The Oriani class (also known as the Poeti class), were a group of four destroyers built for the (Royal Italian Navy) in the mid-1930s. They were improved versions of the s and had increased machinery power and a different anti-aircraft armament. The increase in power, however, disappointed in that there was only a marginal speed improvement. The obsolete 40 mm/39 pom-pom anti-aircraft guns were finally discontinued, being replaced by extra machine guns; otherwise armament was unchanged.
Modifications Significant upgrades were made to the weapons systems of the two ships that survived Matapan, similar to those made to the Maestrales. One torpedo tube mounting was replaced by two /54 guns; cannon, a 120 mm star-shell gunCampbell, pp. 335–338 and depth charge throwers were also installed. Before the end of the war, one ship, Oriani had a German Seetakt radar and an additional 20 mm cannon.
Ships All four ships were built by O.T.O. Livorno and named after poets:
Ship namesake Launched Completed Notes Alfredo Oriani 30 July 193615 July 1937Damaged in the Battle of Cape Matapan, she took part in the successful attack on Harpoon convoy in June 1942. The ship escaped from La Spezia during the Italian Armistice in 1943 and was interned in Malta. She was given to the French Navy as a war reparation, where she served as the D'Estaing until 1954 Vittorio Alfieri 20 December 19361 December 1937Sunk on 28 March 1941 in the Battle of Cape MatapanGiosuè Carducci28 October 19361 November 1937Sunk 28 March 1941 in the Battle of Cape MatapanVincenzo Gioberti19 September 193627 October 1937Sunk on 9 August 1943 by the British submarine
Notes
Bibliography
External links
Page from Uboat.net Classe Oriani Marina Militare website