Italian corvette Amerigo Vespucci

Last updated

Italian corvette Amerigo Vespucci.jpg
Amerigo Vespucci in December 1898
Class overview
NameAmerigo Vespucci
Operators Regia Marina (Royal Navy)
Preceded by Flavio Gioia
Succeeded by Cristoforo Colombo
Completed1
History
BuilderVenice Naval Yard
Laid down9 December 1879
Launched31 July 1882
Completed1 September 1884
FateDiscarded, 10 September 1920
General characteristics
Type Screw corvette
Displacement
Length78 m (255 ft 11 in) pp
Beam12.78 m (41 ft 11 in)
Draft5.48 m (18 ft)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed13.66 knots (25.30 km/h; 15.72 mph)
Complement268
Armament

Amerigo Vespucci was a screw corvette of the Italian Regia Marina (Royal Navy) built in the late 1870s and early 1880s.

Contents

Design

The design for Amerigo Vespucci was prepared by the naval engineer Carlo Vigna, who also designed the similar corvette Flavio Gioia. [1] The Italian navy still largely relied on a fleet of old wooden-hulled cruising ships built in the 1850s and 1860s, but by the 1870s, the world's navies had begun to move to steel construction. The Italians responded with Flavio Gioia and Amerigo Vespucci as part of a modest program to modernize its cruising fleet. [2] The two vessels were similar enough that some sources consider them to have been the same class, [3] though others consider them to be distinct designs. [1]

Characteristics

Amerigo Vespucci in Toulon in 1902 Italian corvette Amerigo Vespucci in Toulon.jpg
Amerigo Vespucci in Toulon in 1902

Amerigo Vespucci was 78 meters (255 ft 11 in) long between perpendiculars, and she had a beam of 12.78 m (41 ft 11 in) and an average draft of 5.48 m (18 ft). She displaced 2,493 long tons (2,533  t ) normally and 2,751 long tons (2,795 t) at full load. The ship had a traditional clipper bow and an overhanging stern. Her superstructure was minimal, consisting primarily of a small conning tower placed amidships. She had a crew of 268. [1]

Her propulsion system consisted of a single horizontal, 3-cylinder compound steam engine that drove a single screw propeller. Steam was supplied by eight coal-fired fire-tube boilers that vented into a single funnel located amidships. Her propulsion system was manufactured by Gio. Ansaldo & C. Amerigo Vespucci could steam at a top speed of 13.66 knots (25.30 km/h; 15.72 mph) from 3,340 indicated horsepower (2,490 kW) on her initial sea trials. The ship had a capacity to store 500 long tons (510 t) of coal for the boilers. To supplement the steam engines, she was fitted with a three-masted barque rig. [1] [3]

The main battery for Amerigo Vespucci consisted of eight 149-millimeter (5.9 in) 26-caliber breech-loading guns, four guns per broadside. For close-range defense against torpedo boats, she carried a secondary battery of three 75 mm (3 in) guns. She was also fitted with four Maxim machine guns of unknown caliber. In 1893, she was rearmed with four 120 mm (4.7 in) 40 cal. guns and two 356 mm (14 in) torpedo tubes. The ship was protected by a curved armor deck that was 38 mm (1.5 in) thick, with a layer of extensively subdivided series of watertight compartments below, which was intended to control flooding in the event of damage below the waterline. [1] [3]

Service history

Amerigo Vespucci in port in 1923 along with the destroyer Generale Marcello Prestinari Monaco 1923 Prestinari contre-torpilleur italien Agence Rol.jpg
Amerigo Vespucci in port in 1923 along with the destroyer Generale Marcello Prestinari

Work on Amerigo Vespucci began with her keel laying on 9 December 1879, and her completed hull was launched on 31 July 1882. Fitting out was completed on 1 September 1884. [1] The next year, Amerigo Vespucci took part in the annual fleet maneuvers. During the exercises, she formed part of the "Eastern Squadron", along with the ironclad warships Castelfidardo and Principe Amedeo, a sloop, and four torpedo boats. The "Eastern Squadron" defended against an attacking "Western Squadron", simulating a Franco-Italian conflict, with operations conducted off Sardinia. [4]

