The Curtatone-class were four destroyers of the Italian Regia Marina, laid down in 1920 and completed in 1923-24. They were a follow up of the Curtatone, which design went back to 1915, based on the Audace-class. If initially eight were ordered, steel shortages halved this to four, completed postwar, and the remainder laid down in 1920-21. Like the Curtatone, they were built at the Orlando shipyard in Livorno. They innovated by their twin mounts main guns fore and aft, a pattern that will be followed by all Italian destroyers until 1943, and their axial triple 450 mm torpedo tubes banks. In 1938 they were re-rated as torpedo boats, and took an active part in WW2, one sunk in 1941, two sunk in 1944 in German hands and one surviving until 1951. Their design led to the next Sella-class destroyers.
Development
Whereas the Palstro base design was inspired by the prewar 2-funneled first Audace class, they were considered moderately successful. They had been initially built at the Cantiere navale fratelli Orlando in Livorno with Escher-Wiss (Zoelly) steam turbines. Somewhat poor steamers, still they were fast and well armed, so the admiralty wanted in 1915 a successor, which were laid down in 1917 but completed postwar as the four Palestro class. When trialled in 1921-22 they were already considered quite successful and the postponed second batch of eight had already been ordered in January (Curtatone), July 1920 (Castelfidardo) and December (Calatafimi) with Monzambano following on 20 January 1921.
They still derived from the Orlando Fratelli design back in 1915, and differed hardly in their silhouette apart larger dimensions, a much stretched forecastle and two raked funnels. Initially the Curtatone were rated for 18,000 hp in order to achiev 32 knots. For the next batch, the admirakty wanted a moder powerful powerplant, and if the Curtatone had two Zoelly steam turbines (that proved troublesome) fed by four Thornycroft boilers, achieving 18,000 hp (13,423 kW), the Curtatone needed a large power plant, and two sets of improved Zoelly steam turbines (more reliable) were coupled with slightly better Thornycroft type boilers for a total output of 22,000 hp (16,400 kW).
Like the Palestro class they all named after long one ironclads dating bacl to the creation of the Regia Marina. Unlike wartime when delays accumulated due to shifting wartime priorities, the Curtatone class were completed much faster, in two years. Reusing the same design helped, and the delays became an opportunity to modify the design in order to incorporate wartime experience. The new Curtatone would be lengthened by 4.5 metres (14 ft 9 in) but stayed the same for other characteristics (draught changed as well). The added power and longer hull-beam ratio improved top speed, at least on poper and on trials, in service they were still classed as 32 knots destroyers.
Already the Curtatone had an extra gun, were beefier, faster, and longer range than the preceding “tre pipe” (or three funnel), last of which were the postwar completed Generali class. But the time left for redesigns led to the idea of increasing the armament, both the artillery and the torpedo tubes. The Curtatone class were near-sisters but the longer hull (and still similar silhouette) helped gainiung extra buoyancy to experiment a new idea, placing two guns in a single cradle instead of two side to side, same aft, feering extra space for an extra main gun or an AA gun amidshiip. The second major innovation was swapping twin for triple torpedo tubes, rearranged on the axis two triple, yet still furing the same 450 mm torpedoes. This later became the base configuration retained for all Italian interwar destroyers, except with larger guns and 533 mm torpedo tubes.
The next Sella class (built at Pattison in 1925-27) were indeed about the same lenght, but with greater beam, a larger powerplant with three thornycroft boilers for an output of 36,000 hp (instead of 22,000 hp), a considerable increase with however only 33 knots in service speed. But the real change was the adoption of two twin 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes instead of triple 450 mm models. They also carried quite as much mines and swapped for the main guns (in similar twin mounts) from 102 to 120 mm. The design was considered so successful it was marketed abroad and indeed sold to Sweden (Psilander class).
The Sauro class was promptly derived from it in, reaching 1,600t full load and this time with triple TT banks, defining a standard that will held until 1943, except for the “Navigatori” class.
Design of the class
No plans found yet.
Hull and general design
The Curtatone class destroyers had an overall length of 84.72 metres, combined with a width of 8 metres and a draft of 3.1 metres. Much larger than the previous “tre pipe”, they were also longer than the Palestro class. They displaced allegedly 876 long tons (890 t) standard and 890 long tons (900 t) full load (versus 1,033 tonnes/1,180 tonnes FL on the Palestro).
