The Soldati class (Camicia Nera class) were a group of destroyers built for the Italian Navy during World War II. The ships were named after military professions (Artigliere, for example, meaning "artilleryman"). There were two batches; twelve ships were built in 1938-39, and a second batch of seven ships were ordered in 1942, although only five were completed.
Ten ships of the class were lost during the war. Of the survivors three were transferred to the French Navy and two to the Soviet Navy as war reparations, while two served in the Italian post-war navy, the Marina Militare.
This class were essentially a repeat of the Oriani destroyer design. The anti-aircraft armament was increased and a 120 mm starshell gun was installed amidships. In batch two, the starshell gun was replaced by a single full size 120 mm gun. Some ships were fitted with radar in 1942.
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Destroyer |
| Displacement: | 1,620 long tons (1,650 t) standard 2,550 long tons (2,590 t) full load |
| Length: | 106.7 m (350 ft 1 in) |
| Beam: | 10.15 m (33 ft 4 in) |
| Draught: | 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shaft Belluzzo or Parsons type turbines 3 Yarrow type boilers 48,000 hp (35,800 kW) |
| Speed: | 38 knots (44 mph; 70 km/h) |
| Range: | 2,200 nmi (4,100 km) at 20 kn (23 mph; 37 km/h) |
| Complement: | 206 |
| Armament: | • 4 × 120 mm (4.7 in) guns (2×2) • 1 × 120 mm (4.7 in) starshell gun (replaced by 37 mm guns in some ships in 1942) • 12 × 13.2 mm machine guns (replaced by 20 mm (0.79 in) guns) • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes ) • 48 mines |
