Summary
The Impetuoso class were the first post-World War II destroyers built for the Italian Navy. The two ships were ordered in February 1950, entered service in 1958 and were retired in the early 1980s.[1]
 Impetuoso alongside USS Kalamazoo in the Mediterranean Sea in June 1977
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Impetuoso class |
| Builders | |
| Operators |  Italian Navy |
| Preceded by | San Giorgio class |
| Succeeded by | Impavido class |
| Built | 1952–1958 |
| In commission | 1958–1983 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Retired | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 127.6 m (418 ft 8 in) |
| Beam | 13.2 m (43 ft 4 in) |
| Draught | 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
| Range | 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Complement | 315 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys | WLR-1 ESM (only Impetuoso by 1980) |
| Armament |
|
Design edit
The Impetuoso class hull design was based on the uncompleted World War II Comandanti Medaglie d'Oro-class destroyer.[1] The class has a length of 127.6 m (419 ft) with length between perpendiculars of 123.4 m (405 ft), a beam of 13.2 m (43 ft), with a draught of 4.5 m (15 ft), and their displacement were 2,775 long tons (2,820 t) standard and 3,810 long tons (3,870 t) at full load. The ships was powered by two-shaft geared steam turbines with four Foster Wheeler boilers, with total power output of 65,000 shaft horsepower (48 MW). Impetuoso class has a maximum speed of 34 knots (63 km/h), with range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km) while cruising at 16 knots (30 km/h).[1] The ships has a complement of 315 personnel.
The class were armed with four 5-inch (127 mm)/38 caliber guns in two twin-gun turrets, 16 Bofors 40 mm/60 guns consisted of two quad-mounts and four twin-mounts, and one 305 mm Menon anti-submarine mortar. They were also armed with two fixed 533-millimetre (21 in) torpedo tubes, which was later replaced by two 12.75-inch (324 mm) triple-tubes with Mark 44 torpedoes.[1] There was a proposed modernization program in the late 1960s for the ships to be rearmed with a single lightweight 5"/54 caliber Mark 45 gun forward and RIM-24 Tartar surface-to-air missile launcher in the aft.[1]
The ships electronics and sensors consisted of SPS-6 air-search radar, SG-6B surface-search radar, SPG-25 and SPG-34 fire control radar, and SQS-11 search sonar, which was later replaced with SQS-4 sonar.[1] As of 1980, Impetuoso was equipped with WLR-1 electronic support measure system with noise jammer, while Indomito appears to be not equipped with any electronic warfare system.[1]
Ships edit
| Name | Pennant number |
Builder | Laid down[1] | Launched[1] | Commissioned[1] | Fate[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impetuoso | D 558 | CNR, Riva Trigoso | 7 May 1952 | 16 September 1956 | 25 January 1958 | Stricken 1983 |
| Indomito | D 559 | Ansaldo, Livorno | 24 April 1952 | 9 August 1955 | 23 February 1958 | Stricken 3 November 1980 |
-
Aft view of Impetuoso in May 1977
References edit
Bibliography edit
- Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
External links edit
- Destroyer Impetuoso Marina Militare website