Their complement consisted of 7 officers, 110 non-commissioned officers and sailors. The design still roughy derived from the 1913 Audace class, with the same proportions, but a long forecastle on a ratio of 1/3 versus 1/4 for the “tre canne”, there stretched a bit compare to the Curtatone. They had a short bulwarked prow to deflect waves, larger wave breaker close to the gun mount and two AA guns amidship, abaft the lower, slitghlt raked aft funnel. The forefunnel was already high, and was made even highr before WW2. The stern supported the aft twin main gun mount, closer to the aft half-mast which supported the battle flag and the radio cables going to the taller foremast.
The latter supported a small spotting top and navigation lights. This was simple post. The bridge was three-faceted and enclosed, and topped by an open bridge later covered with framing and sopporting a tarpaulin in summer. This became a foxture on some destroyers, giving them in practice a true twin-brdge configuration. The forward bridge supported a light projector and a telemeter was located behind on a bandtand. Both funnels were dound wit the same diameter, and similar truncations (two exhausts each). They were capped. There was a qraterdeck radio room in which radio cables from the aft mast were located, but the biggest change was the pair of torpedo tubes banks in the axis, on either side of this radio house.
The was an emegency aft steering wheel, open to the elements and chadburn immediately behind the aft mast. At the poop were located, sponsons on either side, two paravaned, which were lowered to the sea via a swiveling down arm. The Curtatone had two anchors at the prow, portholes only the the living quarters fore and aft, while the amidship section had none, being occupied entirely by the machinery, boilers followed by turbine rooms weparated by transverse and longitudinal bulkheads. Like the Palstro and unlike previous destroyer such as the “tre pipe”, their rudder hinged arm was no longer protruding from the poop but now protected below it. There were also two anti-collision bars to protect the propeller shafts aft, slight aft of the struts.
Powerplant
Castelfidardo in the interwar, not her dark grey livery. Postcard, agenzia bozzo, CC.
The Curtatone were merely a repeat of the Palstro class but with power. Their two propeller shafts (still the same 3-bladed propellers) were driven by Zoelly steam turbines, fed by four Thornycroft type boilers. It’s not clear of the boilers were more efficient or the Zoelly turbines, but they were more reliable so some extent. One had indeed in early service a turbine completely tearing itself apart, making a lot of internal damage and requiring long repairs. The engines were worn out at the end of their career, and in German service, T16 and T19 barely made 16 knots.
Initially, based on an output of 22,000 hp (16,400 kW), more than the 18,000 on the palestro, they managed to reach 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) for a Range of 1,800 nmi (3,300 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) based on their oil reserve, 206 tonnes.
Armament
The Curtatone class had four Schneider-Armstrong model 1919, 102mm/45 mm (4 inches) main guns, on a twin mount forward (solidary, no separate elevation), and the other on the aft deck. Next, there were also two Armstrong 76/40 mm guns for dual purpose defence placed abaft the second funnel.
For AA defense these destroyers had two 6.5/80 mm guns, likely placed on the bridge’s wings
The four 450 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes were unusual in their placement, one bank on either side aft.
The also had rails for 10 to 38 mines. Armament was later modified and as well as in wartime.
4-in (102 mm)/45 Modello 1917
Thes ships were armed with 102 mm (4 in)/45 Schneider-Armstrong modello 1917 single Open Mount installed in line to distribute weight and broadside, one single forward on the forecastle, two on the weather deck aft. Horizontal or vertical sliding breech block.
Cannone da 102mm/45 Schneider-Armstrong Modello 1919
The Schneider-Armstrong Model 1919 weighted 4,600 kg and had a -5°/+35° elevation.
Mass: 10,000 kg total per mount
Length: 4.7 meters (15 ft 5 in), barrel 4.57 meters (15 ft)
Shell: 13.7–16 kilograms (30–35 lb)
Breech: Horizontal or vertical sliding breech block
Rate of fire: 7 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 850 m/s (2,800 ft/s)
Range: 8,000 m at max elevation (26,000 ft) with the DP mount.
3-in (76mm)/30 Armstrong M1914
It had an horizontal sliding wedge breechblock and hydraulic recoil brake.
Castelfidardo in the late interwar, note her standard light grey-blue livery.
Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 20/70
Installed after modernization: The Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 20/70’s development started from 1928, by designer Alfredo Scotti, and an anti-aircraft cannon to be installed on bombers for land and anti-ship combat. It had an automatic recoil system with fixed barrel and geometric breech block actioned by gas recoil, designed by Alfredo Scotti and was a solid automatic cannon design. Italian authorities were not interested for its aeronautical use, sticking to the 12.7 mm and neither the army for ground fire. In addition such weapon fired an exceptionally powerful ammunition like the 20 × 138 mm B and it was the German use of the very close MG C/30L (2cm FlaK 30 variant) firing the same cartridge and installed on their fighters as wll as the Japanese use for fighters and for the Type 97 anti-tank rifle that drew some attention of Italian authorities, but not enough for an order.
