Fante-class destroyer

Summary

The Fante class was a class of 3 destroyers by the Italian Navy. They entered service in 1969, with the last one being decommissioned in 1977.[1]

Geniere
Class overview
NameFante class
Builders
Operators Italian Navy
Preceded byArtigliere class
Succeeded byAudace class
SubclassesFletcher class
Built1941-1943
In commission1969-1977
Planned3
Completed3
Retired3
General characteristics
TypeDestroyer
Displacement
  • 2,050 long tons (2,083 t) standard
  • 2,500 long tons (2,540 t) full
Length376.5 ft (114.8 m)
Beam39.5 ft 10 in (12.29 m)
Draft17.5 ft 8 in (5.54 m)
Propulsion
Speed36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph)
Range5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement329
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

History edit

The Fante class of destroyers of the Italian Navy consisted of three units belonging to the United States Navy of the Fletcher class that Italy bought from the United States in 1969-1970, in order to replace the destroyers of the Artigliere class. The ships underwent changes compared to their original armament, and being very worn ships, served only for five years, except the Lanciere which was immediately disarmed and cannibalized to provide spare parts for her two sisters.

The ships purchased were in fact initially two, the USS Walker (Fante)[2] and USS Taylor (Lanciere)[3] who joined the Navy in June 1969. The disastrous conditions of the second ship, however, led to purchase in January 1970 a third unit, the USS Prichett (Geniere).[4] The Lanciere, therefore, was reused to supply spare parts to the two sister units.

Ships in the class edit

Pennant Name Builders Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned
D 561 Fante Bath Iron Works 31 August 1942 31 January 1943 2 July 1969 1977
D 555 Geniere Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation 20 July 1942 31 July 1943 17 January 1970 1975
D 560 Lanciere Bath Iron Works 28 August 1941 7 June 1942 2 July 1969 January 1971

References edit

  1. ^ """"SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM""": I 175 caccia Fletcher della US NAVY e le unità cedute alla M.M.: il Fante (D 561), il Lanciere (D560) e il Geniere (D 555)". SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Navi e Armatori - Approdi di Passione". www.naviearmatori.net. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Navi e Armatori - Approdi di Passione". www.naviearmatori.net. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Navi e Armatori - Approdi di Passione". www.naviearmatori.net. Retrieved 13 June 2021.