NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Melilla (ex-Falco, ex-Viscol)			Pattison, Naples, Italy	3.1914	26.7.1916	2.1917 // 10.1937	stricken 11.1950
Ceuta (ex-Aquila, ex-Vifor)			Pattison, Naples, Italy	8.1916	16.8.1919	1.1920 // 10.1937	stricken 4.1948

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	1410
Displacement full, t	1820
Length, m	94.3 wl 94.7 oa
Breadth, m	9.47
Draught, m	3.35 normal 3.60 max
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Tosi steam turbines, 5 Thornycroft boilers
Power, h. p.	40000
Max speed, kts	34
Fuel, t	oil 270
Endurance, nm(kts)	1700(15)
Armament	2 x 2 - 120/45 Schneider-Canet-Armstrong 1918-19, 2 x 1 - 76/40 Ansaldo 1917, 4 x 1 - 6.5/80, 2 x 2 - 450 TT, 50 mines, 1 DCR
Complement	160

Standard scale images

Project history

Former Italian destroyers, ordered in Italy by Romania in number of four in 1913, after joining of Italy into the First World War they were requisitioned by Italian Government 5.6.1915 and completed for Italian Navy as "esploratori" ("scouts"). In 1920 two ships were redeemed by Romania, two (Aquila, ex-Vifor) and (Falco, ex-Viscol) remained Italian. In September, 1937 they were bought by Government of Spanish Nationalists and transferred to Spanish crews 10.10.1937. For concealment of fact of purchase both ship up to termination of Civil war stood out for Nationalists destroyer Velasco, in this connection till 1939 they carried fictitious double names Velasco-Melilla and Velasco-Ceuta and for similarity with Velasco false fourth funnel was installed. They were officially stricken by Italian Navy only 6.1.1939.     By the moment of acquisition by Nationalists both ships were in bad technical condition and had worn out machinery in which constantly there were accidents. They differed also by small endurance.

Modernizations

1938, both: + 4 x 1 - 20/65 C/30

Naval service

After 1939 both served mainly as TSs.