Capitani Romani-class cruiser

The Capitani Romani class was a class of light cruisers acting as flotilla leaders for the (Italian Navy). They were built to outrun and outgun the large new French destroyers of the and classes. Twelve hulls were ordered in late 1939, but only four were completed, just three of these before the Italian armistice in 1943. The ships were named after prominent ancient Romans ( (lit. Roman Captains)).

Design

The Capitani Romani class were originally designed as scout cruisers for ocean operations ("ocean scout", ), although some authors consider them to have been heavy destroyers. After the war the two units still in service were reclassified as flotilla leaders ().

The design was fundamentally a light, almost unarmoured hull with a large power plant and cruiser style armament. The original design was modified to sustain the prime requirements of speed and firepower. Given their machinery development of , equivalent to that of the 17,000-ton cruisers of the , the target speed was over , but the ships were left virtually unarmoured. As a result, the three completed warships achieved during trials. The Capitani Romani-class vessels shipped a main battery of eight DP guns, with a rate of fire of eight rounds per minute and a range of . They also carried eight torpedo tubes. The wartime load dropped the operational speed by , depending on the source.

Operational history

Only ''Scipione Africano'' and ''Attilio Regolo'' saw combat.

''Scipione Africano'' detected and engaged four British Elco motor torpedo boats during the night of 17 July 1943 enroute to Taranto, while passing the Messina straits at high speed off Punta Posso. She sank ''MTB 316'' and heavily damaged ''MTB 313'' between Reggio di Calabria and Pellaro. She laid down four minefields in the Gulf of Taranto and the Gulf of Squillace from 4 to 17 August, together with the old light cruiser .

''Attilio Regolo'' was torpedoed by the submarine on 7 November 1942, and remained in drydock for several months with her bow shattered.

Ships

Four of the ships were scrapped before launch. Five were captured by the Germans in September 1943, still under construction. All five were sunk in harbour, one was raised and completed. Three were completed before the Italian armistice.

Post-war French service

''Attilio Regolo'' and ''Scipione Africano'' were transferred to France as war reparations. They were renamed '' Chateaurenault'' and '' Guichen'' respectively. The ships were extensively rebuilt for the French Navy by La Seyne dockyard with new anti-aircraft-focused armament and fire-control systems in 1951–1954. The ships were decommissioned in 1961.

;General characteristics as rebuilt
*Displacement
*Length
*Beam
*Draught
*Machinery - unchanged
*Armament
** 6 – 105 mm guns (three twin turrets of German origin)
** 10 – 57 mm guns (5 twin turrets)
** 12 – 550 mm torpedo tubes
*Sensors: Radar DRBV 20 A, DRBV 11, DRBC 11, DRBC 30, Sonar
*Crew: 353

Post-war Italian service

''Giulio Germanico'' and ''Pompeo Magno'' served in the post war Marina Militare, being renamed '' San Marco (D 563)'' and '' San Giorgio (D 562)'' respectively and reclassified as destroyers. Both ships were extensively rebuilt in 1951–1955 and fitted with American weapons and radar. Characteristics included:

;General characteristics as rebuilt
* Six guns in twin turrets fitted in 'A', 'X' and 'Y' positions, with anti-aircraft capability
* a Menon anti-submarine mortar fitted in 'B' position
* fitting of 20 Bofors AA guns
* SPS-6 and SG-6B radar, SQS-11 sonar and the Mk37 fire control system for the 127 mm guns

''San Marco'' was further rebuilt as a cadet training ship in 1963–1965 when she was fitted with new CODAG machinery. New guns replaced the 40 mm and 'X' 127 mm mounting. ''San Marco'' was decommissioned in 1971, ''San Giorgio'' following in 1980.

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

Classe Capitani Romani
Marina Militare website
San Giorgio (D 562)
Marina Militare website
San Marco (D 563)
Marina Militare website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Capitani Romani-class cruiser
Cruiser classes

Cruisers of the Regia Marina
World War II cruisers of Italy
Cruisers of the Italian Navy
Ships built in Italy