NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Euterpe 1943

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Alce	C23		OTO, Livorno	5.1942	5.12.1942	---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ6084)
Antilope	C19		OTO, Livorno	1.1942	9.5.1942	11.1942	captured by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ6082)
Ape	C25, AP, 1953- F567		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	5.1942	22.11.1942	5.1943	auxiliary 1965
Ardea	C54		Ansaldo, Genoa	3.1943	---	---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ2225)
Artemide	C39		CRDA, Monfalcone	3.1942	10.8.1942	10.1942	captured by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ2226)
Baionetta (ex-Partigiana)	C34, BA, 1953- F578		Breda, Porto Marghera	2.1942	5.10.1942	5.1943	discarded 10.1971
Berenice	C66		CRDA, Monfalcone	10.1942	20.5.1943	9.1943	sunk 9.9.1943
Bombarda	C38, BD, 1953- F549		Breda, Porto Marghera	8.1942	10.2.1944	21.4.1951	discarded 11.1978
Calabrone	C30		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	10.1942	27.6.1943	---	scuttled incomplete 9.1943
Camoscio	C21		OTO, Livorno	1.1942	9.5.1942	4.1943	captured by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ6081)
Capriolo	C22		OTO, Livorno	6.1942	5.12.1942	9.1943 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ6083)
Carabina	C37		Breda, Porto Marghera	9.1942	31.8.1943	---	captured incomplete by Germany 11.9.1943 (UJ207)
Cavalletta	C31		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	12.1942	---	---	demolished on slip 9.1943
Cervo	C56		OTO, Livorno	2.1943	---	---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ6086)
Chimera	C48, CH, 1953- F569		CRDA, Trieste	6.1942	30.1.1943	5.1943	discarded 5.1977
Cicala	C29		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	9.1942	27.6.1943	---	scuttled incomplete 9.1943
Cicogna	C15		Ansaldo, Genoa	6.1942	12.10.1942	1.1943	wrecked 24.7.1943
Clava	C63		Breda, Porto Marghera	10.1943	---	---	BU 1944
Cocciniglia	C61		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	1943	---	---	suspended 9.1943
Colubrina	C35		Breda, Porto Marghera	3.1942	7.12.1942	1.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 11.9.1943 (UJ205)
Cormorano	C13, CM, 1953- F575		Cerusa, Voltri	1.1942	20.9.1942	3.1943	discarded 7.1971
Crisalide	C58, CR, 1953- F547		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	4.1943	8.12.1947	25.9.1952	discarded 12.1972
Daino	C55		OTO, Livorno	3.1943	---	---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ6087)
Danaide	C44, DA, 1953- F563		CRDA, Trieste	5.1942	21.10.1942	2.1943	discarded 1.1968
Driade	C43, DR, 1953- F568		CRDA, Trieste	5.1942	7.10.1942	1.1943	discarded 8.1966
Egeria	C67		CRDA, Monfalcone	2.1943	3.7.1943	1.1944 // ---	scuttled 9.9.1943 (completed as German UJ201)
Euridice	C70		CRDA, Monfalcone	7.1943	12.3.1944	---	captured incomplete by Germany 11.9.1943 (UJ204)
Euterpe	C41		CRDA, Monfalcone	4.1942	22.10.1942	1.1943	scuttled 9.9.1943
Farfalla	C59, 1953- F548		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	4.1943	4.1.1948	10.2.1953	discarded 12.1971
Fenice	C50, FE, 1953- F577		CRDA, Trieste	6.1942	1.3.1943	6.1943	discarded 7.1965
Flora	C46, FL, 1953- F572		CRDA, Trieste	5.1942	1.12.1942	4.1943	discarded 1.1970
Folaga	C16, FO, 1953- F576		Ansaldo, Genoa	6.1942	14.11.1942	2.1943	discarded 8.1965
Gabbiano	C11, GB, 1953- F571		Cerusa, Voltri	1.1942	23.6.1942	10.1942	discarded 11.1971
Gazzella	C20		OTO, Livorno	1.1942	9.5.1942	2.1943	sunk 5.8.1943
Grillo	C28		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	6.1942	21.3.1943	---	scuttled incomplete 9.1943
Gru	C18, GU, 1953- F566		Ansaldo, Genoa	7.1942	23.12.1942	4.1943	discarded 8.1971
Ibis	C17, IB, 1953- F561		Ansaldo, Genoa	6.1942	12.12.1942	4.1943	discarded 7.1971
Libellula	C32		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	12.1942	---	---	demolished on slip 9.1943
Lucciola	C27		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	6.1942	21.3.1943	---	scuttled incomplete 13.9.1943
Maggiolino	C60		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	1943	---	---	suspended 9.1943
Marangone	C52		Ansaldo, Genoa	3.1943	16.9.1943	8.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ2223)
Melpomene	C68		CRDA, Monfalcone	3.1943	29.8.1943	4.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 11.9.1943 (UJ202)
Minerva	C42, MI, 1953- F562		CRDA, Monfalcone	4.1942	5.11.1942	2.1943	discarded 7.1969
Pellicano	C14, PE, 1953- F574		Cerusa, Voltri	1.1942	12.2.1943	3.1943	discarded 7.1969
Persefone	C40		CRDA, Monfalcone	3.1942	21.9.1942	11.1942	scuttled 9.9.1943
Pomona	C45, PO, 1953- F573		CRDA, Trieste	5.1942	18.11.1942	4.1943	discarded 6.1965
Procellaria	C12		Cerusa, Voltri	1.1942	4.9.1942	11.1942	sunk 31.1.1943
Renna	C24		OTO, Livorno	5.1942	5.12.1942	9.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ6085)
Scimitarra	C33, SC, 1953- F564		Breda, Porto Marghera	2.1942	16.9.1942	5.1943	discarded 6.1971
Scure	C62		Breda, Porto Marghera	10.1943	---	---	laid down as German UJ209
Sfinge	C47, SF, 1953- F579		CRDA, Trieste	6.1942	9.1.1943	5.1943	discarded 6.1977
Sibilla	C49, SB, 1953- F565		CRDA, Trieste	6.1942	10.3.1943	6.1943	discarded 2.1973
Spingarda	C36		Breda, Porto Marghera	3.1942	22.3.1943	4.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 11.9.1943 (UJ208)
Stambecco	C57		OTO, Livorno	3.1943	---	---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ6088)
Strolaga	C53		Ansaldo, Genoa	3.1943	19.9.1943	4.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ2224)
Tersicore	C69		CRDA, Monfalcone	4.1943	16.10.1943	---	captured incomplete by Germany 11.9.1943 (UJ203)
Tuffetto	C51		Ansaldo, Genoa	3.1943	25.8.1943	3.1944 // ---	captured incomplete by Germany 9.9.1943 (UJ2222)
Urania	C65, UR, 1953- F570		CRDA, Monfalcone	10.1942	21.4.1943	8.1943	discarded 8.1971
Vespa	C26		Navalmeccanica, Castellamare di Stabia	5.1942	22.11.1942	9.1943	captured by Germany 11.9.1943 (UJ2221)
Zagaglia	C64		Breda, Porto Marghera	2.1944	---	---	suspended 1944

