Italian destroyer Freccia (1930)

Freccia was the lead ship of her class of four destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the early 1930s. Completed in 1931, she served in World War II.

For other ships with the same name, see Italian ship Freccia.
History
Kingdom of Italy
Name: Freccia
Namesake: Arrow
Builder: Cantiere navale di Riva Trigoso, Riva Trigoso
Laid down: 20 February 1929
Launched: 3 August 1930
Completed: 21 October 1931
Fate: Sunk by aircraft, 8 August 1943
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type: Freccia-class destroyer
Displacement:
Length: 96.15 m (315 ft 5 in)
Beam: 9.75 m (32 ft 0 in)
Draught: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
Installed power:
  • 3 Thornycroft boilers
  • 44,000 hp (33,000 kW)
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range: 4,600 nmi (8,500 km; 5,300 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement: 185
Armament:

Design and description

The Freccia-class destroyers were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding Turbine class.[1] They had an overall length of 96.15 meters (315 ft 5 in), a beam of 9.75 meters (32 ft 0 in) and a mean draft of 3.15 meters (10 ft 4 in).[2] They displaced 1,225 metric tons (1,206 long tons) at standard load, and 2,150 metric tons (2,120 long tons) at deep load.[3] Their complement during wartime was 185 officers and enlisted men.[4]

The Freccias were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Thornycroft boilers.[4] The turbines were designed to produce 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000 kW) and a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 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 4,600 nautical miles (8,500 km; 5,300 mi) at a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 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] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Freccia-class ships was provided by a pair of 40-millimeter (1.6 in) AA guns in single mounts amidships and a pair of twin-gun mounts for 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns.[4] 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 Freccias could carry 54 mines.[3]

Construction and career

Freccia was laid down by Cantieri del Tirreno at their Riva Trigoso shipyard on 20 February 1929, launched on 30 August 1930 and commissioned on 21 October 1931.[2]

Citations
  1. Brescia, p. 116
  2. Whitley, p. 165
  3. Fraccaroli, p. 51
  4. Gardiner & Chesneau, p. 299

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.
  • 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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