Italian destroyer Grecale

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.

History
Kingdom of Italy
Name: Grecale
Namesake: Gregale
Builder: Cantieri Navali Riuniti, Ancona
Laid down: 25 September 1931
Launched: 17 June 1934
Completed: 15 November 1934
Out of service: 31 May 1964
Stricken: 1 July 1965
Fate: Scrapped, 1965
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type: Maestrale-class destroyer
Displacement:
Length: 106.7 m (350 ft 1 in)
Beam: 10.15 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught: 3.31–4.3 m (10 ft 10 in–14 ft 1 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed: 32–33 knots (59–61 km/h; 37–38 mph)
Range: 2,600–2,800 nmi (4,800–5,200 km; 3,000–3,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement: 190
Armament:

Design and description

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-millimeter (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]

Citations

  1. Brescia, p. 121
  2. Whitley, p. 168
  3. Fraccaroli, p. 55
  4. Gardiner & Chesneau, p. 300

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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