Italian destroyer Antoniotto Usodimare

Antoniotto Usodimare at Taranto
History
Kingdom of Italy
Name	Antoniotto Usodimare
Namesake	Antoniotto Usodimare
Builder	Odero-Terni-Orlando, Genoa-Sestri Ponente
Laid down	1 June 1927
Launched	12 May 1928
Completed	21 November 1929
Fate	Sunk by torpedo, 8 June 1942
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type	Navigatori-class destroyer
Displacement	1,900 long tons (1,930  t) (standard) 2,580 long tons (2,621 t) (full load)
Length	107.3 m (352 ft)
Beam	10.2 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught	3.5 m (11 ft 6 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) (designed)
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 2 × triple 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 86–104 mines

Antoniotto Usodimare was one of a dozen Navigatori-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the late 1920s. Completed in 1929, she served in World War II.

Design and description

The Navigatori-class destroyers were designed to counter the large French destroyers of the Jaguar and Guépard classes. ^[1] They had an overall length of 107.3 meters (352 ft), a beam of 10.2 meters (33 ft 6 in) and a mean draft of 3.5 meters (11 ft 6 in). ^[2] They displaced 1,900 metric tons (1,900 long tons ) at standard load, and 2,580 metric tons (2,540 long tons) at deep load. Their complement during wartime was 222–225 officers and enlisted men. ^[3]

The Navigatoris were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by four Odero-Terni-Orlando water-tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce 55,000 shaft horsepower (41,000  kW ) ^[3] and a speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) in service, although the ships reached speeds of 38–41 knots (70–76 km/h; 44–47 mph) during their sea trials while lightly loaded. ^[4] They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). ^[3]

Their main battery consisted of six 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in three twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure and the third amidships. ^[5] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Navigatori-class ships was provided by a pair of 40-millimeter (1.6 in) AA guns in single mounts abreast the forward funnel and a pair of twin-gun mounts for 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns. They were equipped with six 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. The Navigatoris could carry 86–104 mines. ^[4]

Construction and career

Antoniotto Usodimare was laid down by Odero-Terni-Orlando at their Genoa-Sestri Ponente shipyard on 1 May 1927, launched on 12 May 1929 and commissioned on 21 November. ^[2]

In 1939, the ship gained attention after it was reported that a couple had sex on the ship. Local news outlets reported on it, but it was believed to be a rumor as the navy never expelled anyone over this incident. ^[6]

In early June 1942, the Italian submarine Alagi fired on the Italian destroyer Premuda (former Yugoslav destroyer Dubrovnik), mistaking her for a British destroyer owing to her similarities with a British H-class destroyer. The attack missed Premuda and struck Antoniotto Usodimare, sinking her. ^[7]

Citations

1. Ando, p. 15
2. Whitley, p. 162
3. Ando, p. 16
4. Roberts, p. 299
5. Fraccaroli, p. 49
6. "BIBLIOTECA DIGITALE REGGIANA - Il-Solco-Fascista". bdr.bibliotecapanizzi.it. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
7. Sadkovich 1994, p. 252.

Bibliography

• Ando, Elio (1978). "The Italian Navigatori Class, 1928". In Preston, Antony (ed.). Super Destroyers. Warship Special. Vol. 2. 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, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-1-59114-544-8.
• Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: 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 (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   1-59114-119-2.
• Sadkovich, James J. (1994). The Italian Navy in World War II. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN   978-0-313-28797-8.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   1-85409-521-8.

External links

• Antoniotto Usodimare Marina Militare website