Italian destroyer Baleno

For other ships with the same name, see Italian ship Baleno.

History
Kingdom of Italy
Name	Baleno
Namesake	Lightning
Builder	Cantieri navali del Quarnaro, Fiume
Laid down	1 May 1930
Launched	22 March 1931
Completed	15 June 1932
Fate	Wrecked after running aground, 17 April 1941
General characteristics (as built)
Class & type	Folgore-class destroyer
Displacement	1,238  t (1,218 long tons) (standard) 2,090 t (2,060 long tons) (full load)
Length	96.05 m (315 ft 1 in) (o/a)
Beam	9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Draught	3.3–4.3 m (10 ft 10 in – 14 ft 1 in)
Installed power	3 Thornycroft boilers 44,000  hp (33,000  kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range	3,600  nmi (6,700  km; 4,100  mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement	185
Armament	2 × twin 120 mm (4.7 in) guns 2 × single 40 mm (1.6 in) AA guns 2 × twin 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns 2 × triple 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 2 × depth charge throwers 52 mines

Baleno was one of four Folgore-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the early 1930s. Completed in 1932, she served in World War II.

Design and description

The Folgore-class destroyers were essentially copies of the preceding Freccia class, although their beam was reduced in an unsuccessful attempt to improve their speed over that achieved by the earlier ships. ^[1] The Folgores had an overall length of 96.05 meters (315 ft 1 in), a beam of 9.2 meters (30 ft 2 in) and a mean draft of 3.3 meters (10 ft 10 in) ^[2] and 4.3 meters (14 ft 1 in) at deep load. ^[1] They displaced 1,238 metric tons (1,218 long tons ) at standard load, and 2,090 metric tons (2,060 long tons) at deep load. ^[3] Their complement during wartime was 185 officers and enlisted men. ^[4]

The Folgores were powered by two Belluzzo geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Thornycroft boilers. ^[4] The turbines were designed to produce 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000  kW ) and a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) in service, although the ships reached speeds of 38–39 knots (70–72 km/h; 44–45 mph) during their sea trials while lightly loaded. They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km; 4,100 mi) at a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). ^[1]

Their main battery consisted of four 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure. ^[3] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Folgore-class ships was provided by a pair of 40-millimeter (1.6 in) AA guns in single mounts amidships 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. Although the ships were not provided with a sonar system for anti-submarine work, they were fitted with a pair of depth charge throwers. ^[1] The Folgores could carry 52 mines. ^[3]

Construction and career

Baleno was laid down by Cantieri navali del Quarnaro at their Fiume shipyard on 1 October 1929, launched on 22 March 1931 and commissioned on 15 June 1932. ^[2]

Citations

1. Brescia, p. 116
2. Whitley, p. 166
3. Fraccaroli, p. 53
4. Roberts, p. 300

Bibliography

• 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.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   1-85409-521-8.

External links

• Baleno Marina Militare website