Regele Ferdinand class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Regele Ferdinand Class was two destroyers built in Italy
for the Romanian Navy, which fought in World War II
.
s from Italy, the Romanian Government decided to order two more modern destroyers from the Pattison Yard in Naples. The design was based on the British Shakespeare class destroyer leaders
. The guns were supplied by Bofors
and the fire control equipment by Siemens. The Romanians wished to order two more vessels but could not afford to do so due to economic problems.
The ships were the most powerful surface units available to the Axis powers
during the Naval war in the Black Sea
but were mostly used for convoy escort and in 1944 were used in the evacuation of the Crimea by the Axis
. On the capitulation of Romania in August 1944, the two ships were incorporated into the Soviet Black Sea Fleet
as the Likhoy (Лихой, ex Ferdinand) and the Letuchiy (Летучий, ex Maria). They were returned in 1951 and served under the numbers D21 and D22 in Naval Forces
of Romanian People's Republic
until the end of 1950's.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
for the Romanian Navy, which fought 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...
.
History
Following the end of World War I and the re-purchase of two Mărăşti class destroyerMarasti class destroyer
The Mărăști class were a group of destroyers built in Italy for the Romanian Navy. The ships fought in both world wars but for different owners and had a complex history.-History:...
s from Italy, the Romanian Government decided to order two more modern destroyers from the Pattison Yard in Naples. The design was based on the British Shakespeare class destroyer leaders
Thornycroft type leader
The Thornycroft type leader or Shakespeare class were a class of five destroyer leaders designed by John I. Thornycroft & Company and built by them at Woolston, Southampton for the Royal Navy towards the end of World War I. They were named after historical naval leaders. Only Shakespeare and...
. The guns were supplied by Bofors
Bofors
The name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years.Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The modern corporate structure was created in 1873 with the foundation of Aktiebolaget Bofors-Gullspång...
and the fire control equipment by Siemens. The Romanians wished to order two more vessels but could not afford to do so due to economic problems.
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
during the Naval war in the Black Sea
Black Sea Campaigns (1941-44)
The Black Sea Campaigns are the operations of the Axis and Soviet naval forces in the Black Sea and its coastal regions during World War II between 1941 and 1944, including in support of the land forces, and non-combat operations....
but were mostly used for convoy escort and in 1944 were used in the evacuation of the Crimea by the Axis
Battle of the Crimea (1944)
The Crimean Offensive — known in German sources as the Battle of the Crimea — was a series of offensives by the Red Army in the effort to liberate Crimea from the German Wehrmacht occupation...
. On the capitulation of Romania in August 1944, the two ships were incorporated into the Soviet Black Sea Fleet
Black Sea Fleet
The Black Sea Fleet is a large operational-strategic sub-unit of the Russian Navy, operating in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea since the late 18th century. It is based in various harbors of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov....
as the Likhoy (Лихой, ex Ferdinand) and the Letuchiy (Летучий, ex Maria). They were returned in 1951 and served under the numbers D21 and D22 in Naval Forces
Romanian Naval Forces
The Romanian Navy is the navy branch of the Romanian Armed Forces; it operates in the Black Sea and on the Danube.-History:-Development of the Romanian Navy:The Romanian Navy has been founded in 1860 as a river flotilla on the Danube...
of Romanian People's Republic
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
until the end of 1950's.
Ships
| Ship | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regele Ferdinand (RF) | 1 December 1928 | 7 September 1930 | Decommissioned in 1960's |
| Regina Maria (RM) | 2 March 1929 | 7 September 1930 | Decommissioned in 1960's |
See also
- Regele Ferdinand and Regina Maria frigates
- Romanian Naval ForcesRomanian Naval ForcesThe Romanian Navy is the navy branch of the Romanian Armed Forces; it operates in the Black Sea and on the Danube.-History:-Development of the Romanian Navy:The Romanian Navy has been founded in 1860 as a river flotilla on the Danube...