Italian destroyer Carlo Alberto Racchia

Carlo Alberto Racchia was one of three Mirabello-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during World War I.

History
Kingdom of Italy
Name: Carlo Alberto Racchia
Namesake: Carlo Alberto Racchia
Builder: Gio. Ansaldo & C., Sestri Ponente
Laid down: 10 December 1914
Launched: 2 June 1916
Completed: 21 December 1916
Fate: Sunk by mine, 21 July 1920
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type: Mirabello-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 1,784 t (1,756 long tons) (normal)
  • 2,040 t (2,010 long tons) (deep load)
Length: 103.75 m (340 ft 5 in)
Beam: 9.74 m (31 ft 11 in)
Draught: 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed: 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range: 2,300 nmi (4,300 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement: 8 officers and 161 enlisted men
Armament:

Design and description

The ships were designed as scout cruisers (esploratori), essentially enlarged versions of contemporary destroyers.[1] They had an overall length of 103.75 meters (340 ft 5 in), a beam of 9.74 meters (31 ft 11 in) and a mean draft of 3.3 meters (10 ft 10 in).[2] They displaced 1,784 tonnes (1,756 long tons) at standard load, and 2,040 tonnes (2,010 long tons) at deep load. Their complement was 8 officers and 161 enlisted men.[3]

The Mirabellos were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by four Yarrow boilers. The turbines were rated at 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000 kW) for a speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) and Carlo Alberto Racchia reached a speed of 35.4 knots (65.6 km/h; 40.7 mph) from 43,190 shp (32,210 kW) during her sea trials.[2] The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2,300 nautical miles (4,300 km; 2,600 mi) at a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[3]

Carlo Alberto Racchia's main battery consisted of a single Cannone da 152 mm (6 in)/40 A Modello 1891 gun forward of the superstructure. The gun was backed up by seven Cannone da 102 mm (4 in)/35 S Modello 1914 guns in single mounts protected by gun shields, one aft the superstructure and the remaining guns positioned on the broadside amidships.[4] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Mirabello-class ships was provided by a pair of Cannone da 76 mm (3 in)/40 Modello 1916 AA guns in single mounts.[2] They were equipped with four 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes in two twin mounts, one on each broadside.[4] Carlo Alberto Racchia also could carry 100 mines.[2]

Modifications

The gun proved to be too heavy for the ships and its rate of fire was too slow so it was replaced when the ships were rearmed with eight Cannone da 102/45 S, A Modello 1917 guns arranged with single guns fore and aft of the superstructure and the other on the broadside. The 76 mm guns were replaced by a pair of Cannone da 40 mm (1.6 in)/39 AA guns in single mounts in 1920–1922. It is uncertain if Carlo Alberto Racchia received these guns before her loss.[2]

Citations
  1. Whitley, p. 158
  2. Gray, p. 265
  3. Fraccaroli 1970, p. 51
  4. McMurtrie, p. 283

Bibliography
  • Fraccaroli, Aldo (1970). Italian Warships of World War I. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0105-7.
  • Gray, Randal, ed. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-907-8.
  • McMurtrie, Francis E., ed. (1937). Jane's Fighting Ships 1937. London: Sampson Low. OCLC 927896922.
  • 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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