Italian destroyer Bombardiere

History
Kingdom of Italy
Name	Bombardiere
Namesake	Bombardier
Builder	Cantieri Navali Riuniti, Ancona
Laid down	7 October 1940
Launched	22 March 1941
Completed	15 July 1942
Fate	Sunk by HMS United, 17 January 1943
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type	Soldati-class destroyer
Displacement	1,820–1,850 long tons (1,850–1,880 t) (standard); 2,450–2,550 long tons (2,490–2,590 t) (full load);
Length	106.7 m (350 ft 1 in) (o/a); 101.6 m (333 ft 4 in) (p/p);
Beam	10.15 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught	3.15–4.3 m (10 ft 4 in – 14 ft 1 in)
Installed power	3 Yarrow boilers ; 44,000 shp (33,000 kW);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed	32–33 knots (59–61 km/h; 37–38 mph)
Range	2,500 nmi (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	206
Armament	2 × twin, 1 × single 120 mm (4.7 in) guns; 8–12 × 20 mm (0.8 in) AA guns ; 2 × triple 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes ; 2–4 × depth charge throwers; 48 mines ;

Last updated January 13, 2023

Bombardiere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in mid-1942, she was part of the second batch of seven ships.

Design and description

The Soldati-class destroyers were slightly improved versions of the preceding Orianiclass.^[1] They had a length between perpendiculars of 101.6 meters (333 ft 4 in)^[2] and an overall length of 106.7 meters (350 ft 1 in). The ships had a beam of 10.15 meters (33 ft 4 in) and a mean draft of 3.15 meters (10 ft 4 in) and 4.3 meters (14 ft 1 in) at deep load.^[3] The Soldatis displaced 1,830–1,850 metric tons (1,800–1,820 long tons ) at normal load, and 2,450–2,550 metric tons (2,410–2,510 long tons) at deep load.^[4] Their wartime complement during was 206 officers and enlisted men.^[2]

Bombardiere was powered by two Belluzzo geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Yarrow boilers.^[2] Designed for a maximum output of 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000 kW ) and a speed of 32–33 knots (59–61 km/h; 37–38 mph) in service, the second batch of Soldati-class ships reached speeds of 34–36 knots (63–67 km/h; 39–41 mph) during their sea trials while lightly loaded. They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) and 885 nmi (1,639 km; 1,018 mi) at a speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph).^[4]

Bombardiere's main battery consisted of five 50-caliber 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure and the fifth gun was mounted on a platform amidships.^[5] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the second-batch Soldatis was provided by eight to twelve 20-millimeter (0.8 in) Breda Model 1935 guns.^[4] The ships were equipped with six 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. Although they were not provided with a sonar system for anti-submarine work, they were fitted with one or two pairs of depth charge throwers. The ships could carry 48 mines.^[2]

Citations

↑ Brescia, p. 127
1 2 3 4 Roberts, p. 300
↑ Whitley, p. 169
1 2 3 Brescia, p. 128
↑ Fraccaroli, p. 55

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

Bombardiere Marina Militare website

Related Research Articles

The Maestrale class were a group of destroyers built for the Regia Marina and served in World War II. They formed the basis for subsequent Italian destroyer designs; the Oriani and Soldati classes.

Alpino was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in early 1939, she was one of the last of the first batch of a dozen ships to enter service.

Artigliere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in 1938, she was one of the last of the first batch of a dozen ships to enter service.

Bersagliere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in early 1939, she was one of the last of the first batch of a dozen ships to enter service.

Italian destroyer <i>Camicia Nera</i> Destroyer of the Regia Marina

Camicia Nera was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in 1938, she was the first ship of the first batch of a dozen ships to enter service. In July 1943, due to the fall of the Fascist regime she was renamed Artigliere, a name formerly held by a sister ship that had been sunk 3 years earlier. She was transferred to the Soviet Navy as a war reparation in 1950, renamed Lyogkyy, and expended as a target in 1954.

Carabiniere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in 1938, she survived World War II to be scrapped in 1978.

Corazziere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in mid-1939, she was the last of the first batch of a dozen ships to enter service.

Fuciliere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in early 1939, she served in World War II.

Geniere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in 1938, she was one of the first of the first batch of a dozen ships to enter service.

Grantiere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in early 1939, she was one of the last of the first batch of a dozen ships to enter service.

Lanciere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in early 1939, she was one of the last of the first batch of a dozen ships to enter service.

Italian destroyer <i>Corsaro</i> Destroyer of the Regia Marina

Corsaro was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in mid-1942, she was one of the second batch of seven ships.

Mitragliere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in early 1942, she was the first ship to be finished of the second batch of seven ships.

Legionario was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in early 1942, she was one of the second batch of seven ships.

Velite was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in mid-1942, she was the last of the second batch of seven ships to be finished.

Giosuè Carducci was one of four Oriani-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the mid-1930s and early 1940s. Completed in 1937, she served in World War II.

Scirocco was one of four Maestrale-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the early 1930s. Completed in 1934, she served in World War II.

Grecale was one of four Maestrale-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the early 1930s. Completed in 1934, she served in World War II. She survived the war and continued her service with Marina Militare until 1964.

Fulmine was one of four Folgore-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the early 1930s. Completed in 1932, she served in World War II.

Maestrale was the lead ship of her class of four destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the early 1930s. Completed in 1934, she served in World War II.

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.

[1] Brescia, p. 127

[g0-2] 1 2 3 4 Roberts, p. 300

[w9-3] Whitley, p. 169

[b8-4] 1 2 3 Brescia, p. 128

[f8-5] Fraccaroli, p. 55

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

History

Kingdom of Italy
Name	Bombardiere
Namesake	Bombardier
Builder	Cantieri Navali Riuniti, Ancona
Laid down	7 October 1940
Launched	22 March 1941
Completed	15 July 1942
Fate	Sunk by HMS United, 17 January 1943
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type	Soldati-class destroyer
Displacement	1,820–1,850 long tons (1,850–1,880 t) (standard) 2,450–2,550 long tons (2,490–2,590 t) (full load)
Length	106.7 m (350 ft 1 in) (o/a) 101.6 m (333 ft 4 in) (p/p)
Beam	10.15 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught	3.15–4.3 m (10 ft 4 in – 14 ft 1 in)
Installed power	3 Yarrow boilers 44,000 shp (33,000 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed	32–33 knots (59–61 km/h; 37–38 mph)
Range	2,500 nmi (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	206
Armament	2 × twin, 1 × single 120 mm (4.7 in) guns 8–12 × 20 mm (0.8 in) AA guns 2 × triple 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 2–4 × depth charge throwers 48 mines