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Italian destroyer Fulmine (1931)

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Fulmine 1931
History
Kingdom of Italy
NameFulmine
NamesakeLightning
BuilderCantieri navali del Quarnaro, Fiume
Laid down1 April 1930
Launched2 August 1931
Completed4 September 1932
FateSunk by gunfire, 9 November 1941
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeFolgore-class destroyer
Displacement
Length96.05 m (315 ft 1 in) (o/a)
Beam9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Draught3.3–4.3 m (10 ft 10 in – 14 ft 1 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range3,600 nmi (6,700 km; 4,100 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement185
Armament

Fulmine was one of four Folgore-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the early 1930s. Completed in 1932, she served in World War II.

Design and description

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The Folgore-class destroyers were essentially copies of the preceding Freccia class, although their beam was reduced in an unsuccessful attempt to improve their speed over that achieved by the earlier ships.[1] The Folgores had an overall length of 96.05 meters (315 ft 1 in), a beam of 9.2 meters (30 ft 2 in) and a mean draft of 3.3 meters (10 ft 10 in)[2] and 4.3 meters (14 ft 1 in) at deep load.[1] They displaced 1,238 metric tons (1,218 long tons) at standard load, and 2,090 metric tons (2,060 long tons) at deep load.[3] Their complement during wartime was 185 officers and enlisted men.[4]

The Folgores were powered by two Belluzzo geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Thornycroft boilers.[4] The turbines were designed to produce 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000 kW) and a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) in service, although the ships reached speeds of 38–39 knots (70–72 km/h; 44–45 mph) during their sea trials while lightly loaded. They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km; 4,100 mi) at a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[1]

Their main battery consisted of four 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure.[3] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Folgore-class ships was provided by a pair of 40-millimeter (1.6 in) AA guns in single mounts amidships and a pair of twin-gun mounts for 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns. They were equipped with six 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. Although the ships were not provided with a sonar system for anti-submarine work, they were fitted with a pair of depth charge throwers.[1] The Folgores could carry 52 mines.[3]

Construction and career

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Fulmine was laid down by Cantieri navali del Quarnaro at their Fiume shipyard on 1 October 1929, launched on 2 August 1931 and commissioned on 14 September 1932.[2]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d Brescia, p. 116
  2. ^ a b Whitley, p. 166
  3. ^ a b c Fraccaroli, p. 53
  4. ^ a b Roberts, p. 300

Bibliography

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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.
  • Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
  • Roberts, John (1980). "Italy". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 280–317. ISBN 0-8317-0303-2.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.
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