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	660
Displacement full, t	728
Length, m	58.8 pp 64.4 oa
Breadth, m	8.71
Draught, m	2.53
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Fiat diesels / 2 electric motors for silent search Bombarda, Carabina: 2 Fiat diesels
Power, h. p.	3500 / 300 Bombarda, Carabina: 3500
Max speed, kts	18 / 6 Bombarda, Carabina: 18
Fuel, t	diesel oil 64
Endurance, nm(kts)	3000(15) / 16(6)
Armament	1 x 1 - 100/47 OTO 1937, 2 x 2 - 20/65 Breda 1935, 3 x 1 - 20/70 Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 1939, 2 x 1 - 450 TT (not in all), 8 DCT, 2 DCR (76), 2 Ginocchio towed ASW torpedoes Urania: 1 x 1 - 100/47 OTO 1937, 2 x 2 - 20/65 Breda 1935, 3 x 1 - 20/65 Breda 1940, 2 x 1 - 450 TT, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (76), 2 Ginocchio towed ASW torpedoes Bombarda, Crisalide, Farfalla: 1 x 1 - 100/47 OTO 1937, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Bofors Mk 1, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 2 x 1 - 450 TT, 4 DCT
Electronic equipment	S-Gerät sonar, hydrophone Bombarda, Crisalide, Farfalla: SO-13 radar, QCU-2 sonar
Complement	110

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Experience of the first year of war on Mediterranean sea has shown necessity to have purpose-built ASW ships for guards of escorts, and the requirement for them increased with each month, in process of growth of losses among light naval forces. Creation of enough fast ship close on the elements to torpedo boats of Spica or Pegaso classes was originally supposed, however they not so approached for this purpose as were originally designed for other tasks and did not carry sufficient anti-submarine armament. Besides torpedo boats were too large and expensive in a building that became unacceptable for the ship which building was planned to develop the big series, by shipbuilders without wide experience of naval shipbuilding. In the summer of 1941 from several preliminary variants "pure" escort has been chosen, with moderate dimensions and speed, but with extremely strong anti-submarine armament including even torpedoes (for attack of surfaced submarines).

Interesting feature of new ships classified as "an anti-submarine corvette" became installation, besides main diesels, of two 150hp electric motors intended for silent running during attack of submarine. Battery capacity sufficed on 16nm under electric motors. Similar combined machinery was installed on all corvettes, except completed by Germans Bombarda and Carabina.

