Trieste 1941
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Trento | OTO, Livorno | 8.2.1925 | 4.10.1927 | 3.4.1929 | sunk 15.6.1942 | ||
| Trieste | STT, Trieste | 22.6.1925 | 24.10.1926 | 21.12.1928 | sunk 10.4.1943 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
Trento: 10344 Trieste: 10339 |
|
Displacement full, t |
Trento: 13334 Trieste: 13326 |
|
Length, m |
190.0 pp 197.0 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
20.6 |
|
Draught, m |
6.80 mean deep |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 12 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
120000 (150000 forced) |
|
Max speed, kts |
34 (36 forced) |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 2214 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 4160(16) |
|
Armour, mm |
belt: 70, bulkheads: 60 - 40, decks: 50 - 20, barbettes: 70 - 60, turrets: 80, CT: 100 - 40, communication tube: 70 - 60 |
|
Armament |
4 x 2 - 203/50 Ansaldo 1924, 8 x 2 - 100/47 OTO 1924, 4 x 1 - 40/39 Vickers-Terni 1917, 4 x 1 - 12.7/62, 8 - 533 TT aw (beam, 12), 1 catapult, 3 seaplanes (P.6) |
|
Complement |
723 - 781 |
Project history: The first Italian "Washington" cruisers. They were built under the 1924-1925 programme. At their creation the basic thrust have been made on achievement of high speed. For achievement of included in the technical design 34kts speed it was necessary to give more than thirds of hull length to 4-shaft 120000hp machinery. Usage of so powerful and heavy machinery (more than 2300t weight), placed besides en echelon, left on armament and protection share not too a lot of displacement. To be kept in frameworks of allowed 10000t, Italians have gone on the maximum weight reduction of a hull structure, but all the same both ships have appeared more than on 300t heavier than the resolved limit.
Protection, as well as at the majority of the first "Washington" cruisers, mismatched armament though, unlike British and French shipbuilders, Italians could install 70mm armoured belt between end barbettes. Thus the belt could resist of 203mm shells only on considerable distances, on which 50mm deck could not stop any more shells falling under the high angle. For 203mm shells Trento and Trieste have appeared same "cartoon", as well as all remaining "Washington" cruisers. 203mm/50 main guns in four turrets had 45° maximum elevation angle. The construction of turrets was not absolutely successful, and designed firing rate (3 shots per minute) managed to be reached far not at once. In completion of all turrets have appeared very tight. Trento and Trieste became the first Italian ships in which for a design stage the aviation armament was provided, and as the place for catapult a forecastle had been chosen under which deck in a bow from the No1 turret there was a hangar for two seaplanes: they moved to a catapult by the elevator.
On 8hour trials both ships have closely come nearer to contract 36kts, having reached 35.6-35.7kts, however this outstanding speed Trento and Trieste have shown at the displacement only very slightly exceeding the standard. During trials strong vibration of tripod foremast and fire control system on it has been revealed. During daily service speed in the high sea reached about 31kts.
They were originally classified as light cruisers, but soon re-rated as the heavy cruisers.
Ship protection: 70mm main belt expanded between end barbettes (8m fwd of "A" and 5m abaft of "Y") and closed by 60mm upper and 50mm (fwd) or 40mm (aft) lower bulkheads. 50mm flat main deck connected with upper edge of main belt. Aft end outside the citadel was protected by 20mm lower deck with 30mm slopes. Barbettes and communication tube had 70mm protection above and 60mm below the upper deck. CT had 100mm sides, 40mm deck and 50mm roof. Director had 80mm sides and 60mm roof.
Modernizations: 1937 - 1938, both: - 2 x 2 - 100/47, 4 x 1 - 40/39, 4 x 1 - 12.7/62; + 4 x 2 - 37/54 Breda 1932, 4 x 2 - 13.2/76
1942, Trento: - 4 x 2 - 13.2/76; + 4 x 1 - 20/65 Breda 1940
1943, Trieste: - 4 x 2 - 13.2/76; + 8 x 1 - 20/65 Breda 1940
Naval service: Trento 15.6.1942 was damaged by British air torpedo (Beaufort torpedo bomber from Malta), and 4 hours later sunk by two torpedoes from British submarine Umbra. Trieste was hard damaged 21.11.1941 by torpedo from British submarine Utmost; 10.4.1943 she was sunk at La Maddalena by American B-24 bombers. Wreck was raised in 1950 and sold for BU in 1956.
Trento pre-war
© Ivan Gogin, 2009-14