Libeccio was one of four Maestrale-class destroyer built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the early 1930s. Completed in 1934, she served in World War II.

Libeccio in Taranto
History
Kingdom of Italy
Name	Libeccio
Namesake	Libeccio
Builder	Cantiere navale di Riva Trigoso
Laid down	29 September 1931
Launched	4 July 1934
Completed	23 November 1934
Fate	Sunk by torpedo, 9 November 1941
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type	Maestrale-class destroyer
Displacement	1,640 t (1,610 long tons) (standard) 2,243 t (2,208 long tons) (full load)
Length	106.7 m (350 ft 1 in)
Beam	10.15 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught	3.31–4.3 m (10 ft 10 in – 14 ft 1 in)
Installed power	3 three-drum boilers 44,000 hp (33,000 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed	32–33 knots (59–61 km/h; 37–38 mph)
Range	2,600–2,800 nmi (4,800–5,200 km; 3,000–3,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	190
Armament	2 × twin 120 mm (4.7 in) guns 2 × single 120 mm (4.7 in) star shell 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 2–4 × depth charge throwers 56 mines

She was present during the Battle of Taranto, and suffered a direct bomb hit, however it passed through her hull without exploding. She was also present at the disastrous Battle of the Duisburg Convoy, though survived only to be torpedoed the next day by HMS Upholder when she returned to the scene to search for survivors, she was taken in tow but soon sank.

Design and description

The Maestrale-class destroyers were a completely new design intended to rectify the stability problems of the preceding Folgore class.[1] They had a length between perpendiculars of 101.6 meters (333 ft 4 in) 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 3.31 meters (10 ft 10 in)[2] and 4.3 meters (14 ft 1 in) at deep load.[1] They displaced 1,640 metric tons (1,610 long tons) at standard load, and 2,243 metric tons (2,208 long tons) at deep load. Their complement during wartime was 190 officers and enlisted men.[3]

The Maestrales were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by a trio of three-drum boilers.[3] The turbines were designed to produce 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000 kW) and a speed of 32–33 knots (59–61 km/h; 37–38 mph) in service,[1] but Libeccio briefly reached a speed of 41.3 knots (76.5 km/h; 47.5 mph) during her sea trials while lightly loaded.[3] The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2,600–2,800 nautical miles (4,800–5,200 km; 3,000–3,200 mi) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) and 690 nmi (1,280 km; 790 mi) at a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 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.[4] Amidships were a pair of 15-caliber 120-millimeter star shell guns. Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Maestrale-class ships was provided by four 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 Maestrales could carry 56 mines.[4]

Citations

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.
• Thomas P. Lowry, John Wellham (1995). Attack on Taranto. Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-2661-4
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.

External links

• Libeccio Marina Militare website