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Gabbiano-class corvette

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The Gabbiano-class corvettes were a group of 59 vessels built for the Regia Marina of Italy for service during the Second World War. They were built to a war-time design and intended for anti-submarine and escort duties.

Class overview
NameGabbiano
Operators
Built1939–1943
In commission1940–1972
Planned60
Completed49
Retired14
General characteristics [1]
TypeCorvette
Displacement
  • 660 long tons (671 t) standard
  • 728 long tons (740 t) full load
Length58.8 m (192 ft 11 in)
Beam8.71 m (28 ft 7 in)
Draught2.53 m (8 ft 4 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 shaft Diesel
  • 3,500 bhp (2,600 kW)
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement110
Sensors and
processing systems		Sonar and hydrophones
Electronic warfare
& decoys		Sonar
Armament

Design

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The Gabbianos were designed to be built quickly and in large numbers and began to enter service in May 1942. The ships were fitted with sonar and hydrophones, but the Regia Marina did not consider removing features such as torpedo tubes to reduce topweight or allow the vessels to carry more anti-submarine weapons.[2] These ships were equipped with electric 'creep' motors with an endurance of 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) for silent running while engaged in anti-submarine searches,[3] Overall, they were well-designed for operations in the Mediterranean and were successful in their role.

Service

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UJ-202 (ex Melpomene)

Sixty vessels were ordered, and 29 were completed by September 1943. The Germans seized many of these vessels after the Italian surrender in 1943, and operated them under new names until the end of the war. The Germans also completed 20 vessels under construction. Fourteen vessels survived the war; the postwar Marina Militare used them as patrol vessels until 1972.

Two corvettes played important parts in Italian history: Persefone brought Mussolini, under arrest after 25 July 1943, from Gaeta to Ponza, while a short time later on 9 September 1943 Baionetta carried the Italian royal family and the Italian government with Marshall Badoglio from Pescara to Brindisi during their escape from Rome after the armistice.