In 1893, the vessel was converted into a training ship; [1] she served in this capacity for more than three decades, though she also filled other roles as well. On 1 October that year, she was assigned to the 3rd Department, which was stationed in Venice. [5] In 1895, Amerigo Vespucci was stationed in Naples and Taranto as a special service ship. [6] The ship was assigned to the Flying Squadron in 1896, along with the armored cruiser Marco Polo, the protected cruisers Elba and Umbria, and the vessel Volta. [7] In 1899, Amerigo Vespucci was sent to East Asia, again in company with Marco Polo and Elba. [8]

By 1902, Amerigo Vespucci had returned to Italian waters, where she was assigned to the Training Squadron with Flavio Gioia and the gunboat Curtatone. That year, Flavio Gioia spent ten months in commission for training activities. [9] She embarked on a tour of Europe in company with Curtatone that included stops in Germany, Britain, France, in Spain and concluded with the ships' return to La Spezia, Italy. [10] In October 1904, Amerigo Vespucci and the old wooden screw corvette Caracciolo visited Toulon, France. [11] The ship remained in service on training duty until she was ultimately discarded on 22 January 1928. Her ultimate fate is unknown. [1]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fraccaroli, p. 345.
  2. ↑ Sondhaus, p. 113.
  3. 1 2 3 Clowes, p. 382.
  4. ↑ Brassey, p. 141.
  5. ↑ Garbett 1894, p. 201.
  6. ↑ Garbett 1895, p. 91.
  7. ↑ Garbett 1896, p. 1389.
  8. ↑ Robinson, p. 33.
  9. ↑ Garbett 1902, p. 1075.
  10. ↑ de Cuverville, p. 848.
  11. ↑ A Toulon, p. 625.

Related Research Articles

Italian ironclad <i>Lepanto</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Lepanto was an Italian ironclad battleship built for the Italian Regia Marina, the second and last ship of the Italia class. Lepanto was laid down in November 1876, launched in March 1883, and completed in August 1887. She was armed with a main battery of four 432 mm (17 in) guns mounted in a central barbette and was capable of a top speed of 17.8 knots. Unlike other capital ships of the era, Lepanto had an armored deck rather than the more typical belt armor.

Italian corvette <i>Cristoforo Colombo</i> (1892) Screw corvette of the Italian Regia Marina

Cristoforo Colombo was a steel-hulled corvette built in the early 1890s for the Italian Regia Marina. The ship was built as a replacement for an earlier vessel of the same name, based on a nearly identical design. The new ship was intended to serve in Italy's colonial empire in eastern Africa, and was designed to be able to operate at long range, far from home ports, for an extended period of time.

Italian cruiser <i>Elba</i> Protected cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Elba was a protected cruiser of the Italian Regia Marina. She was the fifth of six Regioni-class ships, all of which were named for regions of Italy, with the exception of Elba, which was named for the island. Elba was built by the Regio Cantieri di Castellammare di Stabia shipyard; her keel was laid in September 1890, she was launched in August 1893, and she was commissioned in February 1896. The ship was equipped with a main armament of four 15 cm (5.9 in) and six 12 cm (4.7 in) guns, and she could steam at a speed of nearly 18 knots.

Italian cruiser <i>Coatit</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Coatit was a torpedo cruiser of the Italian Regia Marina built in the late 1890s. She was the second and final member of the Agordat class. The ship, which was armed with twelve 76 mm (3 in) guns and two 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes, was too slow and short-ranged to be able to scout effectively for the fleet, so her career was limited. She saw action during the Italo-Turkish War in 1911–1912, where she provided gunfire support to Italian troops in North Africa. She also caused a minor diplomatic incident from an attack on retreating Ottoman soldiers in Anatolia. Coatit was part of an international fleet sent to Constantinople when the city appeared to be at risk of falling to the Bulgarian Army during the First Balkan War. In 1919, she was converted into a minelayer and was sold for scrap in 1920.

