Andrea Doria class battleship
Encyclopedia
The Andrea Doria class was a class
of dreadnought battleships of the Regia Marina
(Italian Royal Navy). Only two were built, in the La Spezia
and Castellammare
shipyards, in Italy, between 1912 and 1915.
Although launched in World War I
, the class did not see any service against the Central Powers
. They were modernized during 1937-1940, between the wars, and both participated in World War II
, at the First Battle of Sirte
, and on convoy duty.
system and had 20 boilers and 4 shafts. This totaled to an output of 30,000 shaft horsepowershp. Following their modernization, the battleships were still equipped with a steam turbine system but had 8 Yarrow-type boilers and 2 shafts, which produced a total of 75,000 shaft horsepower. The battleships could travel with speeds up to 23 knots (45 km/h) when they were first built. After they were modernized, the Andrea Doria class could travel as fast as 27 knots (53 km/h), or 17% faster.
tubes. After their modernization, the battleships had 10 320 mm (12.6 in) guns
located in two triple and two double turrets, 12 135 mm (5.3 in) guns in four triple turrets, 10 90 mm (3.5 in) anti-aircraft guns, 15 37 millimetres (1.5 in) anti-aircraft guns, and 16 20 millimetre (0.78740157480315 in) anti-aircraft guns.
, while her turret
s were plated with 280 millimetres (11 in) armor. The battleship's Deck
armor was 98 mm (3.9 in).
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of dreadnought battleships of the Regia Marina
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
(Italian Royal Navy). Only two were built, in the La Spezia
La Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
and Castellammare
Castellammare di Stabia
Castellammare di Stabia is a comune in the province of Naples, Campania region, southern Italy. It is situated on the Bay of Naples about 30 kilometers southeast of Naples, on the route to Sorrento.-History:...
shipyards, in Italy, between 1912 and 1915.
Although launched in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the class did not see any service against the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
. They were modernized during 1937-1940, between the wars, and both participated in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, at the First Battle of Sirte
First Battle of Sirte
The First Battle of Sirte was fought between the British Royal Navy and the Regia Marina during the Mediterranean campaign of the Second World War. The engagement took place on 17 December 1941, southeast of Malta, in the Gulf of Sirte...
, and on convoy duty.
General characteristics
Prior to their extensive modernization from 1937 to late 1940, both members of the Andrea Doria class weighed 22,956 tons. When they were fully loaded, the battleships weighed as much as 24,729 tons. Following their modernizations, the battleships weighed 26,434 tons and 29,391 tons while fully loaded. The ships were 168.96 m (554.3 ft) in length. Their beam was 28.03 m (92 ft) while their draft was 8.58 m (28.1 ft). They each had a crew of 1,233 men and officers when they were commissioned into the Regina Marina. Following their modernization, they each had a crew of 1,485 men and officers.Propulsion
When they were first built, the Andrea Doria class was equipped with a steam turbineSteam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
system and had 20 boilers and 4 shafts. This totaled to an output of 30,000 shaft horsepowershp. Following their modernization, the battleships were still equipped with a steam turbine system but had 8 Yarrow-type boilers and 2 shafts, which produced a total of 75,000 shaft horsepower. The battleships could travel with speeds up to 23 knots (45 km/h) when they were first built. After they were modernized, the Andrea Doria class could travel as fast as 27 knots (53 km/h), or 17% faster.
Armament
The Andrea Doria class's main armament, when first built, was 13 305 mm (12 in) guns in three triple and two double turrets. They were also equipped with 16 152 mm (6 in) guns, 13 76 mm (3 in) guns, 6 76 millimetres (3 in) anti-aircraft guns, and 3 450 mm (18 in) torpedoTorpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
tubes. After their modernization, the battleships had 10 320 mm (12.6 in) guns
320 mm Model 1934 naval gun
The 320 mm naval gun was the main battery gun used to modernize Italy's World War I battleships for service during World War II. The guns were manufactured by boring out and relining the battleships' original 12"/50 built-up guns and modifying the turrets to increase elevation above the...
located in two triple and two double turrets, 12 135 mm (5.3 in) guns in four triple turrets, 10 90 mm (3.5 in) anti-aircraft guns, 15 37 millimetres (1.5 in) anti-aircraft guns, and 16 20 millimetre (0.78740157480315 in) anti-aircraft guns.
Armor
The Andrea Doria class was equipped with 254 millimetres (10 in) armor at the BeltBelt armor
Belt armor is a layer of heavy metal armor plated on to or within outer hulls of warships, typically on battleships, battlecruisers and cruisers, and on aircraft carriers converted from those types of ships....
, while her turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
s were plated with 280 millimetres (11 in) armor. The battleship's Deck
Deck (ship)
A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a ship. On a boat or ship, the primary deck is the horizontal structure which forms the 'roof' for the hull, which both strengthens the hull and serves as the primary working surface...
armor was 98 mm (3.9 in).
Ships
There were 2 ships in the class:- Andrea Doria, launched in 1913. She served at the First Battle of SirteFirst Battle of SirteThe First Battle of Sirte was fought between the British Royal Navy and the Regia Marina during the Mediterranean campaign of the Second World War. The engagement took place on 17 December 1941, southeast of Malta, in the Gulf of Sirte...
and as a convoy escort until interned after the armistice in September 1943. She served as the Italian flagship in the 1950s.
- Caio DuilioItalian battleship Caio DuilioCaio Duilio was an Italian that served in the Regia Marina during World War I and World War II. She was named after the Roman fleet commander Gaius Duilius. Caio Duilio was laid down on 24 February 1912 and after a year and two months of construction, she was launched on 24 April 1913...
was launched in 1913, and was damaged at the Battle of TarantoBattle of TarantoThe naval Battle of Taranto took place on the night of 11–12 November 1940 during the Second World War. The Royal Navy launched the first all-aircraft ship-to-ship naval attack in history, flying a small number of obsolescent biplane torpedo bombers from an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea...
by British aircraft. Because of this and fuel shortages, she was out of the war following the armistice. She was later a training ship and flagship of the Italian Navy until scrapped.
External links
- Andrea Doria class - Plancia di Comando
- Italian Battleships - www.regiamarina.net