Aldebaran | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Aldebaran |
Builders | |
Operators | Italian Navy |
Preceded by | N/A |
Succeeded by | Centauroclass |
Subclasses | Cannon class |
Built | 1943 |
In commission | 1951-1976 |
Planned | 3 |
Completed | 3 |
Retired | 3 |
General characteristics | |
Type | |
Displacement |
|
Length | |
Beam | 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m) |
Draft | 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m) |
Propulsion | 4 × GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6,000 shp (4,474 kW), 2 screws |
Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
Range | 10,800 nmi (20,000 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
Complement | 15 officers and 201 enlisted |
Armament |
|
The Aldebaran class was a class of three frigates/corvettes/destroyer escorts operated by the Italian Navy. They entered service in 1951, with the last one being decommissioned in 1976. [1]
The Aldebaran class consisted of three former United States Navy ships: USS Thornhill (Aldebaran), USS Gandy (Altair) and USS Wesson (Andromeda) transferred to the Italian Navy in 1951. These ships in the United States Navy were classified as destroyer escorts and belonged to the Cannon class, built in large series during the Second World War and then supplied in several different marine units (Mutual Defense Assistance Program). [2]
The three ships entered service in the Navy together with the Artigliere-class units as part of a naval upgrade program started in 1950; they were first used as escorts, from 1957 as frigates and from 1962 as corvettes, a role held until the moment of decommissioning.
Units of this class take their names from three Spica-class torpedo boats lost during World War II.
Pennant | Name | Builders | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F 590 | Aldebaran | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company | 7 October 1943 | 30 December 1943 | 10 January 1951 | 1976 |
F 591 | Altair | Tampa Shipbuilding Company | 1 March 1943 | 12 December 1943 | 1971 | |
F 592 | Andromeda | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company | 29 July 1943 | 17 October 1943 | January 1972 |
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USS Thornhill (DE-195) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947. In 1951, the ship was transferred to the Italian Marina Militare and renamed Aldebaran. The ship remained in service until 1976 when she was sold for scrap.
USS Gandy (DE-764) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. In 1951, she was transferred to Italy, where she served as Altair until she was stricken and sunk as a target in 1971.
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Aldebaran was the name of at least two ships of the Italian Navy and may refer to:
Altair was the name of at least two ships of the Italian Navy and may refer to:
Andromeda was the name of at least two ships of the Italian Navy and may refer to:
The Artigliere class was a class of two destroyers of the Italian Navy. They entered service in 1951, with the last one being decommissioned in 1975.