Copyright 2010 by Brandon Cope

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Spica-class torpedo boat (destroyer escort)

The Spica-class ships were built from 1934-37 and were used extensively in WWII primarily protecting transports running between Italy and North Africa. They also had an anti-submarine capability and served as minelayers, minesweepers and, on rare occasions, a troop transport. The Circe may have been the most successful in the class, participating in the sinking of four British submarines, but was lost in a collision on November 27, 1942..

Thirty-two ships were built, two of which were transferred to Sweden in 1940. Of the remaining 30, 23 were lost in action. Despite this high loss rate, they gave a good account of themselves in combat While called torpedo boats by the Italians, these ships were more properly light destroyers or destroyer escorts.

The crew is normally 116 men. The ship uses 850 gallons of fuel oil per hour. At a speed of xx mph, this gives a range of xxx miles.

Subassemblies: Light Destroyer chassis +9, waterproofed Medium Conning superstructure +5, three partial rotation Large AFV turrets #1-3 +3, four full rotation Medium Weapon open mount #1-4, two full rotation Small Weapon open mounts #5-6 +0, two full-rotation Mini Weapon open mounts #7-8 +0 , two partial rotation Small TD open mount #9-10 +4.
P&P: 14,168 kW steam turbine w/2x7,084-kW screw propellers, 78,000-gallon standard fuel tank; 40,000-kWs batteries
Occ: 8 NCS Sup, 6 NCS Body, 2 NCS each turret
Cargo: 200 Body

Armor

Body: F 4/90, other 4/30

Superstructure: 4/30

100mm mounts: FRLT 4/30, B/U 0/0

20mm mounts: F 4/25

Armament
3x105mm Medium DP Guns/100mm Mod 35 [Tur1-3:F) (200 each)
8x20mm Long Ground ACs/Breda-SAFAT Mod 35 [OM#1-4:F] (2000 each)
2x20mm Long Ground ACs/Breda-SAFAT Mod 35 [OM#5-6:F] (2000 each)
2xVery Long Ground HMG/13.2mm Breda-SAFAT Mod 31 [OM#7-8:F] (2000 each)
2x450mm torpedo tubes [OM#9-10:F] (4 total).
2xdepth charge/mine racks [Body:T, facing R] (20 mines)

Equipment
Body: 500 bilge, 10 bilge pumps, 200 cargo, 2x1-ton cranes (for torpedoes), 5 fire extinguishers, 110 hammocks, 7 cabins, 8 crew stations, 2 hospital beds, 125 man environmental system, 3,600 man/days provisions, precision navigation instruments, very large radio transmitter and very large radio receiver, radio direction finder, 2 mile passive sonar, workshop, minesweeping gear. Superstructure: Autopilot, 8 crew stations, precision navigation instruments, fire extinguisher, 2 cabins. OM1-8: Universal mount.

Statistics

HT: 12
HP: 75,000 [body], 1,200 [superstructure], 285 [turret, open mounts 7-8], 75 [open mount 1-4], 45 [open mount 5-6]

Floatation Rating: 1,800 tons

Design Notes
The historical displacement of 1,020 tons was used to calculate performance data. Design draft was 11'; the historical number was used instead.

The ships originally had their torpedoes in four single mounts, but this was quickly changed after the ships entered service. Depending on the mission, up to 20 mines could be carried or replaced with an equivalent weight of depth charges.

Variants

The Ariete-class ships (1943) were designed as improved version of the Spica-class. They were about the same size, but 100 tons greater in displacement. Even with more powerful engines, speed was reduced to 35 mph. Armament was two 100mm guns, six 450mm torpedoes in three twin mounts, two single 37mm cannons and 28 mines. Only one was ready for the Italian Navy by the time of te armistice; 13 others were completed and used by the Germans. Only two of the 14 ships survived the war.