The Gabbiano-class corvettes were a group of 59 escort vessels built for the Regia Marina of Italy for service during the Second World War. They were built to a war-time design and intended for anti-submarine and escort duties.

Design

The Gabbianos were designed to be built quickly and in large numbers and began to enter service in May 1942. The ships were fitted with sonar and hydrophones, but the Regia Marina did not consider removing features such as torpedo tubes to reduce topweight or allow the vessels to carry more anti-submarine weapons.Conway p302 These ships were equipped with electric 'creep' motors with an endurance of at for silent running while engaged in anti-submarine searches,Conway p317 Overall, they were well-designed for operations in the Mediterranean and were successful in their role.

Service

Sixty vessels were ordered, and 29 were completed by September 1943. The Kriegsmarine seized many of these vessels after the Italian surrender in 1943, and operated them under new names until the end of the war. The Germans also completed 20 vessels under construction. Fourteen vessels survived the war; the postwar Marina Militare used them as patrol vessels until 1972.

Two corvettes played important parts in Italian history: Persefone brought Mussolini, under arrest after 25 July 1943, from Gaeta to Ponza, while a short time later on 9 September 1943 Baionetta carried the Italian royal family and the Italian government with Marshall Badoglio from Pescara to Brindisi during their escape from Rome after the armistice.

Ships + Construction data Ship Builder Launched Operational history Alce C 23 O.T.O. Livorno 27 May 1942 Completed as UJ-6084 Antilope C 19 OTO, Livorno 9 May 1942 She beat off the attack of three British MTBs (MTB-77, MTB-82 and MTB-61) off Marettimo on 16 February 1943, while escorting a four-ship convoy along with her sister ship Gabbiano and the torpedo boats Sirio and Monsone. The motor torpedo boats were caught in advance by the escorts' sonar. German UJ-6082 after September 1943 Ape C 25 Navalmeccanica 22 November 1942 Ardea C 54 Ansaldo, Genoa UJ-2225; not completed Artimede C 39 CRDA, Monfalcone 9 August 1942 German UJ-2226 C 34 Breda 5 October 1942 Berenice C 66 CRDA, Monfalcone 20 May 1943 Sunk, 9 September 1943 Bombarda C 38 Breda 31 August 1942 Completed as UJ-206 Calabrone C 30 Navalmeccanica 27 June 1943 German; not renamed Camoscio C 21 OTO, Livorno 9 May 1942 German UJ-6081; Sunk by the American destroyer on 15 August 1944 during the Battle of Port Cros Capriolo C 22 OTO, Livorno 5 December 1942 Completed as UJ-6083 Carabina C 37 Breda 31 August 1943 Completed as UJ-207 Cavalletta C 31 Navalmeccanica 3 December 1942 German; broken up Cervo C 56 OTO, Livorno UJ-6086; not completed Chimera C 48 CRDA, Trieste 30 January 1943 Cicala C 29 Navalmeccanica 27 June 1943 German; not renamed Clava C 63 Breda German; broken up Cicogna C 15 Ansaldo, Genoa 12 October 1942 Sank the British Submarine HMS Thunderbolt (former HMS Thetis) with depth charges on 14 March 1943 off Sicily. Cicogna was bombed 24 July 1943; scuttled Cocciniglia C 61 Navalmeccanica Colubrina C 35 Breda 7 December 1942 Completed as UJ205 Cormorano C 13 Cerusa 20 September 1942Sank or destroyed at least three hostile German small vessels on 9 September 1943 off Bastia, Corsica. Decommissioned in 1966 Crisalide C 58 Navalmeccanica Danaide C 44 CRDA, Trieste 21 October 1942 Daino C 55 OTO, Livorno UJ-6087; not completed Driade C 43 CRDA, Trieste 7 October 1942 Egeria C 67 CRDA, Monfalcone UJ-201; sunk by the Free-French destroyer during the Battle of Ist on 29 February 1944 Euridice C 70 CRDA, Monfalcone UJ-204; not completed Euterpe C 41 CRDA, Monfalcone 22 October 1942 She dealt the fatal blow to the submarine HMS Sahib on 24 April 1943. Along with sister ship Minerva sank British submarine on 14 August 1943. Scuttled September 1943. Farfalla C 59 Navalmeccanica Fenice C 50 CRDA, Trieste 1 March 1943 Flora C 46 CRDA, Trieste 1 December 1942 Folaga C 16 Ansaldo, Genoa 14 November 1942 Gabbiano C 11 Cerusa 23 June 1942 She repelled the attack of three British MTBs (MTB-77, MTB-82 and MTB-61) off Marettimo on 16 February 1943, while escorting a four-ship convoy along with her sister ship Antilope and the torpedo boats Sirio and Monsone. The motor torpedo boats were caught in advance by the escorts' sonar. Assisted torpedo boat Euterpe in the chase and sinking of on 24 April 1943. Decommissioned 1971 Gazzella C 20 OTO, Livorno 9 May 1942 Sunk by mine, 5 August 1943 Grillo C 28 Navalmeccanica 21 March 1943 German; not renamed Gru C 18 Ansaldo, Genoa 23 December 1942 Ibis C 17 Ansaldo, Genoa 12 December 1942 Libellula C 32 Navalmeccanica German; broken up Lucciola C 27 Navalmeccanica 21 March 1943 Marangone C 52 Ansaldo, Genoa 16 September 1943 Completed as UJ-2223 Maggiolino C 60 Navalmeccanica Melpomene C 68 CRDA, Monfalcone 29 August 1943 Completed as UJ-202 Minerva C 42 CRDA, Monfalcone 5 November 1942 Along with sister ship Euterpe sank British submarine on 14 August 1943. Decommissioned in 1970 Pellicano C 14 Cerusa 12 February 1943 Persefone C 40 CRDA, Monfalcone 21 September 1942 Scuttled September 1943 Pomona C 45 CRDA, Trieste 18 November 1942 Procellaria C 12 Cerusa 4 September 1942 Renna C 24 OTO, Livorno 5 December 1942 Completed as UJ-6085 Scure C 62 Breda UJ-209; not completed Scimitarra C 33 Breda 16 September 1942 Sfinge C 47 CRDA, Trieste 9 January 1943 Sibilla C 49 CRDA, Trieste 10 March 1943 Spingarda C 36 Breda 22 March 1943 Completed as UJ-208 Stambecco C 57 OTO, Livorno UJ-6088; not completed Strolaga C 53 Ansaldo, Genoa UJ-2224; not completed Tuffetto C 51 Ansaldo, Genoa 25 August 1943 Completed as UJ-2222 Tersicore C 69 CRDA, Monfalcone UJ-203; not completed Urania C 65 CRDA, Monfalcone 21 April 1943 Vespa C 26 Navalmeccanica 22 November 1942 German UJ-2221 after September 1943 Zagaglia C 64 Breda

Notes

References

External links

Gabbiano Marina Militare website