Vittorio Alfieri was one of four s built for the Italian: [[Regia Marina]] (Royal Italian Navy) in the mid-1930s. Completed in 1937, she served in World War II. She was sunk at the battle of Matapan on 28 March 1941 with the loss of 211 of her 246 crew including her commanding officer, Captain Salvatore Toscano.
The Oriani-class destroyers were slightly improved versions of the preceding .[1] They had a length between perpendiculars of 101.6m (333.3feet) and an overall length of 106.7m (350.1feet). The ships had a beam of 10.15m (33.3feet) and a mean draft of 3.15m (10.33feet) and 4.3m (14.1feet) at deep load.[2] They displaced 1700- at normal load, and 2400- at deep load.[3] Their complement during wartime was 206 officers and enlisted men.[4]
The Orianis were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Thornycroft boilers.[4] Designed for a maximum output of 48000shp and a speed of 32kn33kn in service, the ships reached speeds of 38- during their sea trials while lightly loaded. They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2600nmi2800nmi at a speed of and at a speed of .[3]
Their main battery consisted of four 50-caliber 120sp=usNaNsp=us guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure.[5] Amidships were a pair of 15-caliber 120-millimeter star shell guns. Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Oriani-class ships was provided by four 13.2mm machine guns. The ships were equipped with six 533mm torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. Although they were not provided with a sonar system for anti-submarine work, they were fitted with a pair of depth charge throwers.[3] The ships could carry 56 mines.[5]
. Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. Annapolis, Maryland. 2005. Third Revised. 1-59114-119-2. Jürgen Rohwer.
. Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia . 1988. Naval Institute Press. Annapolis, Maryland. 1-85409-521-8 . Michael J. Whitley.