Italian destroyer Geniere (1938)

Last updated
RN Geniere.jpg
History
Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg Kingdom of Italy
NameGeniere
Namesake Combat engineer
Builder O.T.O., Livorno
Laid down26 August 1937
Launched27 February 1938
Completed15 December 1938
FateSunk by aircraft, 1 March 1943
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type Soldati-class destroyer
Displacement
Length
  • 106.7 m (350 ft 1 in) (o/a)
  • 101.6 m (333 ft 4 in) (p/p)
Beam10.15 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught3.15–4.3 m (10 ft 4 in – 14 ft 1 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed34–35 knots (63–65 km/h; 39–40 mph)
Range2,340  nmi (4,330 km; 2,690 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement206
Armament

Geniere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) 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.

Contents

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]

Geniere was powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Yarrow boilers. [2] Designed for a maximum output of 48,000 shaft horsepower (36,000  kW ) and a speed of 34–35 knots (63–65 km/h; 39–40 mph) in service, the Soldati-class ships reached speeds of 39–40 knots (72–74 km/h; 45–46 mph) during their sea trials while lightly loaded. They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2,340 nautical miles (4,330 km; 2,690 mi) at a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) and 682 nmi (1,263 km; 785 mi) at a speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). [4]

Geniere's main battery consisted of four 50-caliber 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure. On a platform amidships was a 15-caliber 120-millimeter star shell gun. [5] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Soldatis was provided by eight 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 a pair of depth charge throwers. The ships could carry 48 mines. [2]

Citations

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

Bibliography

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