Scotti in 1932 thus decided someone else will ave it and sold the patent to all nations except Italy. Oerlikon in Switzerland studied is closely as well. The gun was sold to China and some South American countries and started to be produced at low cost. Some authors said this was the inspiration for Marc Birkigt to create the Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon. It was reevaluated by rejected again by Italian authorities which in the 1935 tender, preferred the Breda 20/65 Mod. 1935.
Development, in Italy continued still at Isotta Fraschini, purchasing Scotti’s blueprints in 1938. The Modello 1939 was eventually used by the Regia Aeronautica and later the Regia Marina placed them on most of its ships and on armoured trains. The Dutch army also purchased 100 from Isotta Fraschini and another 100 in March 1940, delivered between January and May 1940.
Albeit less powerful than the Breda, it was easier to produce and maintain and after the war started the Army decided at last to order a few hundred on a wheeled carriage, called Mod. 1941 and 300 also turned by Officine Meccaniche as the “Scotti-OM 20/70 Mod. 1941”. After the armistice, it was used by the Wehrmacht (2 cm Scotti (i)) and remained in service until the late 1950s notably in the Navy. Isotta Fraschini managed to ake a new model in 1942 rate for 600 rounds per minute but the armistice, prevented its mass production.
Specs Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 20/70:
Weight 227.5 kg, Length 2275 mm (Barrel 1540 mm) Rifle pattern 8 right-handed grooves.
Ammunition 136 g (complete ammunition, 330 g), 20 × 138 mm B
Rate of fire 250 rounds/min, Muzzle velocity 840 m/s
Maximum range 5,500 m. Feeding plate (variants, drum and belt)
Air cooled, Elevation -10°/+85°
Torpedoes
The 17.7 inches torpedo tubes (450 mm) were still used at the time, Thornycroft models built in Italy, by Silurificio Italiano. No data on the models used in 1924. The 1935 models were rated to reach 3,000 nm at 44 knots. There were six tubes in two triple banks in the axis. They were rarely used in combat, apart the spectacular attack by Catalafimi against a much superior French squadron (which missed but managed to distupt the formation off Genoa). Catalafimi launched only two torpedoes in two salvoes and the last two when chasing Vautour.
Mines
The ships carried also 16 mines as well during wartime, 6 more than the Palestro, either the Vickers Elia (VE) 1,676 lbs. (760 kg), 320 lbs. (145 kg) WH, or Sautter-Harlé types M1916 154 or 220 ib.
Upgrades
Castelfidardo in 1942
The Curtatone class destroyers were a clear improvement over the Palestro. When they entered service in 1923-24; they were the most modern and powerful destroyers in the Regia Marina, benefiting from all modifications inherited from war experience. In 1930, their forward funnel was stretche dup like for the Palqtro class. They were also reclassified as torpedo boats in 1938.
In wartime, they were rearmed, with more moder 76 mm (when no replaced altogether) and with 20 mm Scotti-Isotta guns (see above) and 8.8 mm Breda light machine guns. They were still however fitted with their original hydrophones, which imposed them to stop completely to hear anything. Two racks were completed by two depht charge throwers and they also carried more mines than the palestro, 16. However in practice they never laid mines in WW2.
They received again extra AA in 1942-43, up six 20 mm Breda AA guns replacing the aft two 102 mm main guns while Catalafimi received a single twin bank with new 533 mm torpedo tubes instead of the two original triple banks. As recommissioned by the Germans they were rearmed again (see below).
So, in 1939-1940, all the two 76mm/30 were replaced by 20mm/70 Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 1939 and two 8.80 mm Breda LMG.
In 1942-1943 Castelfidardo received an additional twin 20mm/65 Breda 1935 mount, while Calatafimi saw the removal of its aft twin 102 mm mount and all two triple TT banks, for a single 102mm/45 Schneider-Armstrong 1917, two 20mm/65 Breda 1935 and a twin 533mm TT. Monzambano also lost its aft 102mm/45 mout for a single 102mm/45 Schneider-Armstrong 1917 and two twin 20mm/65 Breda 1935.
German Modifications
Castelfidardo for example became TA16. The Germans removed her 450 mm torpedo tubes, added a single 40mm/56 mm Flak 28 heavy anti-aircraft machine gun, four single 20/65 mm C/38 machine guns and a single 20/65 Mod. 1939 machine gun for nine total. They also installed a Fu.Mo.28 radar and the crew increased to 134 men. Due to age and wear and tear effective speed was noted at 24 knots, range 600 miles at 12 knots. TA 16 and TA 19 (ex Catalafimi) saw action until sunk in June and Augiust 1944.