In total 60 corvettes were ordered, from them till September, 1943 28 were commissioned by Italian Navy.

In September, 1943 many ships of this class had got into German hands, both completed but scuttled by crews and incomplete at shipyards.

Germans completed Capriolo, Alee, Renna, Melpomene, Colubrina, Bombarda, Carabina, Spingarda, Tuffetto and Marangone, commissioned them as UJ6083, UJ6084, UJ6085, UJ202, UJ205, UJ206, UJ207, UJ208, UJ2222 and UJ2223 respectively.

Modernizations

1946, all survived and completed: - 2 x 1 - 450 TT, 8 DCT, 2 DCR, 2 Ginocchio ASW towed torpedoes; + mechanical, magnetic and acoustic minesweeping gear

1950 - 1953, all survived and completed: - 2 x 2 - 20/65, 3 x 1 - 20/70, minesweeping gear, S-Gerät sonar, hydrophone; + 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 3, 2 x 1 - 450 TT, 4 DCT (Bombarda, Crisalide and Farfalla were so completed)

1956, Ape, Chimera, Pellicano: - 1 x 1 - 100/47, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog Mk 10 ASWRL, 1 DCR, SO-13 radar, QCU-2 sonar

1956, Cormorano, Danaide: - 1 x 1 - 100/47, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 1 DCR, SPS-6 radar, QCU-2 sonar

1956, Sfinge: - 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 1 DCR, SPS-6 radar, QCU-2 sonar

1956, Fenice, Flora, Folaga, Pomona, Sibilla: - 1 x 1 - 100/47, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog Mk 10 ASWRL, 1 DCR, NSM-8 radar, QCU-2 sonar

1956, Baionetta: - 1 x 1 - 100/47, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3, 1 x 1 - 24/178 Hedgehog Mk 15 DCT, 2 DCR, NSM-8 radar, QCU-2 sonar

1956, Driade, Farfalla, Gru, Ibis, Minerva, Scimitarra, Urania, Crisalide: - 1 x 1 - 100/47, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3, 1 x 1 - 24/178 Hedgehog Mk 15 ASWRL, 2 DCR, SO-13 radar, QCU-2 sonar

1956, Gabbiano, Bombarda: - 1 x 1 - 100/47, + 1 x 1 - 24/178 Hedgehog Mk 15 DCT, 2 DCR, SO-13 radar, QCU-2 sonar

late 1950s, Sfinge: - 1 x 1 - 100/47; + 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog Mk 10 ASWRL

1964, Ape: was converted to commando transport with armament consisted of 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 3

mid-1960s, Chimera, Cormorano, Danaide, Fenice, Flora, Folaga, Pellicano, Sfinge: - 1 DCR; + 1 DCR (for 12 DC)

Naval service

Procellaria was lost on a mine 31.1.1943 W of Sicily. Cicogna was damaged by British aircraft at Messina 24.7.1943 and ran aground. Gazzella 5.8.1943 was lost on a mine N of Sardinia. Berenice was sunk 9.9.1943 by German field artillery at attempt to escape from Trieste harbour.

In September, 1943 many ships of this class had got into German hands, both completed but scuttled by crews and incomplete at shipyards.

Artemide, Antelope, Camoscio and Vespa were commissioned by Kriegsmarine as UJ2226, UJ6082, UJ6081 and UJ2221 respectively.

Germans completed also Capriolo, Alee, Renna, Melpomene, Colubrina, Bombarda, Carabina, Spingarda, Tuffetto and Marangone, commissioned them as UJ6083, UJ6084, UJ6085, UJ202, UJ205, UJ206, UJ207, UJ208, UJ2222 and UJ2223 respectively.

Carabina (UJ207) in February, 1944 was sunk at Venice by Allied aircraft. Colubrina (UJ205) was sunk by Allied aircraft 27.3.1944 at Venice. Marangone (UJ2223) was sunk by Allied aircraft 16.8.1944 at Genoa. Antelope (UJ6082) was sunk 16.8.1944 W of Toulon by American destroyer Endicott. Camoscio (UJ6081) was sunk 17.8.1944 SE of Toulon by American destroyer Somers. Renna (UJ6085) was sunk by Allied aircraft 4.9.1944 at Genoa. Spingarda (UJ208) and Melpomene (UJ202) were sunk 1.11.1944 off Zadar by British escort destroyers Avon Vale and Wheatland. Capriolo (UJ6083), Alee (UJ6084), Tuffetto (UJ2222), Vespa (UJ2221), Artemide (UJ2226) were scuttled 24.4.1945 at Genoa. Bombarda (UJ206) was hard damaged at Venice by Allied aircraft 4.4.1944 and scuttled 25.4.1945.