Italian destroyer Alpino (1938)

Alpino was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in early 1939, she was one of the last of the first batch of a dozen ships to enter service.

For other ships with the same name, see Italian ship Alpino.
History
Kingdom of Italy
Name: Alpino
Namesake: Mountain infantry
Builder: Cantieri Navali Riuniti, Ancona
Laid down: 2 May 1937
Launched: 2 September 1938
Completed: 6 May 1939
Fate: Sunk by aircraft, 19 April 1943
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type: Soldati-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 1,820–1,850 long tons (1,850–1,880 t) (standard)
  • 2,450–2,550 long tons (2,490–2,590 t) (full load)
Length:
  • 106.7 m (350 ft 1 in) (o/a)
  • 101.6 m (333 ft 4 in) (p/p)
Beam: 10.15 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught: 3.15–4.3 m (10 ft 4 in–14 ft 1 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed: 34–35 knots (63–65 km/h; 39–40 mph)
Range: 2,340 nmi (4,330 km; 2,690 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement: 206
Armament:

Design and description

The Soldati-class destroyers were slightly improved versions of the preceding Oriani class.[1] They had a length between perpendiculars of 101.6 meters (333 ft 4 in)[2] 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 3.15 meters (10 ft 4 in) and 4.3 meters (14 ft 1 in) at deep load.[3] The Soldatis displaced 1,830–1,850 metric tons (1,800–1,820 long tons) at normal load, and 2,450–2,550 metric tons (2,410–2,510 long tons) at deep load.[4] Their wartime complement during was 206 officers and enlisted men.[2]

Alpino was powered by two Belluzzo geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Yarrow boilers.[2] Designed for a maximum output of 48,000 shaft horsepower (36,000 kW) and a speed of 34–35 knots (63–65 km/h; 39–40 mph) in service, the Soldati-class ships reached speeds of 39–40 knots (72–74 km/h; 45–46 mph) during their sea trials while lightly loaded. They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2,340 nautical miles (4,330 km; 2,690 mi) at a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) and 682 nmi (1,263 km; 785 mi) at a speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph).[4]

Alpino's main battery consisted of four 50-caliber 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure. On a platform amidships was a 15-caliber 120-millimeter star shell gun.[5] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Soldatis was provided by eight 20-millimeter (0.8 in) Breda Model 1935 guns.[4] The ships were equipped with six 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. Although they were not provided with a sonar system for anti-submarine work, they were fitted with a pair of depth charge throwers. The ships could carry 48 mines.[2]

Citations
  1. Brescia, p. 127
  2. Gardiner & Chesneau, p. 300
  3. Whitley, p. 169
  4. Brescia, p. 128
  5. Fraccaroli, p. 55

Bibliography
  • 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.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen (1995). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • 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.
  • 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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