Mirabello-class destroyer

Mirabello class

Company type	Scout cruiser / Destroyer class
Industry	Naval shipbuilding
Founded	1914
Headquarters	Italy
Products	Warships (Scout cruisers / Destroyers)

The Mirabello class consisted of three vessels originally classified as scout cruisers but later designated as destroyers, constructed for the "Regia Marina" (Royal Italian Navy) during the period of World War I. The destroyer Template:Shiplink was lost after striking a naval mine in the Black Sea amid the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War in 1920. By 1938, the remaining two ships had become outdated and were officially reclassified as destroyers, subsequently engaging in operations throughout World War II. The vessel Template:Shiplink was also sunk by a mine while escorting a convoy in 1941. The final surviving ship, Template:Shiplink, underwent conversion to serve as a convoy escort between 1942 and 1943, which involved removal of torpedo tubes and installation of depth charges along with 20 millimetres (0.79 in) Breda Model 35 anti-aircraft weaponry. Post-war plans to transfer her to the Soviet Union under war reparations in 1946 were abandoned due to her obsolescence, opting instead for financial compensation. She continued service with the Italian Navy until the early 1950s before being dismantled approximately five years later.

Design and description

Conceived as enlarged versions of contemporary destroyers, these vessels were designed to fulfill the role of scout cruisers (esploratori). Their overall length measured 103.75 metres (340.4 ft), with a beam spanning 9.74 metres (32.0 ft) and an average draft of 3.3 metres (11 ft). At standard displacement, they weighed approximately 1,784 tonnes (1,756 long tons; 1,967 short tons), increasing to around 2,040 tonnes (2,010 long tons; 2,250 short tons) when fully loaded. The crew complement consisted of eight officers and 161 enlisted sailors.

Propulsion was provided by two geared steam turbines manufactured by Parsons, each connected to a separate propeller shaft and powered by steam from four Yarrow boilers. These turbines delivered an output rated at roughly 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000 kW), enabling a maximum speed near 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). Fuel capacity allowed for an operational range of about 2,300 nautical miles (4,300 km; 2,600 mi) cruising at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).

Armament included eight single-mounted Cannone da 102 mm/35 caliber guns, each equipped with protective gun shields; one gun was positioned both fore and aft on the centerline near the superstructure while the remaining six were distributed along the broadside amidships. Among the class, only Carlo Mirabello was completed with this original layout, whereas her sister ships replaced the forward 102 mm gun with a heavier Cannone da 152 mm/40 caliber Modello 1891 gun—a modification introduced to Carlo Mirabello in 1917 as well. However, this larger gun proved excessive in weight and exhibited a slower firing rate than desired. Anti-aircraft defense comprised two single-mounted Cannone da 76 mm/40 caliber Modello 1916 guns. Offensive capabilities also included four torpedo tubes arranged in two twin mounts situated on each broadside. While Augusto Riboty had capacity for up to 120 naval mines, her sister ships were limited to carrying 100 mines each.

Modifications

In 1919, the vessels were refitted with eight 45-caliber Cannone da 102/45 S, A Modello 1917 guns, arranged following the original layout of Carlo Mirabello. Between 1920 and 1922, the 76 mm artillery was substituted by two single-mounted 39-caliber Cannone da 40 mm/39 anti-aircraft guns.

Ships

Construction details

Ship	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
Carlo Mirabello	21 November 1914	21 December 1915	24 August 1916	Sunk by mines on 21 May 1941
Carlo Alberto Racchia	10 December 1914	2 June 1916	21 December 1916	Lost to mines on 21 June 1920
Augusto Riboty	27 February 1915	24 September 1916	5 May 1917	Remained in service with the Italian Navy until being dismantled in 1951

Further reading

• Enrico Cernuschi, edited by John Jordan, Warship 2022, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2022, pp. 147–160, ISBN 978-1-4728-4781-2, chapter titled Esploratori of the Regia Marina, 1906—1939

External links

• Carlo Mirabello on the official Marina Militare website