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fighting ships of the world

REGIA MARINA (ITALY)

CONVERTED MERCHANT VESSELS

armed merchant cruisers of WWII

Barletta 1942

more than 1000 BRT

Name

Launched // Comm.

Builder

Tonnage, BRT

Dimensions, m

(length pp)

Speed, kts

Engine, Power hp

Armament

Fate

Adriatico 4.4.1931 // 4.1937 CRDA, Monfalcone 1976 81.5x12.3x 14 2 diesels, 2200 2x1-102/45, 4-13.2, 60mines returned 1939, commissioned again 1940, sunk 1.12.1941
Arborea D5 1929 // 6.1940 OTO, Muggiano 4959 111.1x15.2x 16 3 diesels, 4500 4x1-120/45, 6-13.2 captured 8.9.1943
Attilio Defenu 1929 // 1940 Ansaldo, Sestri Ponente 3510 98.8x13.4x5.3 14 2 diesels, 4045 2x1-102/45, 1x1-76/40, 6-13.2, 80mines sunk 25.11.1941
Barletta D16 12.9.1931 // 1936 CRDA, Monfalcone 1975 81.5x12.3x 14 2 diesels, 2200 2x1-102/45, 4-13.2, 60mines returned 1939, commissioned again 5.1940, damaged 2.12.1943, repaired mercantile
Brindisi D15 15.6.1931 // 6.1940 CRDA, Monfalcone 1976 81.5x12.3x 14 2 diesels, 2200 2x1-102/45, 4-13.2, 60mines sunk 6.8.1943
Brioni D13 4.2.1931 // 5.1940 CRDA, Monfalcone 1987 81.5x12.3x 14 2 diesels, 2200 2x1-102/45, 4-13.2, 90mines sunk 2.11.1942
Capitano Antonio Cecchi 12.10.1933 // 1940 Eriksbergs, Gothenburg, Sweden 2321 91.0x12.4x 15.5 2 diesels, 4800 2x1-100/27, 4-13.2 sunk 8.5.1941
Caralis D8 1929 // 5.1940 Ansaldo, Sestri Ponente 3510 95.9x13.3x7.0 14.5 3 diesels, 4100 4x1-102/45, 6-13.2 sunk 28.5.1943
Cattaro (ex-Jugoslavija) D26 1933 // 1942 CNQ, Fiume 1275 76.5x10.5x 15.5 2 VQE 2x1-100/47, 1x1-76/40, 4-20/65, 2DCT captured 9.9.1943
Città di Bari 1928 // 1940 STT, Trieste 3220 96.7x13.7x 13.5 1 diesel 2x1-120/45 fire 3.5.1941
Città di Catania 1910 // 1940 Ansaldo, Sestri Ponente 3262 110.8x12.8x 20 3 steam turbines, 13620 4x1-120/47, 2-47/40 sunk 3.8.1943
Città di Genova D4 1930 // 1940 CNR, Palermo 5413 125.5x15.5x 19 2 diesels, 1900 4x1-120/45, 2-20/65, 2-13.2 sunk 21.1.1943
Città di Napoli D1 12.6.1929 // 1940 CT, Riva Trigoso 5418 119.2x15.5x 17 2 diesels 4x1-120/45 sunk 28.11.1942
Città di Palermo D3 1930 // 1940 CNR, Palermo 5413 125.5x15.6x 19 2 diesels 4x1-120/45 sunk 5.1.1942
Città di Tunisi D2 1930 // 1940 CT, Riva Trigoso 5419 119.0x15.5x 17 2 diesels 4x1-120/45 captured 9.9.1943
Egeo (ex-Città di Bari) 2.4.1927 // 6.1940 STT, Trieste 3220 96.0x13.7x7.3 15 1 diesel, 1950 2x1-102/45, 5-13.2 sunk 24.4.1941
Egitto D11 1928 // 7.1940 STT, Trieste 3220 96.7x13.7x7.3 12.5 1 diesel, 1950 2x1-102/45, 5-13.2 sunk 1.3.1942
Filippo Grimani D9 7.6.1928 // 7.1941 STT, Trieste 3431 100.4x13.5x 16.5 2 diesels, 4200 2x1-102/45, 4-13.2, 60mines captured by Germany 9.9.1943
Francesco Morosini D12 3.10.1928 // 6.1940 STT, Trieste 2423 84.0x12.7x 17 2 diesels, 2100 2x1-120/45, 2-20/65 captured 9.9.1943
Ipparco Baccich D17 1931 // 6.1941 CNQ, Fiume 1500 62.0x9.2x4.5 14 1diesel 2x1-76/40, 2-13.2, 2DCT scuttled 8.9.1943
Lazzaro Mocenigo D21 1928 // 1940 CNSR, San Rocco 1403 71.8x10.5x4.5 14 1 diesel, 1200 2x1-100/47, 2-20/65, 2DCT stricken 1945
Lew D25     1980       2x1-102/45  
Loredan D19 5.9.1936 // 1940 CRDA, Monfalcone 1357 72.2x10.9x 14 1 diesel 2x1-102/45 sunk 10.4.1943
Lorenzo Marcello D20 1928 // 1941 STT, Trieste 1413 67.0x10.5x 14 1 diesel 2x1-100/47, 4-20/65, 2DCT sunk 19.6.1943
Narenta D18 1934 // 7.1941 CNR, Ancona 1362 72.2x10.9x 12 1 diesel, 1600 2x1-100/47, 4-20/65 sunk 11.4.1943
Olbia D7 1929 // 1940 Ansaldo, Sestri Ponente 3514 95.9x13.3x 14.5 2 diesels 4x1-102/45 sunk 20.6.1943
Piero Foscari D10 7.6.1928 // 8.1940 STT, Trieste 3423 100.4x13.6x 16.5 2 diesels, 4200 2x1-102/45, 4-20/65, 80mines returned 1.1941, commissioned again 7.1941, sunk 9.9.1943
Ramb I 1937 // 6.1940 Ansaldo, Sestri Ponente 3667 116.8x15.1x 17 2 diesels, 7200 4x1-120/40, 2-13.2 sunk 27.2.1941
Ramb II 7.6.1937 // 6.1940 CRDA, Monfalcone 3685 116.8x15.2x 17 2 diesels, 7200 2x1-120/40, 2-13.2 scuttled 8.9.1943
Ramb III D6 1938 // 4.1940 Ansaldo, Sestri Ponente 3667 116.8x15.1x 17 2 diesels, 6800 4x1-120/45, 2-13.2 scuttled 9.9.1943
Zara D14 4.7.1931 // 1940 CRDA, Monfalcone 1976 81.5x12.3x 14 2 diesels   sunk 2.11.1942

