)
Comandante Corsi: Luigi Corsi (1898–1941)
Comandante De Cristofaro: Pietro De Cristofaro (1900–1941)
Comandante Dell’Anno: Francesco Dell’Anno (1902–1941)
Comandante Esposito: Stanislao Esposito (1898–1942)
Comandante Fiorelli: Ugo Fiorelli (1893–1941)
Comandante Fontana: Giuseppe Fontana (1902–1941)
Comandante Giannattasio : Vittorio Giannattasio (1904–1941)
Comandante Giobbe: Giorgio Giobbe (1906–1941)
Comandante Giorgis: Giorgio Giorgis (1897–1941)
Comandante Milano: Mario Milano (1907–1941)
Comandante Moccagatta: Vittorio Moccagatta (1903–1941)
Comandante Novaro: Umberto Novaro (1891–1940)
Comandante Rodocanacchi: Giorgio Rodocanacchi (1897–1941)
Comandante Ruta: Mario Ruta (1911–1940)
Comandante Toscano: Salvatore Toscano (1897–1941)

Series I

Ordered from Cantiere navale di Riva Trigoso on 14 December 1942, never launched, 17% complete. Badly damaged by bombs, subsequently scrapped by the Germans.

Ordered from Cantiere navale di Riva Trigoso on 6 March 1943, 15.5% complete, same as above.

Ordered from Cantiere navale di Riva Trigoso on 14 February 1943, 19% Scrapped by the Germans, 1944

Ordered from Cantiere navale di Riva Trigoso on 14 February 1943, 18% complete Aug.1943, Scrapped by the Germans, 1944.

Ordered from Odero-Terni-Orlando, Livorno on 14 December 1942, 19.5% complete. Scrapped by the Germans sometime after the Armistice.

Ordered from Odero-Terni-Orlando, Livorno on 10 March 1943, launched by the Germans Early 1944, 20% complete, mothballed. Sunk by allied aviation raid, 23 September 1944.

Ordered from Odero-Terni-Orlando, Livorno on 29 April 1943, never launched. 17.5£ complete, scrapped by the Germans.

Ordered from Odero-Terni-Orlando, Livorno by Late 1943, 9% assembled, scrapped by the Germans.

Series II

Ordered from Cantiere navale di Riva Trigoso, planned for September 1943, Never laid down 3% assembled, Broken up postwar.

Ordered from Cantiere navale di Riva Trigoso. Planned for October 1943, never laid down.

Ordered from Odero-Terni-Orlando, Livorno, planned for November 1943, never laid down.

Ordered from Odero-Terni-Orlando, Livorno, planned for December 1943, never laid down.

Ordered from Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Trieste, 1 August 1943, 4% complete when scrapped by the Germans

Ordered from Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Trieste, 16 August 1943, 4% complete when scrapped by the Germans

Ordered from Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Triestenever launched, 3% built, broken up postwar.

Ordered from Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Trieste, 3% built, broken up postwar.

Series III

Planned to be laid down ay Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Trieste, Cancelled August 1943.

Planned to be laid down ay Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Trieste, Cancelled August 1943.

Planned to be laid down ay Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Trieste, Cancelled August 1943.

Planned to be laid down ay Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Trieste, Cancelled August 1943.

Read More/Src

Books

John Roberts, Conway’s all the world’s fighting ships page 301.
Bagnasco, Erminio & Grossman, Mark (1990). “The Comandanti Class Destroyers of the Italian Navy 1942–1943”. Warship International.
Bagnasco, Erminio; Grossman, Mark (1990). “Addendum to The Comandanti Class Destroyers of the Italian Navy 1942–1943”. Warship International.
Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini’s Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. NIP
Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan.
Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. NIP

Links

culturanavale.it
secretprojects.co.uk
stefsap.wordpress.com
marina.difesa.it
en.wikipedia.org
regiamarinaitaliana.it
it.wikipedia.org/
valka.cz

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