Postwar Modifications (Monzambano)
Monzambano was the only one to survive the war. In 1946, her 102 mm guns were reduced to two or one was eliminated dependong on sources, replaced by single mounts, a twin 20/65 Breda 1935 was installed amidships, the 8/80 mm Breda LMG removed as well as the machine guns were eliminated and the 450 mm replaced by two 533 mm single twin mount, and two Menon ASW launchers installed on the aft deck. Her service was short however.
⚙ Curtatone specifications |
|
| Displacement | 976 long tons (990 t) standard, 1,214 long tons FL |
| Dimensions | 84.94 x 8,02 x 2.48-3.06m () |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts Zoelly steam turbines, 4× Thornycroft boilers: 22,000 hp ( kW) |
| Speed | 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) |
| Range | 1,395 nmi at 10 knots, 390 nm at 28 kts |
| Armament | 2×2 102/45, 2× 76/30, 2× 6.5/80 mm LMGs, 2×3 450 mm (18 in) TTs, 16 mines |
| Crew | 6+102 |
Built between January 1920 and June 1923 at a cost of 8,100,000 lire Curtatone was lead ship of her class, and was assigned to the III Destroyer Squadron, under the Maritime Military Department of La Spezia, starting her initial training. In 1926 her turbine nroke down and was troen apart, requiring a year under repair.
In 1929 with her sisters Castelfidardo, Calatafimi and Monzambano she became the VIII Destroyer Squadron and with the VII Squadron (Palestro-class) led by the scout Augusto Riboty, formed the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, II Torpedo Division, 2nd Naval Squadron in Taranto.
Between 1928 and 1936 she sailed to Tripoli, Constanta, the Red Sea, Greece and North Africa. She operated in the Dodecanese and via Constanta, arrived in Eritrea for surveillance in the Red Sea and North Africa for coastal patrol. In 1930 her forefunnel was raised. In 1937 she was based at la Spezia and joined the Naval Academy of Livorno. On 1 October 1938 like her sisters she was retrograded as a TB.
Between 1939 and 1940 she had a refit with her two 76/30 mm Armstrong 1914 guns replaced by four (2 in other sources) Scotti-Isotta-Fraschini 20mm/70 Mod. 1939 machine guns and two light breda 8mm/80 mm LMGs.
From 10 June 1940, she was part of the XVI Torpedo Boat Squadron with the addition of Giacinto Carini and Giuseppe La Masa, based in La Spezia. She patrolled the southern Adriatic and later in Greek waters and started escort missions in June with Carini and Sirio, covering the minelayers Fasana, Crotone, Orlando and Gasperi mining Elba.
She joined the VI Torpedo Boat Group and Maritrafalba command from August, active from 5 September until 12 October, from Brindisi. There were there 9 other TBs and 4 auxiliary cruiser plus the XIII MAS Squadron. She escorted convoys to and from Albania and performed ASW patrols. No detailed convoys here, check the Italian wikipedia source for more.
On 11-12 November she rescued with Solferino, 140 crew members of a convoy destroyed by British cruisers in the Strait of Otranto.
On 5 May 1941 tas part of the XVI TB Squadron with Monzambano, Castelfidardo and Calatafimi she was placed under command of the Northern Aegean Naval Group (Marisudest) based in Athens and started operations in the Aegean Sea in cooperation with the Kriegsmarine. On May 20, 1941, at 1:00 p.m., Curtatone, under command of Lieutenant Commander Serafino Tassara, left Piraeus to replace Sirio, which had suffered a breakdown while escorting sailships loaded with German troops to Maleme in Crete. But shortly after departure at 13:51, probably due to a navigation error she entered a Greek minefield in the Gulf of Athens, near the island of Phleva, and blew up.
Sagittario, immediately headed towards her and stopped a mile away of the minefield, launching its own boats to rescue Curtatone’s crew. At 15.05, she had already collected 22 men and later the minelayer Rovigno and a tugboat arrived, then at 15.40 some MAS, coordinated by Sagittario’s captain Giuseppe Cigala Fulgosi, searching the area for more. 94 men went down with Curtatone, including commander Tassara, 34 rescued.
Built between July 1920 and March 1924, Castelfidardo joined the II Destroyer Squadron at La Spezia and in 1929, the VIII Destroyer Squadron, part of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, II Torpedo Division, 2nd Naval Squadron in Taranto.
