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Italian destroyer Grecale

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other ships with the same name, see Italian ship Grecale.
Grecale underway c. 1950s
History
Italy
NameGrecale
NamesakeGregale
BuilderCantieri Navali Riuniti, Ancona
Laid down25 September 1931
Launched17 June 1934
Completed15 November 1934
Out of service31 May 1964
Reclassified
  • as fast ASW escort, 1953
  • as frigate, 10 April 1957
  • as command ship, 1960
Stricken1 July 1965
FateScrapped, 1965
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeMaestrale-class destroyer
Displacement
Length106.7 m (350 ft 1 in)
Beam10.15 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught3.31–4.3 m (10 ft 10 in – 14 ft 1 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed32–33 knots (59–61 km/h; 37–38 mph)
Range2,600–2,800 nmi (4,800–5,200 km; 3,000–3,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement190
Armament

Grecale was one of four Maestrale-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the early 1930s. Completed in 1934, she served in World War II. She survived the war and continued her service with Marina Militare until 1964.

Design and description

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The Maestrale-class destroyers were a completely new design intended to rectify the stability problems of the preceding Folgore class.[1] They had a length between perpendiculars of 101.6 meters (333 ft 4 in) and an overall length of 106.7 meters (350 ft 1 in). The ships had a beam of 10.15 meters (33 ft 4 in) and a mean draft of 3.31 meters (10 ft 10 in)[2] and 4.3 meters (14 ft 1 in) at deep load.[1] They displaced 1,640 metric tons (1,610 long tons) at standard load, and 2,243 metric tons (2,208 long tons) at deep load.[3] Their complement during wartime was 190 officers and enlisted men.[4]

The Maestrales were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by 3 three-drum boilers.[4] The turbines were designed to produce 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000 kW) and a speed of 32–33 knots (59–61 km/h; 37–38 mph) in service, although the ships reached speeds of 38–39 knots (70–72 km/h; 44–45 mph) during their sea trials while lightly loaded. They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2,600–2,800 nautical miles (4,800–5,200 km; 3,000–3,200 mi) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) and 690 nmi (1,280 km; 790 mi) at a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph).[1]

Their main battery consisted of four 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure.[3] Amidships were a pair of 15-caliber 120-millimeter star shell guns. Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Maestrale-class ships was provided by four 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns. They were equipped with six 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. Although the ships were not provided with a sonar system for anti-submarine work, they were fitted with a pair of depth charge throwers.[1] The Maestrales could carry 56 mines.[3]

During World War II, Grecale's 40 mm guns and 13.2 mm machine guns were replaced with eight 20-millimeter (0.79 in) cannon, the addition of another pair of depth charge throwers, and the replacement of aft torpedo tubes and midships rangefinder with two single 37-millimeter (1.5 in) cannon.[4] In 1949, her bridge was rebuilt and its design resembled British destroyers bridge. She also fitted with a lattice mast, new radars, and her light anti-aircraft guns now consisted of three 37 mm/54 guns. In 1952–1953, her 37 mm guns were replaced with six Bofors 40 mm (1.6 in) guns and the remaining torpedo tubes were removed. Grecale was converted into command ship in 1959–1960 and all of her armaments, saved for two Bofors 40 mm guns, were removed.[5]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d Brescia, p. 121
  2. ^ Whitley, p. 168
  3. ^ a b c Fraccaroli, p. 55
  4. ^ a b c Roberts, p. 300
  5. ^ Smigieski, p. 200

Bibliography

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  • 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.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
  • Smigielski, Adam (1995). "Italy". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 195–218. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.
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