NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Rigel 1943 Many thanks to Yedyge Kakimzhanov for correction of the information on this page.  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Alabarda	AB		CRDA, Trieste	3.1943	7.5.1944	11.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943(TA42)
Ariete	AE		Ansaldo, Genoa	7.1942	6.3.1943	8.1943	to Yugoslavia 4.1949 (Durmitor)
Arturo	AO		Ansaldo, Genoa	7.1942	27.3.1943	10.1943 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA24)
Auriga	AG		Ansaldo, Genoa	7.1942	15.4.1943	12.1943 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA27)
Balestra	BL		CNQ, Fiume	9.1942	4.10.1947	1949 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA47), completed as Yugoslavian Учка [Uchka]
Daga	DG		CRDA, Trieste	1.1943	14.8.1943	3.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA39)
Dragone	DR		Ansaldo, Genoa	7.1942	14.8.1943	4.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA30)
Eridano	ED		Ansaldo, Genoa	7.1942	12.7.1943	3.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA29)
Fionda	FI		CNQ, Fiume	8.1942	31.1.1943	---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA46)
Gladio	GL		CRDA, Trieste	1.1943	15.6.1943	1.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA37)
Lancia	LN		CRDA, Trieste	3.1943	7.5.1944	9.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA41)
Pugnale	PU		CRDA, Trieste	1.1943	1.8.1943	7.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA40)
Rigel	RG		Ansaldo, Genoa	7.1942	22.5.1943	1.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA28)
Spada	SD		CRDA, Trieste	1.1943	1.7.1943	2.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA38)
Spica	SP		CNQ, Fiume	1.1942	30.1.1944	9.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA45)
Stella Polare	SR		CNQ, Fiume	4.1942	11.7.1943	1.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.1943 (TA36)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	745
Displacement full, t	1110
Length, m	81.1 pp 83.5 oa
Breadth, m	8.62
Draught, m	3.15
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	22000
Max speed, kts	31.5
Fuel, t	oil 210
Endurance, nm(kts)	1500(16)
Armament	2 x 1 - 100/47 OTO 1937, 3 x 2 - 20/65 Breda 1935, 4 x 1 - 20/65 Breda 1940, 2 x 3 - 450 TT, 2 DCT
Electronic equipment	presumably hydrophone
Complement	150

Graphics

Project history

42 torpedo boats of Improved Spica class have been ordered in 1942 for compensation of heavy losses of escort ships at escorting of convoys to Africa with supply for Rommel corps and Italian army in Tripolitania. Ships of "improved" class differed from a prototype by more powerful machinery and lower endurance. Number of 100mm guns also was shrunk from three to two, but at the expense of usage of triple TTs the torpedo salvo was increased. Besides, they had significantly strengthened antiaircraft armament. Under the design it was supposed to install on each ship 14 AA MGs (1 twin 37mm/54, 2 twin and 8 single  20mm/65), however because of shortage of 37mm MGs new torpedo boats have not received these guns.

Owing to escalating of problems with supply only 16 ships from 42 ordered were laid down, and till September, 1943 only lead Ariete was commissioned, remaining 15 incomplete ships came into German hands.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

Alabarda was completed as German TA42 and 21.3.1945 was sunk by British aircraft at Venice. Arturo was completed as German TA24 and 18.3.1945 was sunk by torpedo from British destroyer Meteor S off Genoa. Auriga was completed as German TA27 and 9.6.1944 was sunk by British aircraft at Porto Ferraio. Daga was completed as German TA39 and 16.10.1944 was sunk on drifting mine S off Salonika. Dragone was completed as German TA30 and 16.5.1944 was sunk by American MTBs PT550, 558 and 559 W off La Spezia. Eridano was completed as German TA29 and 18.3.1945 was sunk by gunfire of British destroyers Meteor and Lookout S off Genoa. Gladio was completed as German TA37 and 7.10.1944 was sunk by gunfire of British destroyers Termagant and Tuscan in Salonika Bay. Lancia was completed as German TA41, 20.2.1945 was hard damaged by British aircraft and 1.5.1945 blown up by crew at Trieste. Pugnale was completed as German TA40 and 4.5.1945 was scuttled by crew at Trieste. Rigel was completed as German TA28 and 4.9.1944 destroyed by American aircraft in drydock at Genoa. Spada was completed as German TA38,  ran aground 9.10.1944 and 13.10.1944 was scuttled by crew. Spica was completed as German TA45 and 13.4.1945 sunk by British MTBs MTB670 and 697 in Morlacca channel off Fiume. Stella Polare was completed as German TA36 and 18.3.1944 mined SW off Fiume. Fionda and Balestra were renamed TA46 and TA47 respectively, never completed by Germans, 3.5.1945 scuttled, but after war salvaged and completed for Italian Navy.

Many thanks to Yedyge Kakimzhanov for correction of the information on this page.