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Scirocco

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Grecale	GR, 1953- D552, 4.1957- F556		CNR, Ancona	9.1931	17.6.1934	11.1934	frigate 4.1957, stricken 5.1964
Libeccio	LI		CT, Riva Trigoso	9.1931	4.7.1934	11.1934	sunk 9.11.1941
Maestrale	ML		CNR, Ascona	9.1931	5.4.1934	9.1934	scuttled 9.9.1943
Scirocco	SC		CT, Riva Trigoso	9.1931	22.4.1934	10.1934	foundered 23.3.1942

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	1615
Displacement full, t	2207
Length, m	101.6 pp 106.7 oa
Breadth, m	10.2
Draught, m	3.31
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 3 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	44000
Max speed, kts	38
Fuel, t	oil 520
Endurance, nm(kts)	4000(12)
Armament	2 x 2 - 120/50 OTO 1931, 2 x 1 - 40/39 Vickers-Terni 1917, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 DCT, 52 mines
Electronic equipment	hydrophone
Complement	153 - 190

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Further development of Dardo and Folgore classes. Dimensions were considerably increased for the purpose of correction of basic lacks of predecessors. At designing the big attention was given to rational weights distribution and hull strength increase. Though machinery power, in comparison with previous classes, has not increased, a successful hull form has allowed to store designed speed; moreover, real speed, in comparison with Dardo and Folgore, even was raised approximately on 2kts and reached 32kts. Armament structure has not changed, except for introduction of new 120mm guns. As well as on predecessors, on Maestrale it was not possible to avoid an overload: design standard displacement made 1449t, and actual one has exceeded 1600t.

Modernizations

1939 - 1940, all: - 2 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76; + 6 x 1 - 20/65 Breda 1939/1940, 2 DCT

1941 - 1942, all survived: + 1 x 1 - 120/15 OTO 1933/1934

1942, Maestrale: - 1 x 1 - 120/15; + 1 x 1 - 120/50 Ansaldo 1940

early 1943, Grecale: - 6 x 1 - 20/65, 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 2 x 1 - 37/54 Breda 1939, 6 x 2 - 20/65 Breda 1935

1949, Grecale: - 1 x 1 - 120/15, 6 x 2 - 20/65; + 1 x 1 - 37/54 Breda 1939, 2 x 1 - 20/65 Breda 1939/1940; lattice mast, SPS-5, SPS-6 radars and British-type bridge were installed

1953, Grecale: - 3 x 1 - 37/54, 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 6 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog Mk 10 ASWRL, 2 DCT, sonar

1960, Grecale: was armed only with 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3

Naval service

Libecco 9.11.1941 was hard damaged by British submarine Upholder and sunk at tow in Ionian sea. Scirocco 23.3.1942 foundered during a storm in Ionian sea. Maestrale 9.9.1943 was scuttled by crew at Genoa, salvaged by Germans, but never repaired and scuttled again in April, 1945. Grecale in 1952-1953 was rebuilt to fast ASW escort, in April, 1957 re-rated as frigate and since 1960 served as command ship until fleet flagship Giuseppe Garibaldi re-entered service.