| Gabbiano-class corvette | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class overview | |
| Name: | Gabbiano |
| Operators: |
 Regia Marina Kriegsmarine |
| Built: | 1942–1943 |
| In commission: | 1942–1945 |
| Completed: | 59 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Type: | Corvette |
| Displacement: |
660 long tons (670 t) standard 728 long tons (740 t) full load |
| Length: | 58.8 m (192 ft 11 in) |
| Beam: | 8.71 m (28 ft 7 in) |
| Draught: | 2.53 m (8 ft 4 in) |
| Propulsion: |
2 shaft Diesel 3,500 bhp (2,600 kW) |
| Speed: | 18 knots (21 mph; 33 km/h) |
| Range: | 3000 nm @ 15 knots (17 mph; 28 km/h) |
| Complement: | 110 |
| Sensors and processing systems: | Sonar and hydrophones |
| Armament: |
• 1 × 100 mm (3.9 in) |
The Gabbiano class corvettes were a group of 59 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 Gabbiano's were designed to be built quickly and in large numbers and began to enter service in May 1942. These ships were equipped with electric 'creep' motors with an endurance of 16 nautical miles (30 km) at 6 knots (11 km/h) for silent running while engaged in anti-submarine searches,[2] but the Regia Marina did not consider removing features such as torpedo tubes from its escort ships to reduce topweight or allow more anti-submarine weapons to be carried. [3] Overall they were successful in their role, with good qualities for operation in the Mediterranean. The ships were fitted with sonar and hydrophones.
Service[]
Sixty vessels were ordered and 29 completed by September 1943. Many of these vessels were seized by the Germans after the Italian surrender in 1943, and operated under new names until the end of the war. The Germans completed 20 ships under construction. Fourteen ships survived the war and were operated by the postwar Marina Militare as patrol vessels until 1972. Two corvettes played important parts in the Italian history: while Persefone brought Mussolini, under arrest after the 25 July 1943, from Gaeta to Ponza, on September 9, 1943 Baionetta transported the royal family and the italian government with Marshall Badoglio from Pescara to Brindisi during their escape from Rome after the armistice.
Ships[]
| Ship | Builder | Launched | Operational History |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alce | OTO, Livorno | 27 May 1942 | Completed as Uj6084 |
| Antilope | OTO, Livorno | 9 May 1942 | German Uj6082 |
| Ape | Navalmeccanica | 22 November 1942 | |
| Ardea | Ansaldo, Genoa | - | Uj2225 not completed |
| Artimede | CRDA, Monfalcone | 9 August 1942 | German Uj2226 |
| Baionetta | Breda | 5 October 1942 | |
| Berenice | CRDA, Monfalcone | 20 May 1943 | Sunk, 9 Sept 1943 |
| Bombarda | Breda | 31 August 1942 | Completed as Uj206 |
| Calabrone | Navalmeccanica | 27 June 1943 | German not renamed |
| Camoscio | OTO, Livorno | 9 May 1942 | German Uj6081 |
| Capriolo | OTO, Livorno | 5 December 1942 | Completed as Uj6083 |
| Carabina | Breda | 31 August 1943 | Completed as Uj207 |
| Cavalletta | Navalmeccanica | 3 December 1942 | German broken up |
| Cervo | OTO, Livorno | - | Uj6086 not completed |
| Chimera | CRDA, Trieste | 30 January 1943 | |
| Cicala | Navalmeccanica | 27 June 1943 | German not renamed |
| Clava | Breda | - | German broken up |
| Cicogna | Ansaldo, Genoa | 12 October 1942 | Bombed 24 July 1943 scuttled |
| Cocciniglia | Navalmeccanica | - | |
| Columbrina | Breda | 7 December 1942 | Completed as Uj205 |
| Cormorano | Cerusa | 20 September 1942 | |
| Crisalide | Navalmeccanica | ||
| Danaide | CRDA, Trieste | 21 October 1942 | |
| Daino | OTO, Livorno | - | Uj6087 not completed |
| Driade | CRDA, Trieste | 7 October 1942 | |
| Egeria | CRDA, Monfalcone | - | Scuttled Sept 1943 |
| Euridice | CRDA, Monfalcone | Uj204 not completed | |
| Euterpe | CRDA, Monfalcone | 22 October 1942 | Scuttled Sept 1943 |
| Farfalla | Navalmeccanica | ||
| Fenice | CRDA, Trieste | 1 March 1943 | |
| Flora | CRDA, Trieste | 1 December 1942 | |
| Folaga | Ansaldo, Genoa | 14 November 1942 | |
| Gabbiano | Cerusa | 23 June 1942 | |
| Gazzella | OTO, Livorno | 9 May 1942 | |
| Grillo | Navalmeccanica | 21 March 1943 | German not renamed |
| Gru | Ansaldo, Genoa | 23 December 1942 | |
| Ibis | Ansaldo, Genoa | 12 December 1942 | |
| Libellula | Navalmeccanica | - | German broken up |
| Lucciola | Navalmeccanica | 21 March 1943 | |
| Marangone | Ansaldo, Genoa | 16 September 1943 | Completed as Uj2223 |
| Maggiolino | Navalmeccanica | - | |
| Melpomene | CRDA, Monfalcone | 29 August 1943 | Completed as Uj202 |
| Minerva | CRDA, Monfalcone | 5 November 1942 | |
| Persefone | CRDA, Monfalcone | 21 September 1942 | Scuttled Sept 1943 |
| Pomona | CRDA, Trieste | 18 November 1942 | |
| Procellaria | Cerusa | 4 September 1942 | |
| Renna | OTO, Livorno | 5 December 1942 | Completed as Uj6085 |
| Scure | Breda | - | Uj209 not completed |
| Scimitarra | Breda | 16 September 1942 | |
| Sfinge | CRDA, Trieste | 9 January 1943 | |
| Sibilla | CRDA, Trieste | 10 March 1943 | |
| Spingarda | Breda | 22 March 1943 | Completed as Uj208 |
| Stambecco | OTO, Livorno | - | Uj6088 not completed |
| Strolaga | Ansaldo, Genoa | - | Uj2224 not completed |
| Tuffetto | Ansaldo, Genoa | 25 August 1943 | Completed as Uj2222 |
| Tersicore | CRDA, Monfalcone | Uj203 not completed | |
| Urania | CRDA, Monfalcone | 21 April 1943 | |
| Vespa | Navalmeccanica | 22 Nov 1942 | German Uj2221 |
| Zagaglia | Breda | - |
Notes[]
References[]
- Conway's All the World's Fighting ships 1922-1946 (1980) ISBN 0-85177-146-7
- Italian Navy History Page (Italian language)
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