Spica class torpedo boat

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RM torpedo boat Cassiopea
RM torpedo boat Cassiopea

The Spica-class were a class of torpedo boats of the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during World War II. These ships were built as a result of a clause in the Washington Naval Treaty, which stated that ships with a tonnage of less than 600 tons could be built in unlimited numbers. Thirty two ships were built in total, between 1934 and 1937, 30 of which entered service with Italy and 2 which were transferred to Sweden in 1940. Although commonly referred to as torpedo boats, the Spica-class were similar in design to destroyer escorts and were used in anti-submarine duties.

Twenty-three were lost during World War II.

[edit] Specifications

  • Displacement
    • Standard: 795 tons
    • Maximum: 1,020 tons
  • Length: 83.5 m (274 ft)
  • Beam: 8.1 m (27 ft)
  • Draught 2.55 m (8.4 ft)
  • Propulsion
    • 2 steam turbines, 19,000 shp total
    • 2 shafts
    • Maximum speed: 34 knots (63 km/h)
  • Complement: 116
  • Armament
    • 3 × 100 mm (3.94 in) guns
    • 10 × 20 mm anti-aircraft guns
    • 2 × 13.2 mm (0.52 in) anti-aircraft machine guns
    • 4 × 450 mm torpedo tubes
    • up to 20 mines

[edit] Ships

Ship Builder completed Fate
Airone Ansaldo, Genoa 10 May 1938 Sunk 12 October 1940 in the battle of Cape Passero by cruiser HMS Ajax
Alcione Ansaldo, Genoa 10 May 1938 Sunk 11 December 1941 by submarine HMS Truant
Aldebaran Ansaldo, Genoa 6 December 1936 Sunk 20 October 1941 by mines laid by submarine HMS Rorqual
Altair Ansaldo, Genoa 23 December 1936 Sunk 20 October 1941 by mines laid by submarine HMS Rorqual
Andromeda Ansaldo, Genoa 6 December 1936 Sunk 17 March 1941
Antares Ansaldo, Genoa 23 December 1936 Sank Greek submarine Proteus 29 December 1940. Sunk 28 March 1943
Aretusa Ansaldo, Genoa 1 July 1938 Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare. Decommissioned 1 August 1958
Ariel Ansaldo, Genoa 1 July 1938 Sunk 12 October 1940 in the battle of Cape Passero by cruiser HMS Ajax
Astore BS Napoletani 30 May 1935 Sold to Sweden as the Remus in 1940. Decommissioned 1958
Calipso Ansaldo, Genoa 16 November 1938 Sunk 5 December 1940, by mines east of Tripoli
Calliope Ansaldo, Genoa 28 October 1938 Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare. Decommissioned 1 August 1958
Canopo CT Riva Trigoso 31 March 1937 Sunk 3 May 1941
Cassiopea CT Riva Trigoso 26 April 1937 Sank British destroyer HMS Pakenham in battle southeast of Marettimo island, on 16 April 1943. Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare. Decommissioned 1959
Castore CNR , Ancona 16 January 1937 Sunk 2 June 1943 by HMS Jervis and Greek destroyer Vasilissa Olga (D 15)
Centauro CNR , Ancona 16 June 1936 Sunk 4 November 1942, bombed in Benghazi harbour
Cigno CNR , Ancona 15 March 1937 Sunk in battle 16 April 1943 southeast of Marettimo island, by HMS Paladin and HMS Pakenham, the latter being also sunk in the same engagement
Circe Ansaldo, Genoa 4 October 1938 Sank HMS Grampus in 1940, Sank submarines HMS Union, HMS P38 and HMS Tempest. Sunk by collision 27 November 1942
Climene CNR , Ancona 24 April 1936 Sunk 28 April 1943, by submarine HMS Unshaken
Clio Ansaldo, Genoa 2 October 1938 Sank HMS Grampus in 1940, Sank HMS Triton, Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare. Decommissioned 1959
Libra CNQ Fiume 19 January 1938 Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare. Decommissioned 1964
Lince CNQ Fiume 1 April 1938 Along with Lupo, landed troops during the reconquest of Kastelorizo, on February 1941. Sunk 28 August 1943 by submarine HMS Ultor
Lira CNQ Fiume 1 January 1938 Scuttled 9 September 1943, repaired by the Germans, and served as the TA-49, sunk by bombing 4 November 1944
Lupo CNQ Fiume 28 February 1938 Along with Libra, torpedoed the British tanker Desmoulea (8120 tn) in the Kasos straits on 31 January 1941, disabling her for the rest of the war. Captained by Francesco Mimbelli during the reconquest of Kastelorizo and the Battle of Crete, where she survived a battle against three cruisers and five destroyers, saving half of a small ships convoy. Sunk 2 December 1942 by destroyers HMS Jervis, Javelin, Janus and Kelvin while picking up survivors from Italian cargo ship Veloce en route to Tripoli
Pallade BS Napoletani 5 October 1938 Sunk 5 August 1942 by bombing in Naples
Partenope BS Napoletani 26 November 1938 Scuttled 11 September 1943
Perseo CNQ Fiume 1 February 1936 Sunk 4 May 1943 by HMS Nubian, HMS Petard and HMS Paladin
Pleiadi BS Napoletani 4 July 1938 Sunk 14 October 1941 by bombing in Tripoli harbour
Polluce BS Napoletani 8 August 1938 Sunk by torpedo bombers, 4 September 1942
Sagittario CNQ Fiume 8 October 1936 Successfully protected a German convoy of caiques during the Battle of Crete against a British squadron of three cruisers and four destroyers, slightly damaging destroyer HMS Kingston. Sank British MTB-639 off Tunis, on 28 April 1943 whilst escorting a steamer. Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare. Decommissioned 1964
Sirio CNQ Fiume 1 March 1936 Survived the war and served in the post war Marina Militare. Decommissioned 1959
Spica BS Napoletani 30 May 1935 Sold to Sweden as the Romulus in 1940. Decommissioned 1958
Vega CNQ Fiume 12 October 1936 Sunk by HMS Hereward 10 January 1941

[edit] References

  • M.J Whitley, Destroyers of World War 2, 1988 Cassell Publishing ISBN 1 85409 521 8
  • Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare: Le Navi d'Italia. V. I cacciatorpediniere italiani, 1900-1971 (Fioravanzo, Pollina, Ricciardi, Gnifetti). Rome, 1971. (In Italian)
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Italian naval ship classes of World War II
Battleships
Heavy cruisers
Light cruisers
Destroyers
Leone • Mirabello • Sella • Sauro • Turbine • Navigatori • Freccia • Folgore • Maestrale • Oriani • Soldati
Torpedo boats
Spica • Orsa • Ciclone • Ariete
Submarines
Marcello • Marconi • X • Balilla • Mameli • Pisani • Fieramosca • Bandiera • Squalo • Bragadin • Argonauta • Settembrini • Sirena • Archimede • Glauco • Pietro Micca • Calvi • Perla • Adua • Foca • Argo • Brin • Liuzzi • Cagni • Acciaio • Flutto • R • CA • CB • CM • CC
Other
San Marco (armoured cruiser) — Taranto (single ship; German cruiser from World War I)
Cancelled