Italian cruiser <i>Stromboli</i> Protected cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Stromboli was a protected cruiser of the Italian Regia Marina built in the 1880s. She was the second member of the Etna class, which included three sister ships. She was named for the volcanic island of Stromboli, and was armed with a main battery of two 254 mm (10 in) and a secondary battery of six 152 mm (6 in) guns, and could steam at a speed of around 17 knots. Her career was relatively uneventful; the only significant action in which she took part was the campaign against the Boxer Uprising in China in 1900. She returned to Italy in 1901 and spent the rest of her career in reserve or as an ammunition ship, apart from a brief stint in active service in 1904. Stromboli was stricken from the naval register in 1907 and sold for scrapping in 1911.

Italian cruiser <i>Euridice</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Euridice was a torpedo cruiser of the Partenope class built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1880s. She was built by the Regio Cantiere di Castellammare di Stabia shipyard, with her keel laying in February 1889, her launching in September 1890, and her commissioning in May 1891. Her main armament was her six torpedo tubes, which were supported by a battery of ten small-caliber guns. Euridice spent most of her career in the main Italian fleet, where she was primarily occupied with training exercises. She was withdrawn from service in 1907 and sold for scrapping.

Italian cruiser <i>Urania</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Urania was a torpedo cruiser of the Partenope class built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1880s. She was built by the Cantieri navali Odero shipyard; her keel was laid in February 1889, she was launched in June 1891, and was commissioned in July 1893. Her main armament were her six torpedo tubes, which were supported by a battery of ten small-caliber guns. Urania spent most of her career in the main Italian fleet, where she was primarily occupied with training exercises. She was still in service at the outbreak of the Italo-Turkish War in September 1911, but she did not take part in any operations. Instead, she remained in Italian waters and was broken up for scrap in January 1912.

Italian cruiser <i>Iride</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Iride was a torpedo cruiser of the Partenope class built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1880s. Laid down in February 1889 at the Regio Cantiere di Castellammare di Stabia shipyard, she was launched in July 1890 and was commissioned in November 1892. Her main armament were her six torpedo tubes, which were supported by a battery of ten small-caliber guns. Iride spent most of her career in the main Italian fleet, where she was primarily occupied with training exercises. During the Italo-Turkish War in September 1911, she remained in Italian waters until late in the conflict; she escorted a troop convoy to North Africa in April 1912 and bombarded Ottoman positions in June and July. Iride was eventually broken up for scrap in December 1920.

Italian cruiser <i>Aretusa</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Aretusa was a torpedo cruiser of the Partenope class built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1880s. Laid down in June 1889 at the Cantiere navale fratelli Orlando shipyard, she was launched in March 1891 and was commissioned in September 1892. Her main armament were her six torpedo tubes, which were supported by a battery of ten small-caliber guns. Aretusa spent most of her career in the main Italian fleet, where she was primarily occupied with training exercises. At the start of the Italo-Turkish War in September 1911, she was assigned to the Red Sea Squadron in Italian Eritrea. She bombarded Ottoman positions in the Arabian Peninsula and took part in a blockade of the coast. Worn out by the end of the war in October 1912, Aretusa was sold for scrap that December and broken up.

Italian cruiser <i>Caprera</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Caprera was a torpedo cruiser of the Partenope class built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1880s. She was built by the Cantiere navale fratelli Orlando shipyard; her keel was laid in July 1891, she was launched in May 1894, and was commissioned in December 1895. Her main armament were her five torpedo tubes, which were supported by a battery of eleven small-caliber guns. Caprera spent most of her career in the main Italian fleet, where she was primarily occupied with training exercises. She served in the Red Sea during the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–1912, where she conducted shore bombardments and blockaded Ottoman ports in the area. Caprera did not remain in service long after the war, being sold for scrap in May 1913.

Italian cruiser <i>Calatafimi</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Calatafimi was a torpedo cruiser of the Partenope class built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1880s. She was built by the Cantiere navale fratelli Orlando shipyard; her keel was laid in July 1891, she was launched in May 1894, and was commissioned in December 1895. Her main armament were her five torpedo tubes, which were supported by a battery of eleven small-caliber guns. Calatafimi spent most of her career in the main Italian fleet, where she was primarily occupied with training exercises. The ship was sold in March 1907 and broken up for scrap.

