The Condottieri class was a sequence of five light cruiser classes of the Regia Marina (Italian Navy), although these classes show a clear line of evolution. They were built before World War II to gain predominance in the Mediterranean Sea. The ships were named after condottieri (military commanders) of Italian history.

Condottieri-class cruiser Raimondo Montecuccoli at Venice
Class overview
NameCondottieri class
Operators
Subclasses
  • Giussano class
  • Cadorna class
  • Montecuccoli class
  • Duca d'Aosta class
  • Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi class
Built1928–1937
In commission1931–1971
Completed12
Lost6
Retired6
General characteristics
TypeLight cruiser
Displacement
  • 5,323–11,350 tonnes (5,239–11,171 long tons) standard
  • 7,113–11,735 tonnes (7,001–11,550 long tons) full load
Length169.3–187 m (555–614 ft)
Beam15.5–18.9 m (51–62 ft)
Draught5.2–6.9 m (17–23 ft)
Propulsion
  • 2 geared turbines
  • 6 boilers
  • 95,000–110,000 hp (71–82 MW)
Speed37 kn (69 km/h; 43 mph)
Complement507
Armament8 152 mm (6 in)/53 cal. guns
Aircraft carried2–4 × reconnaissance floatplanes
General characteristics (Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi-class)
Displacement
  • 11,350 t (11,171 long tons) standard
  • 11,735 t (11,550 long tons) full load
Length187 m (614 ft)
Beam18.9 m (62 ft)
Draught6.9 m (23 ft)
Propulsion
  • 2 geared turbines
  • 6 boilers
  • 110,000 hp (82 MW)
Speed34 kn (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Complement640
Armament10 152 mm (6 in)/55 guns
Aircraft carried4 × IMAM Ro.43 reconnaissance floatplanes

Each class is known after the first ship of the group:

Giussano class:

Cadorna class:

Montecuccoli class:

Duca d'Aosta class:

Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi class:

Evolution

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The first group, the four Giussanos, were built to counter the French large destroyers (contre-torpilleurs), the first being the 2,500 ton Le Fantasque-class, and therefore they featured very high speed, in exchange for virtually no armour protection.

The following two Cadornas retained the main characteristics, with minor improvements to stability and hull strength.

Major changes were introduced for the next pair, the Montecuccolis. About 2,000 tons heavier, they had significantly better protection, and upgraded power-plants to maintain the required high speed.

The two Duca d'Aostas continued the trend, thickening the armour and improving the power plant again.

The final pair, the Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzis completed the transition, sacrificing a little speed for good protection (their armour scheme was the same of the Zara-class heavy cruisers) and for two more 6-inch /55 guns.

Service

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All ships served in the Mediterranean during World War II.

The ships of the first two subclasses (with the exception of Luigi Cadorna) were all lost by 1942, primarily to enemy torpedoes (with Bartolomeo Colleoni sunk by destroyers at the Battle of Cape Spada after being crippled by HMAS Sydney, Alberico da Barbiano and Alberto di Giussano suffering a similar fate at in a night action of the Battle of Cape Bon, Giovanni delle Bande Nere sunk by British submarine HMS Urge, and Armando Diaz sunk by the British submarine HMS Upright) that led many authors (including Preston) to question their real value as fighting ships. The subsequent vessels fared considerably better with all surviving the war, except Muzio Attendolo (torpedoed in August 1942 and sunk by an Allied bombing in December 1942).

After the end of the war, Eugenio di Savoia and Emanuele Filiberto Duca d'Aosta were given to the Greek Navy and the Soviet Navy respectively as war reparations; Luigi Cadorna was quickly stricken, Raimondo Montecuccoli became a training ship, and the Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi subclass served on in the Marina Militare until the 1970s, with Giuseppe Garibaldi becoming the first European guided missile cruiser in 1961.

Ships

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List of Condottieri-class ships
Ship Class Builder Laid down Service
Start End
Alberto di Giussano Giussano class Ansaldo 29 March 1928 1 January 1931 13 December 1941
Alberico da Barbiano Ansaldo 16 April 1928 9 June 1931 13 December 1941
Bartolomeo Colleoni Ansaldo 21 June 1928 10 February 1932 19 July 1940
Giovanni delle Bande Nere Cantieri Navali di Castellammare di Stabia 31 October 1928 1 January 1931 1 April 1942
Luigi Cadorna Cadorna class Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico 19 September 1930 11 August 1933 May 1951
Armando Diaz Odero Terni Orlando 28 July 1930 29 April 1933 25 February 1941
Raimondo Montecuccoli Montecuccoli class Ansaldo 1 October 1931 30 June 1935 1 June 1964
Muzio Attendolo Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico 10 April 1931 7 August 1935 4 December 1942
Emanuele Filiberto Duca d'Aosta Duca d'Aosta class Odero Terni Orlando 29 October 1932 13 July 1935 20 February 1959
Eugenio di Savoia Ansaldo 6 July 1933 16 January 1936 1965
Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi Duca degli Abruzzi class Odero Terni Orlando 28 December 1933 1 December 1937 January 1961
Giuseppe Garibaldi Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico 28 December 1933 1 December 1937 1971

Notes

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References

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  • Preston, Antony (2002). The World's Worst Warships. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-754-6.
  • Whitley, M.J. (1996). Cruisers of World War Two : an international encyclopedia (Reprinted ed.). London: Arms and Armour. ISBN 1854092251.
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