Destroyer of the Regia Marina
 Saetta, date unknown
|
| History |
|---|
 Kingdom of Italy |
|---|
| Name | Saetta |
| Builder | Cantieri del Tirreno, Riva Trigoso |
| Laid down | 27 May 1929 |
| Launched | 17 January 1932 |
| Completed | 10 May 1932 |
| Fate | Sunk by mine, 3 February 1943 |
| General characteristics (as built) |
|---|
| Class and type | Freccia-class destroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 96.15 m (315 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 9.75 m (32 ft 0 in) |
| Draught | 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines |
| Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range | 4,600 nmi (8,500 km; 5,300 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | 185 |
| Armament | |
Saetta was one of four Freccia-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the early 1930s. Completed in 1932, she served in World War II. She played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939, supporting the Nationalists.
Design and description
The Freccia-class destroyers were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding Turbine class.[1] They had an overall length of 96.15 meters (315 ft 5 in), a beam of 9.75 meters (32 ft 0 in) and a mean draft of 3.15 meters (10 ft 4 in).[2] They displaced 1,225 metric tons (1,206 long tons) at standard load, and 2,150 metric tons (2,120 long tons) at deep load.[3] Their complement during wartime was 185 officers and enlisted men.[4]
The Freccias were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Thornycroft boilers.[4] The turbines were designed to produce 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000 kW) and a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) in service, although the ships reached speeds of 38–39 knots (70–72 km/h; 44–45 mph) during their sea trials while lightly loaded. They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 4,600 nautical miles (8,500 km; 5,300 mi) at a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[1]
Their main battery consisted of four 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure.[3] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Freccia-class ships was provided by a pair of 40-millimeter (1.6 in) AA guns in single mounts amidships and a pair of twin-gun mounts for 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns.[4] They were equipped with six 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. Although the ships were not provided with a sonar system for anti-submarine work, they were fitted with a pair of depth charge throwers.[1] The Freccias could carry 54 mines.[3]
Construction and career
Saetta was laid down by Cantieri del Tirreno at their Riva Trigoso shipyard on 27 May 1929, launched on 17 January 1932 and commissioned on 10 May.[2] During the Spanish Civil War, the ship torpedoed and sank the Republican 7,932-gross register ton (GRT) oil tanker SS Campeador off Ras el Mustafa, French Tunisia, on 11 August 1937.[5]