In 1929-1932 she was in reserve and in 1932-1936 made training cuises to Tripoli, Constanta, Libya, Greece and Dodecanese. In 1936 she passed under the department of Livorno, then La Spezia and in 1937-1939 Brindisi as a submarine support ship. Between 1939 and 1940 she was modified with modern AA and ASW throwers.
On 10 June 1940 she was in the XVI Torpedo Squadron, patrolling the southern Adriatic and Aegean Sea and entered the Maritrafalba, escorting convoys between Italy and Albania. No details given for the escort missions, check the sources.
At 23:00 on 22 March under Lieutenant Gennaro Greco, she left Bari for Durazzo escorting Carnia, Monstella and Vesta with troops, armored vehicles and ammunition when at 10:28 on the 23rd, 30 miles north-east of Brindisi and Capo Gallo, the convoy was attacked by HMS Triton, launching four torpedoes against Carnia leading the convoy. Monstella’s spotters saw the bubble trails and ran the alarm. She turned turned towards the point where Triton was probably located and all did the same, Anna Capano dodging the torpedoes. However Carnia dodged two but she was hit by two more torpedoes, which both exploded. She was abandoned while Castelfidardo depth charged on the presumed position and ordered the other three steamers to continue, arriving at 16.30. However Carnia remained afloat after an hour and this was communicated to Maritrafalba. Carlo Mirabello took Carnia in tow at 4.5 knots until tugs arrived but the towing cable broke in poor weather. Other attempts were made but at 21:45 she sank 30nm northeast of Capo Gallo.
From 5 May 1941 she joined the XVI Torpedo Boat Squadron under Marisudest in Athens to help the Kriesgmarine in the Aegean Sea.
On 7 October 1941 she dodged an attack by HMS Talisman and with Sella she depth charged Talisman with for half an hour.
On 11 October her convoy was attacked by HMS Thunderbolt. No kills, she was repelled.
On 3 November leaving the Dardanelles at 10:37 her convoy was attacked by HMS Proteus which hit the steamer Tampico with a torpedo. She was depth charged and believed sunk. But this was a ruse. The TBs tried to two the merchantman and she ended safe in Piraeus on 4 November. On 26 February 1942 at 12:15 her convoy was attacked by HMS Turbulent attacked in the Gulf of Suda, launched but missed, and depth charged, the convoy arrived safely.
On 28 March 1942 when escorting Galilea, Crispi and Italia, and Viminale, Piemonte and Aventino all zigazging. At 22:45 HMS Proteus torpedoed Galilea, 9 miles southwest of Antipaxos, port bow, Castelfidardo and Mosto stayed to provide assistance until order to resume navigation to Bari, Mosto remaining behind. Galilea on 29 March.
On 5 May escorting tankers Celeno, Burgas and Balčik from Piraeus to the Dardanelles at 20:15 she spotted HMS Parthian, surfaced, attacking the convoys by gunfire northeast of Cape Doro, the second TB Drache engaged her in a brief clash, and Castelfidardo soon joined, the dived and escaped.
After refuelling in Piraeus on 8 September 1943, her captain was informed of the armistice in Suda with Solferino. The Germand dressed obstructions and a German motor launch forced them to stayed anchored, both were unable to escape. Castelfidardo and Solferino were kept under observation, illuminated with searchlights at all time during the night and in the mornign both captains decided to surrender the ships. Castelfidardo handed over on 9 September 1943.
The crews became POWs in Germany but some escaped to join Greek partisans. Many later became civilian workers in factories, liberated by US troops in 1945.
Castelfidardo was renamed TA 16 before modifications entered service on 14 November 1943.
She entered the Kriegsmarine’s 9th Torpedo Boat Flotilla, performing 56 combat missions in the Aegean Sea under Lieutenant Hans Quaet-Falsem and Lieutenant Günther Schmidt from February 1944. On 8 February 1944 she left Rhodes to escort TA 17 and TA 19 escorting the steamer Oria sailing from Rhodes to Piraeus with 4233 POWs stopping in the evening at Portolago, Leros and left on 10 February for Rhodes. On the 11th, Oria disembarked some POW and the convoy headed for Piraeus bu in bad weather later at 18:00 off Cape Sounion, Oria rane aground on Nisis Patroklou and sank. TA 19 had her stern damaged and it was so bad that TA 16 and TA 17 gave up the rescue and headed for Piraeus. The cobvoy lost two ships and 4,000.
On 3 March 1944, TA 16, TA 15 (ex Crispi), TA 19 (ex Calatafimi) clashed, in the off Rhodes, with the British motor torpedo boats MTB 307 and MTB 315.