Italian cruiser <i>Saetta</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Saetta was a Folgore-class torpedo cruiser built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1880s. Armed with three 14 in (356 mm) torpedo tubes and six light guns, she was capable of a top speed of 17 knots. She was built in the mid-1880s, was launched in May 1887, and was completed in February 1888. Saetta spent the first decade of her career serving in the main Italian fleet, where she conducted peacetime training exercises. In 1897, she was withdrawn from front-line service and employed as a gunnery training ship, a role she filled for another decade. The Regia Marina ultimately sold Saetta for scrap in May 1908.

Italian cruiser <i>Goito</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Goito was a torpedo cruiser built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1880s. She was the lead ship of the Goito class, which included three other vessels. Goito was built by the Regio Cantiere di Castellammare di Stabia shipyard between September 1885 and February 1888. She was armed with a variety of light guns and five 14-inch (356 mm) torpedo tubes, and was capable of a top speed of 18 knots. The ship served the duration of her career in the main Italian fleet. Her early service was primarily occupied with training exercises; front-line duties ended in 1897 when she was converted into a minelayer, though she continued to participate in fleet exercises. During World War I, Goito laid defensive minefields in the Adriatic Sea. She was eventually sold for scrap in 1920 and broken up.

Italian cruiser <i>Montebello</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Montebello was the second of four Goito-class torpedo cruisers built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1880s. She was built at the Arsenale di La Spezia between September 1885 and January 1889, when she entered service. She was armed with a variety of light guns and four 14-inch (356 mm) torpedo tubes, and was capable of a top speed of 18 knots. Montebello spent her active-duty career with the main Italian fleet, where she frequently took part in annual training exercises. In 1903, she was withdrawn from front-line service and converted into a training ship for engine room personnel; she served in this capacity until 1920, when she was sold for scrap.

Italian cruiser <i>Monzambano</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Monzambano was a torpedo cruiser of the Goito class built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1880s. The ship was built at the Arsenale di La Spezia, beginning with her keel laying in August 1885 and ending with her completion in August 1889. She was armed with a variety of light guns and five 14-inch (356 mm) torpedo tubes, and was capable of a top speed of 18 knots. The ship spent her career in the main Italian fleet conducting training exercises, and did not see action. She spent 1898 patrolling the eastern Mediterranean Sea with the Levant Squadron. Monzambano was withdrawn from service in 1901 and broken up for scrap that year.

Italian cruiser <i>Confienza</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Confienza was the last of four Goito-class torpedo cruisers built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1880s. She was armed with a variety of light guns and five 14-inch (356 mm) torpedo tubes, and was capable of a top speed of 17 knots. The ship was built in the late 1880s, with her keel laying in September 1887 at the Arsenale di La Spezia; she was completed in April 1890 and thereafter entered service with the Italian fleet. Confienza had a short and uneventful career; she spent her time in Italian waters and did not see any action. Stricken from the naval register in August 1901, she was thereafter broken up for scrap.

Italian cruiser <i>Tripoli</i> Torpedo cruiser of the Italian Royal Navy

Tripoli was the first modern torpedo cruiser built for the Italian Regia Marina. She was built by the Regio Cantiere di Castellammare di Stabia shipyard in 1885–86. The only vessel of her class, she provided the basis for the Goito and Partenope classes that followed. She was armed with five 14-inch (356 mm) torpedo tubes and a battery of light guns, and was capable of a top speed of 17.5 knots. Tripoli spent her career in the main Italian fleet, where she was occupied primarily with peacetime training exercises. She was modernized several times throughout her career, and in 1910, was converted into a minelayer, a role she served in for another thirteen years, including during World War I. She was the longest serving torpedo cruiser in the Italian fleet, with over 36 years in service by the time she was discarded in March 1923.

Italian corvette <i>Flavio Gioia</i> Screw corvette of the Italian Regia Marina

Flavio Gioia was a screw corvette of the Italian Regia Marina built in the late 1870s and early 1880s.

Italian corvette <i>Caracciolo</i> (1869)

Caracciolo was a screw corvette of the Italian Regia Marina built in the 1860s. She was the first vessel of that type built after the unification of Italy, though the Italian fleet inherited several screw corvettes from the navies of Naples, Tuscany, and Sardinia. The ship was armed with a main battery of six 160 mm (6.3 in) guns. Originally built with both steam and sail propulsion, Caracciolo later had her engine removed for use as a training ship.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.