Italian destroyer Cesare Battisti

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History
Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg Kingdom of Italy
NameCesare Battisti
Namesake Cesare Battisti
Builder Odero-Terni-Orlando, Sestri Ponente
Laid down9 February 1924
Launched11 December 1926
Completed13 April 1927
Fate Scuttled, 3 April 1941
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type Sauro-class destroyer
Displacement
Length90.16 m (295 ft 10 in)
Beam9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Draught2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)
Range2,600  nmi (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement154–156
Armament

Cesare Battisti was one of four Sauro-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the 1920s. Completed in 1927, she served in World War II.

Contents

Design and description

The Sauro-class destroyers were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding Sellaclasss. [1] They had an overall length of 90.16 meters (296 ft), a beam of 9.2 meters (30 ft 2 in) and a mean draft of 2.9 meters (9 ft 6 in). They displaced 1,058 metric tons (1,041 long tons ) at standard load, and 1,600 metric tons (1,570 long tons) at deep load. Their complement was 8–10 officers and 146 enlisted men. [2]

The Sauros were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Yarrow boilers. [1] The turbines were rated at 36,000 shaft horsepower (27,000  kW ) for a speed of 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph) in service, [3] although Cesare Battisti reached a speed of 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph) from 41,280 shp (30,780 kW) during her sea trials while lightly loaded. [4] The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 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. [2] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Sauro-class ships was provided by a pair of 40-millimeter (1.6 in) AA guns in single mounts amidships and a pair of 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns. They were equipped with six 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. [3] The Sauros could also carry 52 mines. [2]

Construction and career

Cesar Battisti was laid down by Odero-Terni-Orlando at their Genoa-Sestri Ponente shipyard on 9 February 1924, launched on 11 December 1926 and commissioned on 13 April 1927. [1]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 Whitley, p. 160
  2. 1 2 3 Fraccaroli, p. 47
  3. 1 2 Roberts, p. 298
  4. McMurtrie, p. 281

Bibliography

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