Maestrale class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Maestrale class were a group of destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s built for the Italian Navy
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
and served in World War II. They were an enlarged version of the Dardo class destroyers
Freccia class destroyer
The Freccia class destroyer was a class of destroyers built for the Regia Marina, the Italian Royal Navy, in the 1930s. It was basically an enlarged version of the earlier Turbine class destroyers...
. They were 10 m longer and introduced new pattern 120 mm guns. They formed the basis for subsequent Italian destroyer designs; the Oriani
Oriani class destroyer
The Oriani Class were a group of four destroyers built for the Italian Navy in the late 1930s. They were a repeat of the Maestrale class destroyers, but had increased machinery power and a different anti-aircraft armament. The increase in power, however, disappointed in that there was only a...
and Soldati
Soldati class destroyer
The Soldati class were a group of destroyers built for the Italian Navy during World War II. The ships were named after military professions...
classes.
Ships
- Maestrale
- Built by CT Riva Trigoso,
- completed 2 September 1934.
- Damaged by a mine on 9 January 1943, She was scuttled on 9 September 1943 during the Italian ArmisticeArmistice with ItalyThe Armistice with Italy was an armistice signed on September 3 and publicly declared on September 8, 1943, during World War II, between Italy and the Allied armed forces, who were then occupying the southern end of the country, entailing the capitulation of Italy...
while being repaired in Genoa.- Grecale
- Built by CNR Ancona,
- completed 15 November 1934.
- She survived the war and served in the Marina MilitareMarina MilitareThe Italian Navy is the navy of the Italian Republic. It is one of the four branches of military forces of Italy; formed in 1946, from what remained of the Regia Marina . As of 2008, the Italian Navy had 35,200 active personnel with 180 commissioned ships, 19 Floating Docks, and 123 aircraft...
until 1954.- Libeccio
- Built by CNR Ancona,
- completed 23 November 1934.
- She was sunk on 9 November 1941 by the British submarine .
- Scirocco -
- Built by CT Riva Trigoso,
- Completed 21 October 1934.
- Sunk in a storm following the Second Battle of SirteSecond Battle of SirteThe Second Battle of Sirte was a naval engagement in which the escorting warships of a British convoy to Malta frustrated a much more powerful Regia Marina squadron. The British convoy was composed of four merchant ships escorted by four light cruisers, one anti-aircraft cruiser, and 17 destroyers...
on 23 March 1942, with only two survivors among the crew.