Ships

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Construction data
Ship Hull no. [4] Builder Launched Operational history
Alce C 23 O.T.O. Livorno 27 May 1942 Completed as UJ-6084
Antilope C 19 OTO, Livorno 9 May 1942 She beat off the attack of three British MTBs (MTB-77, MTB-82 and MTB-61) off Marettimo on 16 February 1943, while escorting a four-ship convoy along with her sister ship Gabbiano and the torpedo boats Sirio and Monsone. The motor torpedo boats were caught in advance by the escorts' sonar.[5] German UJ-6082 after September 1943
Ape C 25 Navalmeccanica 22 November 1942
Ardea C 54 Ansaldo, Genoa — UJ-2225; not completed
Artimede C 39 CRDA, Monfalcone 9 August 1942 German UJ-2226
Baionetta C 34 Breda 5 October 1942
Berenice C 66 CRDA, Monfalcone 20 May 1943 Sunk, 9 September 1943
Bombarda C 38 Breda 31 August 1942 Completed as UJ-206
Calabrone C 30 Navalmeccanica 27 June 1943 German; not renamed
Camoscio C 21 OTO, Livorno 9 May 1942 German UJ-6081; Sunk by the American destroyer USS Somers on 15 August 1944 during the Battle of Port Cros
Capriolo C 22 OTO, Livorno 5 December 1942 Completed as UJ-6083
Carabina C 37 Breda 31 August 1943 Completed as UJ-207
Cavalletta C 31 Navalmeccanica 3 December 1942 German; broken up
Cervo C 56 OTO, Livorno — UJ-6086; not completed
Chimera C 48 CRDA, Trieste 30 January 1943
Cicala C 29 Navalmeccanica 27 June 1943 German; not renamed
Clava C 63 Breda German; broken up
Cicogna C 15 Ansaldo, Genoa 12 October 1942 Sank the British Submarine HMS Thunderbolt (former HMS Thetis) with depth charges on 14 March 1943 off Sicily. Cicogna was bombed 24 July 1943; scuttled
Cocciniglia C 61 Navalmeccanica
Colubrina C 35 Breda 7 December 1942 Completed as UJ205
Cormorano C 13 Cerusa 20 September 1942 Sank or destroyed at least three hostile German small vessels on 9 September 1943 off Bastia, Corsica. Decommissioned in 1966
Crisalide C 58 Navalmeccanica
Danaide C 44 CRDA, Trieste 21 October 1942
Daino C 55 OTO, Livorno — UJ-6087; not completed
Driade C 43 CRDA, Trieste 7 October 1942
Egeria C 67 CRDA, Monfalcone UJ-201; sunk by the Free-French destroyer Le Terrible during the Battle of Ist on 29 February 1944
Euridice C 70 CRDA, Monfalcone UJ-204; not completed
Euterpe C 41 CRDA, Monfalcone 22 October 1942 Along with sister ship Minerva sank British submarine P247 on 14 August 1943. Scuttled September 1943.
Farfalla C 59 Navalmeccanica
Fenice C 50 CRDA, Trieste 1 March 1943
Flora C 46 CRDA, Trieste 1 December 1942
Folaga C 16 Ansaldo, Genoa 14 November 1942
Gabbiano C 11 Cerusa 23 June 1942 She repelled the attack of three British MTBs (MTB-77, MTB-82 and MTB-61) off Marettimo on 16 February 1943, while escorting a four-ship convoy along with her sister ship Antilope and the torpedo boats Sirio and Monsone. The motor torpedo boats were caught in advance by the escorts' sonar.[6] Assisted torpedo boat Climene in the chase and sinking of HMS Sahib on 24 April 1943. Decommissioned 1971
Gazzella C 20 OTO, Livorno 9 May 1942 Sunk by mine, 5 August 1943
Grillo C 28 Navalmeccanica 21 March 1943 German; not renamed
Gru C 18 Ansaldo, Genoa 23 December 1942
Ibis C 17 Ansaldo, Genoa 12 December 1942
Libellula C 32 Navalmeccanica German; broken up
Lucciola C 27 Navalmeccanica 21 March 1943
Marangone C 52 Ansaldo, Genoa 16 September 1943 Completed as UJ-2223
Maggiolino C 60 Navalmeccanica
Melpomene C 68 CRDA, Monfalcone 29 August 1943 Completed as UJ-202
Minerva C 42 CRDA, Monfalcone 5 November 1942 Along with sister ship Euterpe sank British submarine HMS Saracen on 14 August 1943. Decommissioned in 1970
Pellicano C 14 Cerusa 12 February 1943
Persefone C 40 CRDA, Monfalcone 21 September 1942 Scuttled September 1943
Pomona C 45 CRDA, Trieste 18 November 1942
Procellaria C 12 Cerusa 4 September 1942
Renna C 24 OTO, Livorno 5 December 1942 Completed as UJ-6085
Scure C 62 Breda — UJ-209; not completed
Scimitarra C 33 Breda 16 September 1942
Sfinge C 47 CRDA, Trieste 9 January 1943
Sibilla C 49 CRDA, Trieste 10 March 1943
Spingarda C 36 Breda 22 March 1943 Completed as UJ-208
Stambecco C 57 OTO, Livorno — UJ-6088; not completed
Strolaga C 53 Ansaldo, Genoa — UJ-2224; not completed
Tuffetto C 51 Ansaldo, Genoa 25 August 1943 Completed as UJ-2222
Tersicore C 69 CRDA, Monfalcone — UJ-203; not completed
Urania C 65 CRDA, Monfalcone 21 April 1943
Vespa C 26 Navalmeccanica 22 November 1942 German UJ-2221 after September 1943
Zagaglia C 64 Breda

Notes

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  1. ^ Conway p316-317
  2. ^ Conway p302
  3. ^ Conway p317
  4. ^ Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian warships of World War 2. London: Ian Allan. pp. 9–10.
  5. ^ Giorgerini, Giorgio (2001). La guerra italiana sul mare. La Marina tra vittoria e sconfitta 1940-1943 (in Italian). Mondadori. p. 550. ISBN 8804405813.
  6. ^ Giorgerini, Giorgio (2001). La guerra italiana sul mare. La Marina tra vittoria e sconfitta 1940-1943 (in Italian). Mondadori. p. 550. ISBN 8804405813.

References

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  • Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-544-8.
  • Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
  • Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Chesneau, Roger (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
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