Italian destroyer Carlo Mirabello
![]() Carlo Mirabello at sea
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History | |
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Name | Carlo Mirabello |
Namesake | Carlo Mirabello |
Builder | Gio. Ansaldo & C., Sestri Ponente |
Laid down | 21 November 1914 |
Launched | 21 December 1915 |
Completed | 24 August 1916 |
Fate | Sunk by mine, 21 May 1941 |
General characteristics (as built) | |
Class and type | Mirabello-class destroyer |
Displacement | |
Length | 103.75 m (340 ft 5 in) |
Beam | 9.74 m (31 ft 11 in) |
Draught | 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in) (deep load) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines |
Speed | 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
Range | 2,300 nmi (4,300 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
Complement | 8 officers and 161 enlisted men |
Armament |
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Carlo Mirabello was one of three Mirabello-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during World War I.
Design and description
[edit]The ships were designed as scout cruisers (esploratori), essentially enlarged versions of contemporary destroyers.[1] They had an overall length of 103.75 meters (340 ft 5 in), a beam of 9.74 meters (31 ft 11 in) and a mean draft of 3.3 meters (10 ft 10 in).[2] They displaced 1,784 tonnes (1,756 long tons) at standard load, and 2,040 tonnes (2,010 long tons) at deep load. Their complement was 8 officers and 161 enlisted men.[3]
The Mirabellos were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by four Yarrow boilers. The turbines were rated at 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000 kW) for a speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) and Carlo Mirabello reached a speed of 33.74 knots (62.49 km/h; 38.83 mph) from 44,026 shp (32,830 kW) during her sea trials.[2] The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2,300 nautical miles (4,300 km; 2,600 mi) at a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[3]
Their main battery consisted of eight Cannone da 102 mm (4 in)/35 S Modello 1914 guns in single mounts protected by gun shields, one each fore and aft of the superstructure on the centerline and the remaining guns positioned on the broadside amidships.[4] Carlo Mirabello exchanged a Cannone da 152 mm (6 in)/40 A Modello 1891 for the forward 102 mm gun; Carlo Mirabello received hers in 1917. The gun proved to be too heavy for the ships and its rate of fire was too slow. Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Mirabello-class ships was provided by a pair of 40-caliber Cannone da 76 mm (3 in)/40 Modello 1916 AA guns in single mounts.[2] They were equipped with four 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes in two twin mounts, one on each broadside.[4] The ship could also carry 100 mines.[2]
Modifications
[edit]The 152 mm gun proved to be too heavy for the ships and its rate of fire was too slow so it was replaced when the Mirabello-class ships were rearmed with eight 45-caliber Cannone da 102/45 S, A Modello 1917 guns arranged as per Carlo Mirabello's original configuration in 1919. The 76 mm guns were replaced by a pair of 39-caliber Cannone da 40 mm (1.6 in)/39 AA guns in single mounts in 1920–1922.[2]
Citations
[edit]Bibliography
[edit]- 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 (1970). Italian Warships of World War I. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0105-7.
- Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
- Gray, Randal, ed. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-907-8.
- 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.
External links
[edit]- Carlo Mirabello Marina Militare website