Gabbiano-class corvette explained

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.

Design

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.[1] These ships were equipped with electric 'creep' motors with an endurance of 16nmi at 6kn for silent running while engaged in anti-submarine searches,[2] Overall, they were well-designed for operations in the Mediterranean and were successful in their role.

Service

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

Construction data
Ship [3] BuilderLaunchedOperational history
AlceC 23O.T.O. Livorno27 May 1942Completed as UJ-6084
AntilopeC 19OTO, Livorno9 May 1942She 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.[4] German UJ-6082 after September 1943
ApeC 25Navalmeccanica22 November 1942
ArdeaC 54Ansaldo, GenoaUJ-2225; not completed
ArtimedeC 39CRDA, Monfalcone9 August 1942German UJ-2226
C 34Breda5 October 1942
BereniceC 66CRDA, Monfalcone20 May 1943Sunk, 9 September 1943
BombardaC 38Breda31 August 1942Completed as UJ-206
CalabroneC 30Navalmeccanica27 June 1943German; not renamed
CamoscioC 21OTO, Livorno9 May 1942German UJ-6081; Sunk by the American destroyer on 15 August 1944 during the Battle of Port Cros
CaprioloC 22OTO, Livorno5 December 1942Completed as UJ-6083
CarabinaC 37Breda31 August 1943Completed as UJ-207
CavallettaC 31Navalmeccanica3 December 1942German; broken up
CervoC 56OTO, LivornoUJ-6086; not completed
ChimeraC 48CRDA, Trieste30 January 1943
CicalaC 29Navalmeccanica27 June 1943German; not renamed
ClavaC 63BredaGerman; broken up
CicognaC 15Ansaldo, Genoa12 October 1942Sank the British Submarine HMS Thunderbolt (former HMS Thetis) with depth charges on 14 March 1943 off Sicily. Cicogna was bombed 24 July 1943; scuttled
CoccinigliaC 61Navalmeccanica
ColubrinaC 35Breda7 December 1942Completed as UJ205
CormoranoC 13Cerusa20 September 1942Sank or destroyed at least three hostile German small vessels on 9 September 1943 off Bastia, Corsica. Decommissioned in 1966
CrisalideC 58Navalmeccanica-DanaideC 44CRDA, Trieste21 October 1942
DainoC 55OTO, LivornoUJ-6087; not completed
DriadeC 43CRDA, Trieste7 October 1942
EgeriaC 67CRDA, MonfalconeUJ-201; sunk by the Free-French destroyer during the Battle of Ist on 29 February 1944
EuridiceC 70CRDA, MonfalconeUJ-204; not completed
EuterpeC 41CRDA, Monfalcone22 October 1942Along with sister ship Minerva sank British submarine on 14 August 1943. Scuttled September 1943.
FarfallaC 59Navalmeccanica
FeniceC 50CRDA, Trieste1 March 1943
FloraC 46CRDA, Trieste1 December 1942
FolagaC 16Ansaldo, Genoa14 November 1942
GabbianoC 11Cerusa23 June 1942She 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.[5] Assisted torpedo boat Climene in the chase and sinking of on 24 April 1943. Decommissioned 1971
GazzellaC 20OTO, Livorno9 May 1942Sunk by mine, 5 August 1943
GrilloC 28Navalmeccanica21 March 1943German; not renamed
GruC 18Ansaldo, Genoa23 December 1942
IbisC 17Ansaldo, Genoa12 December 1942
LibellulaC 32NavalmeccanicaGerman; broken up
LucciolaC 27Navalmeccanica21 March 1943
MarangoneC 52Ansaldo, Genoa16 September 1943Completed as UJ-2223
MaggiolinoC 60Navalmeccanica
MelpomeneC 68CRDA, Monfalcone29 August 1943Completed as UJ-202
MinervaC 42CRDA, Monfalcone5 November 1942Along with sister ship Euterpe sank British submarine on 14 August 1943. Decommissioned in 1970
PellicanoC 14Cerusa12 February 1943
PersefoneC 40CRDA, Monfalcone21 September 1942Scuttled September 1943
PomonaC 45CRDA, Trieste18 November 1942
ProcellariaC 12Cerusa4 September 1942
RennaC 24OTO, Livorno5 December 1942Completed as UJ-6085
ScureC 62BredaUJ-209; not completed
ScimitarraC 33Breda16 September 1942
SfingeC 47CRDA, Trieste9 January 1943
SibillaC 49CRDA, Trieste10 March 1943
SpingardaC 36Breda22 March 1943Completed as UJ-208
StambeccoC 57OTO, LivornoUJ-6088; not completed
StrolagaC 53Ansaldo, GenoaUJ-2224; not completed
TuffettoC 51Ansaldo, Genoa25 August 1943Completed as UJ-2222
TersicoreC 69CRDA, MonfalconeUJ-203; not completed
UraniaC 65CRDA, Monfalcone21 April 1943
VespaC 26Navalmeccanica22 November 1942German UJ-2221 after September 1943
ZagagliaC 64Breda

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Conway p302
  2. Conway p317
  3. Book: Fraccaroli, Aldo . Italian warships of World War 2 . . London . 1968 . 9–10.
  4. Book: Giorgerini, Giorgio . La guerra italiana sul mare. La Marina tra vittoria e sconfitta 1940-1943 . Mondadori . 550 . 2001 . 8804405813 . it.
  5. Book: Giorgerini, Giorgio . La guerra italiana sul mare. La Marina tra vittoria e sconfitta 1940-1943 . Mondadori . 550 . 2001 . 8804405813 . it.

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