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Nicolò Zeno
Class overview
Name	Navigatori class
Operators	Regia Marina   Marina Militare   Kriegsmarine
Preceded by	Turbine class
Succeeded by	Freccia class
Built	1928–1929
In commission	1929–1954
Completed	12
Lost	11
General characteristics (as built)
Type	Destroyer
Displacement	1,900 long tons (1,930  t) ( standard) 2,580 long tons (2,621 t) ( full load)
Length	107.28 m (352 ft 0 in)
Beam	10.2 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught	3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
Installed power	4 water-tube boilers 55,000  hp (41,000  kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed	32 knots (59.3 km/h; 36.8 mph)
Range	3,800  nmi (7,000  km; 4,400  mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	222–225 (wartime)
Armament	3 × twin 120 mm (4.7 in) guns 2 × single 40 mm (1.6 in) AA guns 4 × twin 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 86–104 mines

The Navigatori class were a group of Italian destroyers built in 1928–1929 for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy), named after Italian explorers. They fought in World War II. Just one vessel, Nicoloso Da Recco, survived the conflict.

Design

These ships were built for the Regia Marina as a reply to the large contre-torpilleurs of the Jaguar and Guépard classes built for the French Navy. These ships were significantly larger than other contemporary Italian destroyers and were initially classed as esploratori or scouts. They were re-rated as destroyers in 1938.

The main armament was a new model 120-millimeter (4.7 in)/50 gun ^[1] in three twin turrets which allowed for 45° elevation. The torpedo launchers consisted of two triple banks, each unusually comprising two 533 mm (21 in) separated by one 450 mm (18 in). Two rangefinder positions were provided; one above the bridge and one in the after superstructure.

Unit machinery was used comprising four boilers in two widely spaced boiler rooms and two turbine rooms. The forward unit drove the port shaft and the aft unit drove the starboard shaft. Trials were run light and with overloaded machinery leading to speeds of up to 43.5 knots (80.6 km/h; 50.1 mph) which were not achievable under service conditions.

The ships were fast, but were found to lack stability and were rebuilt with clipper bows, increased beam and reduced superstructure in the late 1930s.

During the war the torpedoes were replaced by triple 21-inch tubes and extra anti-aircraft guns were added.

Ships

Notes

Bibliography

• Ando, Elio (1978). "The Italian Navigatori Class, 1928". In Preston, Antony (ed.). Super Destroyers. Warship Special. Vol. II. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN  0-85177-131-9.
• Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN  978-1-59114-544-8.
• Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN  0-87021-459-4.
• Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN  0-7110-0002-6.
• Roberts, John (1980). "Italy". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 280–317. ISBN  0-8317-0303-2.
• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (3rd. rev. ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN  1-59114-119-2.
• Shores, Cull & Malizia (1991). Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942. Grub Street. ISBN  0-948817-16-X
• Smigielski, Adam (1995). "Italy". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. pp. 195–218. ISBN  1-55750-132-7.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopaedia. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN  1-85409-521-8.

Further reading

• Cernuschi, Enrico (2022). "Esploratori of the Regia Marina, 1906—1939". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2022. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 147–160. ISBN  978-1-4728-4781-2.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Navigatori class destroyer.

• "Navigatori class" from Uboat.net