On 31 May 1944, TA 16 was caught by British aircraft Bristol Beaufighter, Martin 187 Baltimore and Martin B-26 Marauder. A direct hit cause her to loose her bow. With serious flooding she was still towed to Candia but on 2 June 1944 she was hit in another air attack and finished off by the explosion of the steamer Gertrud which exploded. She sank slowly in shallow waters, and lost only 3 of her crew. She was scrapped postwar.
Built between December 1920 and May 1924, Catalafimi entered the III Destroyer Squadron and on 1 July 1924 started training in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
In December 1925 she was in the IV Destroyer Squadron, attached from 1927, to the II Naval Squadron. On 4 November she hosted the King of Spain during his visit to Italy with his court. In April 1928 she brought relief to Corinth, hit by an earthquake, bringing also Red Cross personnel. In 1930 she had her fore funnel raised. In 1929 she was in the VIII Destroyer Squadron in Taranto. In 1931, she was part of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, IV Naval Division.
Until 1932 she was part of many cruises to the Dodecanese and Libya and was refitted in 1933 in Brindisi. In 1934-1935 she stayed in the in the Dodecaneseand joined the VI Destroyer Squadron in Messina, Cyrenaica and La Spezia, training also cadets of the Naval Academy of Livorno.
On 11 April 1937 she badly scraped her bow and needed repairs. In 1938 she was reassigned to the XVI Torpedo Boat Squadron.
In 1939-1940 she was modernized. On 24 April 1940, Lt Giuseppe Brignole took command until the armistice.
In June she was part of the XVI Torpedo Squadron in La Spezia. At 20:00 on 13 June 1940 while off La Spezia she escorted the auxiliary minelayer Elbano Gasperi for a minelfield between Genoa and Savona. At 4:10 on 14 June a lookout spotted unidentified units through binoculars, later identified as French destroyers. They were the vangauard of a larger formation with the heavy cruisers Dupleix and Colbert (III Cruiser Division) en route for Operation Vado. The destroyers were Vautour, Albatros, Guépard, Valmy and Verdun heading for Genoa to shell industrial plants and the port area while others went to Savona and Vado Ligure. Catalafimi was ordred to return to Genoa at top speed while the minelayer reversed course and also joined the coast in the fog.
Commander Brignole ordered battle stations. Calatafimi arrived at full speed towards the enemy formation, spotting the two cruisers in the centre and three other destroyers on the sides. She reported the sighting to Supermarina and moved to close range, preparing a torpedo attack, trusting in the favourable weather conditions, partly hidden in the fog and rain. Brignole thought he could approach without being spotted and concentrated on the cruisers, a more valuable target, but they manoeuvered and he turned to to attack the destroyers much closer as previously planned. While data was fed to the torpedo team, the French formation which detected the Italian TB moved into line formatiion to present all their 140 mm guns to bear.
Meawnhiile the French shelled Vado Ligure but wer kept at bay by efficient coastal batteries and MAS before swapping at 4:26 Genoa, notably pummelling the Ansaldo plants until 4:40. Calatafimi opened fire on the closest destroyer, and started manoeuver in a zigzag between salvos, still firing with her twin bow guns while continuing to approach the formation and at 3,000 metres turned and launched two torpedoes. She then closed further the distance and made a more marked turn, launching two more torpedoes. The destroyer Albatros was seriously damaged the Mameli battery of Genoa, hit her engine room, spotted and greeted by the crew of Calatafimi. Initially she was answered by Vautour, and both exhanged fire, but the Italian TB was unharmed although suffering suffering damage from splinters. Vautour was later ordered to join her formation. The four torpedoes missed but in the poor weather between the increasingly precise fire from the Mameli battery and having no idea of the real size of the Italian forces, the formation was ordered to reverse course and retreat, fearing a trap. From 04:48 Calatafimi initially pursued the French formation, launching hopefully two more torpedoes, one of which remained stuck half inside/half outside the tube. Brignole decided to stop the chase ad the French were too fast and too far already and he spent all his torpedoes. Genoa had not suffered only light damage and a few losses. The event became a propaganda coup for Mussolini, heralding the Catalafimi’s brave assault and single handedly repelling the French formation.
Calatafimi was greeted into Genoa and awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valor and the ship was featured in a propaganda film by Luce called «Dawn of War on the Ligurian Sea» while the press related the “battle of 14 June 1940” as a great victory.
Calatafimi like her sister however spent her remaining career escorting convoys. Starting in the Lower Adriatic between Italy and Albania from Brindisi with the VI TBG and Maritrafalba. Same remark as above, the details are in the Italian articles on these ships.
