The Soldati Class were a group of destroyers built for the Italian Navy during World War II. The ships were named after military professions e.g Artigliere = Artilleryman. There were two batches; 12 ships built in 1938-39 and a second batch of 7 ships built in 1942 as part of the war effort. The Italian Regia Marina (literally: Royal Navy) dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification. ...

Artigliere and Camicia Nera, Italian destroyers of the Camicia Nera class, during the battle

RN Artigliere and Camicia Nera at Punta Stilo. ... RN Artigliere and Camicia Nera at Punta Stilo. ...

Design

This class were essentially a repeat of the Oriani class destroyer design. The anti-aircraft armament was increased and a 120mm starshell gun was installed amidships. In batch two, the starshell gun was replaced by a single full size 120mm gun. Some ships were fitted with Radar in 1942

General Characteristics

• Displacement: 1620 tons standard, 2550 tons full load
• Length: 106.7m
• Beam: 10.15m
• Draught:3.15m
• Machinery: 2 shaft Belluzzo or Parsons type turbines, 3 Yarrow type boilers, 48,000 hp
• Speed:38 knots
• Range:2,200 nm at 20 knots
• Armament:
  • 4 - 120mm guns (2x2)
  • 1 - 120mm starshell gun (replaced by 37mm guns in some ships in 1942
  • 12 - 13.2 mm machine guns (replaced by 20mm guns)
  • 6 - 533mm torpedo tubes
• Crew: 206

Ships

Batch 1

• Alpino - named after the Alpini - built by CNR Ancona, completed 20 April 1939, Lost 19 April 1943, bombed by the US Air Force in La Spezia Harbour
• Artgliere - Artilleryman - built by OTO Livorno, completed 14 November 1938, Lost 12 October 1940, sunk by HMS York (90)
• Ascari - named after the Ascari (Colonial Soldier)- built by OTO Livorno, completed 6 May 1939, Lost 24 March 1943, mined
• Aviere - Aviator - built by OTO Livorno, completed 31 August 1938, lost 17 December 1942
• Bersagliere - named after the Bersaglieri - built by CNR Palermo, completed 1 April 1939, Lost 7 January 1942, bombed in Palermo Harbour
• Camicia Nera - blackshirt, renamed Artgliere after the fall of the Fascist regime in 1943 - built by OTO Livorno, completed 30 June 1938, given to the Soviet Navy as war reparations, served in the Black Sea as the Z12, decommissioned 1958
• Carabiniere - named after the Carabinieri - built by CT Riva Trigoso, completed 20 December 1938 - served in the post war Italian Navy (Marina Militare) - decommissioned 18 January 1965
• Corazziere - built by OTO Livorno, completed 4 march 1939, Scuttled during the Italian Armistice 9 September 1943
• Fuciliere - Fusilier - built by CNR Ancona completed 10 January 1939, given to the Soviet Navy as war reparations, served in the Black Sea as the Z12, decommissioned 1958
• Geniere - Sapper - built by OTO Livorno, completed 14 December 1938, Lost 1st March 1943, bombing by US air force in Palermo Harbour
• Granatiere - Grenadier - built by CNR Palermo, completed 1 February 1939, served in the post war Italian Navy (Marina Militare) - decommissioned 1 July 1958
• Lanciere - Lancer - built by CT Riva Trigoso, completed 25 March 1939, lost in a storm 23 March 1942 following the Second Battle of Sirte, five survivors

Batch 2 The Alpini are a highly decorated elite infantry corps of the Italian Army. ... HMS York (90), launched in 1928, was a County class cruiser. ... The Bersaglieri are a corps of the Italian army created by General Alessandro Lamarmora in 1836. ... The Blackshirts (Italian: camicie nere) were Fascist paramilitary groups in Italy during the period immediately following World War I and until the end of World War II. Inspired by Garibaldis Redshirts, the Blackshirts were organized by Benito Mussolini due to his disgust with the corruption and apathy of the... The Soviet Navy (Russian: Военно-морской флот СССР, Voyenno-morskoy flot SSSR, literally Naval military forces of the USSR) was the naval arm of the Soviet armed forces. ... War reparations refer to the monetary compensation provided to a triumphant nation or coalition from a defeated nation or coalition. ... Carabinieris Coat of arms The Carabinieri is the shortened (and common) name for the Arma dei Carabinieri, an Italian military corps of the gendarmerie type with police functions, which also serves as the Italian military police. ... Marina Militare naval jack Marina Militare (Italian Navy) is one of the four branches of the military forces of Italy. ... The Armistice with Italy is an armistice that occurred on September 8, 1943, during World War II. It was signed by Italy and the Allied armed forces, who were occupying the southern half of the country at the time. ... The Soviet Navy (Russian: Военно-морской флот СССР, Voyenno-morskoy flot SSSR, literally Naval military forces of the USSR) was the naval arm of the Soviet armed forces. ... Marina Militare naval jack Marina Militare (Italian Navy) is one of the four branches of the military forces of Italy. ... The Second Battle of Sirte was a naval battle between the Royal Navy and the Regia Marina during the World War II. It took place on 22 March 1942, in the Mediterranean, north to the Gulf of Sirte, west of Malta. ...

• Bombardiere - Bombardier - built by CNR Ancona completed 15 July 1942, lost 17 January 1943, sunk by British submarine HMS United
• Carrista- built by OTO Livorno, not completed , Cancelled 1941
• Corsaro - Corsair - built by OTO Livorno, completed 16 May 1942, Lost 9 January 1943, mined
• Legionaro - Legionaire - built by OTO Livorno, completed 1 march 1942, transferred to the French Navy as a war reparation served as the Duchaffaultt until June 1954
• Mitragliere- built by CNR Ancona completed 1 February 1942, transferred to the French Navy as a war reparation, served as the Jurien de la Graviere until June 1954
• Squadrista - built by OTO Livorno, not completed
• Velite - built by OTO Livorno, completed 31 August 1943, transferred to the French Navy as a war reparation, served as the Duperre until June 1954

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) is the maritime arm of the French military and the largest Western European navy in terms of personnel. ... The French Navy (Marine Nationale) is the maritime arm of the French military and the largest Western European navy in terms of personnel. ... The French Navy (Marine Nationale) is the maritime arm of the French military and the largest Western European navy in terms of personnel. ...

References

• M.H Whitley, Destroyers of World War 2, 1988 Cassell Publishing ISBN 1 85409 521 8
• page from Uboat.net