Folgore class destroyer

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The Folgore Class were a group of destroyers built for the Italian Navy in the 1930s. All four ships fought in World War II and were sunk. They were a modified version of the Freccia class destroyers, but had the beam reduced to try to increase speed. In consequence they suffered from stability problems and reduced range.

[edit] General characteristics

• Displacement: 1,220 tons standard, 2,096 tons full load
• Length: 96.05 m
• Beam: 9.2 m
• Draught: 3.3 m
• Machinery: 2 shaft Belluzzo type geared turbines, 3 boilers, 44,000 hp
• Speed: 38 knots
• Range: 3,600 nm at 12 knots
• Armament:
  • 4 120 mm guns (2x2)
  • 2 40 mm pom pom anti-aircraft guns
  • 4 13.2 mm machine guns
  • 6 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 54 mines
• Crew: 183

[edit] Ships

• Baleno - Built by CNQ Fiume, completed 15 June 1932. It was sunk on 17 April 1941 by British destroyers Jervis, Nubian, Mohawk and Janus during the Battle of the Tarigo Convoy.
• Folgore - Built by OC Partenopei, Naples, completed 1 July 1932. It was sunk on 2 December 1942 by British cruisers of Force Q off Skerki Bank.
• Fulmine - Built by CNQ Fiume, completed 14 September 1942. It was sunk on 9 November 1942 by British surface ships of Force K as part of the Battle of the Duisburg Convoy.
• Lampo - Built by OC Partenopei, Naples, completed 13 August 1932. Damaged by British destroyers on 17 April 1941 during the Battle of the Tarigo Convoy, it run aground and salvaged. It was sunk by bombs on 30 April 1943 at Cape Bon.

[edit] References

• Whitley, M.H. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Cassell Publishing. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.