On 22 December her convoy spotted and dodged torpedoes launched by an unknown submarine.
On 5 May 1941 she was versed to the XVI Torpedo Boat Squadron under Marisudest in Athens, to patrol and escort convoys (mostly of the Wehrmacht) in the Aegean Sea. On 24 May at 20:40, the convoy was attacked by HMS Upholder which torpedoed and sank Conte Rosso.
On 3 October, Calatafimi, Monzambano and Aldebaran, left Salonika for Piraeus escorting the tankers Torcello and Theophile Gautier and on 4 October, Gautier was hit by a torpedo from HMS Talisman and sank 8 miles north of Jura. Monzambano depth charged her but she escaped and later rescued the entire crew of Gautier.
On 11 October Calatafimi, Castelfidardo, Sella and the Lupo escorted Trapani, Elli, Caterina M. and Volodda to Kavaliani and Salonika when Six days later the convoy was attacked by HMS Thunderbolt and missed the Balčik from 1000 meters and she was heavily depth charged but escaped, damaged.
In 1943 Calatafimi saw her aft twin Armstrong-Schneider 1919 102/45 mm mount replaced by a single Armstrong-Schneider 1917 and lost her two triple 450 mm torpedo tubes having instead a single triple 533 mm bank and two twin 20/65 mm Breda 1935 added.
On 7 August 1942 she escorted the Wachtfels with Monzambano and Barletta when troepdoed by HMS Proteus at 7:30 in Cretan water, insking Wacthfels.
At 19:30 on 1 September her convoy jad a first first air attack (bombers at high altitude) and the steamer Abruzzi was damaged and immobilized, abandoned, assisted by Monzambano but she was towed to Ras Hilal later.
At 00:35 on 2 September she was attacked by torpedo bombers on her starboard side and starboard, port and forward until Picci Fassio was hit by a torpedo on the port side and later sank 30 miles north of Derna. Calatafimi meanwhile landed the crew of Abruzzi to Piraeus.
On 25 October while underway to Tobruk escorting Proserpina and the steamers Tergestea and Dora and at night they were bombed and torpedoed by British Vickers Wellington, but reported no damage. On 26 October they were attacked by 18 Consolidated B-24 Liberators (98th Bombardment Group) flying at just 600 metres and were unscathed albeit samaged by shrapnel from near misses.
30 miles from Tobruk, Proserpina engine broke and she remained behind assisted by Calatafimi. After repairs they tried to reach the rest of the convo protected by an air escort (2 Junkers Ju 88, Macchi Mc 202, a Me 109) but at 15:25 the rest of the convoy was attacked by 8 Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers (47th Squadron) and five Bristol Blenheim (15th Squadron SAAF) escorted by 9 Bristol Beaufighter fighters (Sqn 252 and 272) but they missed and the formation withdrew.
Later the tanker Proserpina pina and Calatafimi were attacked by the same formation, and AA fire by Calatafimi deterred them until a Beaufort bombed and damaged the tanker and the second crashed into her masts. Calatafimi was also attacked, but fail. Eventually the tanker was hit in the stern and sank 30 miles from Tobruk. Lira and Calatafimi managed to saved 62 of the 77 on board. Later the convoy was attacked by three Wellingtons, Tergestea sunk after a colossal explosion. Commander Brignole was later decorated by a Bronze Medal for Military Valor for the rescue and assistance.
On 31 October there were two more attacks, unsuccessful.
On January 29, 1943 with Euro underway to Piraeus escorting Re Alessandro, they were attacked and bombed by enemy aircraft but missed.
Until the armistice she cranked up 227 sorties, 202 escort, 8 minelaying, 2 ASW patrols, 15 others, over 55,000 nautical miles.
On 8 September 1943 she was in Piraeus with Francesco Crispi, Turbine, the auxiliary cruiser Francesco Morosini and TB San Martino without orders. Just when announced, the German minelayer Drache laid a minefield outside the port and coastal batteries prepared to fire. She surrendered and was captured on 9 September 1943, half of the crew was imprisoned, the other half chose to collaborate and stayed, so she was incorporated into the Kriegsmarine. At first renamed Achilles on 13 September 1943 she became TA 15 on 28 October and on 16 November TA 19, rearmed and modernized wit the single aft 102mm/45 Ansaldo-Schneider 1917 replaced by a 37/83 mm SK C/30 and radar Fu.Mo.28 installed, crew 134 men speed 24 knots under command Jobst Hahndorff as part of the 9th Torpedoboot-Flotille.