100 - 1000 BRT

Lago Tana D22 (1940, 783, 2-100/47, 6.1940 - 20.11.1942), Lago Zuai D23 (1940, 783, 2 - 100/47, 7.1940 - capt. 9.9.1943 (German UJ2220)), Loredan (1936, 700, 2-102/45, 1941 - 10.4.1943), Lubiana (ex-Ljubljana) D27 (1904, 953, 1941 - 1945), Mazara D24 (1934, 984, 2-76/40, 1940 - capt.9.9.1943), Pola D28 (1941, 451, 1.1942 - 8.9.1943, 20.9.1943 - 1945), Rovigno D29 (1940, 450, 1.1942 - 9.9.1943)

Project history: Merchant vessels converted to large patrols, more smaller than AMCs of other countries. Many of them can be used as minelayers.

Modernizations: 1941, Adriatico: - 2 x 1 - 102/45, 2 - 13.2; + 2 x 1 - 100/45, 2 x 1 - 20/65

Naval service: Adriatico was sunk 1.12.1941 by British cruisers Aurora, Penelope and destroyer Lively en route from Argostoli to Bengasi. Ipparco Baccich was scuttled by her crew 8.9.1943 at La Spezia. Brindisi was torpedoed by British submarine Uproar 6.8.1943 en route from Bari to Teodo and foundered under tow at Brindisi. Capitano A. Cecchi was lost 8.5.1941 off Cyrenaica as result of ammunition explosion. Cattaro was captured by German troops 9.9.1943 and in 1944 was badly damaged by Allied aircraft. Città di Genova was sunk en route from Patra to Bari 21.1.1943 by British submarine Tigris. Attilio Defenu was sunk by British submarines Thunderbolt and Thrasher 25.11.1941 en route from Taranto to Patra. Egitto was mined 1.3.1942 between Taranto and Messina. Filippo Grimani was captured by Germans in September, 1943 and after war returned to mercantile service. Lorenzo Marcello was mined 19.6.1943 en route from Bari to Patra. Francesco Morosini was captured by German troops 9.9.1943. Ramb I was sunk 27.2.1941 by New Zealand cruiser Leander in Indian Ocean off atoll Addu. Ramb III was scuttled by crew 9.9.1943 at Kobe (Japan). Città di Catania was sunk 3.8.1943 by British submarine Unruffled off Brindisi. Arborea was captured by German troops 8.9.1943. Barletta was badly damaged by German aircraft 2.12.1943 at Bari and repaired only in 1948 as merchant vessel. Brioni was sunk by Allied aircraft 2.11.1942 at Tobruk. Caralis was sunk by American aircraft 28.5.1943 at Leghorn. Egeo was sunk 24.4.1941 en route from Tunis to Palermo by British destroyers Jervis, Juno and Janus. Piero Foscari was sunk by German MTBs 9.9.1943 off Cape Castiglioncello. Narento was bombed by Allied aircraft 6.4.1943 at Trapani and later capsized. Ramb II was scuttled 8.9.1943 at Kobe (Japan).

Ramb II

Brindisi

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