Like TA 16 se was caught in a storm and damaged. On 3 March 1944, with TA 15, TA 16 she clashed off Rhodes, with MTB 307 and MTB 315. On 17 April she was torpedoes, but missed by HMS Unruly in the Doro channel and depth charged her. On 19 July she was missed by HMS Vampire.
At 17:08 on 19 August 1944 while 4 miles east of Karlovasi she spotted four torpedoes wakes at 2000-2500 metres port side. They came from the Greek submarine Pipinos. She dodged all but one which hit her amidships port. She lost all power and burst in flames, radio and pumps out. The gun crews remained at post but the ship was orderly evacuated on rafts to reach the shore a mile away. At 17:32 she broke in two and sank off Samos, the commander still on board survived. She lost five men trapped deep in the hull wasfter the torpedo hit.
Built between January 1921 and June 1924 she was assigned to the IV Destroyer Squadron and until 1932 and had the same interwar career as her sisters.
On 10 June 1940 she was in the XVI TB Squadron in La Spezia and worked for the Maritrafalba from 5 September in escort missions anti-submarine hunting duties.
These adriatic missions were relatively uneventful. On 5 May 1941 the XVI TB Squadron joined Marisudest in Athens and she escorted vessels to Crete and Cyrenaica, working with the Kriegsmarine. Whille back to Piraeus they were mistokook for allied ships and attacked by Ju 87 «Stuka», damaging Sella.
From September and early October 1941 she carried out minelaying missions, three near the Dardanelles Strait.
October 3 she rescued the crew of the steamer Gautier, sank by HMS Talisman. On 19 October 1941 at 19:28 the TB Altair rane into the mines laid by HMS Rorqual west San Giorgio Is. in the Saronic Gulf and lost her bow. Monzambano and Barletta were order to continue to Candia. Altair sank at on 20 October but most of the crew was rescued.
On 3 November while leaving the Dardanelles at 10:37 HMS Proteus hit Tampico with a torpedo but survived, arrived at Piraeus while Monzambano depht charge the sub. On 18 February 1942 at 12:15 she was present when HMS Turbulent attacked but missed in the Gulf of Suda.
On 17 July 1942, Monzambano was escorting the German tanker Petrakis Nomikos when torpedoed by HMS Rorqual. On 7 August 1942 they were attacked by HMS Proteus in Cretan waters, Wachtfels was sunk.
On 31 August 1942 was an air attack by high altitude bombers, also on 2 September but by torpedo bombers and she recued me from Picci Fassio.
On 7 July she escorted the the German (ex-Greek) tanker Petrakis Nomikos and teamer Gerda Tofr from the Dardanelles to Piraeus under escort of four aircraft with Turbine and UJ 2102, UJ 2104, both with active sonars. At 08:02, Petrakis Nomikos was hit by two torpedoes from their old nemesis, HMS Rorqual. On aircraft dropped depth charges followed by an attack from the German sub hunters. Monzambano and UJ 2104 were ordered to escort the Gerda Tofr to port and the Petrakis Nomikos assisted by Turbine, capsized and sank at 9:35, all 66 crew members rescued.
When the armistice came out she had completed 167 escort missions, seven minelaying missions, thirty other patrols. On 8 September 1943 under Commander Alberto Cuomo she left Patras, about to fall to the Germans, for Taranto but off the coast of Zakynthos she was targeted by severam Ju 87 «Stuka» but she drove them off and arrived safely. She started a co-belligerence period with 74 missions, escorts off Algeria and Tunisia, Ionian Sea and Sicily.
Between 1946 and 1947 she modernized but deactivated on 15 April 1948, decommissioned on 15 April 1951, stricken and BU.
Read More/Src
Books
Fraccaroli, Aldo (1985). “Italy”. In Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1906–1921. NIP
Roberts, John (1980). “Italy”. In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books.
La Racine, R. B. (March 2011). “In Adriatico subito dopo la vittoria”. Storia Militare (in Italian). No. 210.
Giorgio Giorgerini, La guerra italiana sul mare. La Marina tra vittoria e sconfitta 1940-1943, p. 262 (in Italian).
Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. NIP
Links
marina.difesa.it/
navypedia.org/
culturanavale.it/documentazione.php
trentoincina.it/ Monzanbano
trentoincina.it/ Castelfidardo
trentoincina.it Curtatone
trentoincina.it Catalafimi
en.wikipedia.org/ Curtatone-class_destroyer
it.wikipedia.org/ Curtatone
Model Kits
TA17 TA18 Solferino- S.Martino Delphis Models | No. DM-45 | 1:700
