Navigatori-class destroyer

These ships were built for the Regia Marina as a reply to the large contre-torpilleurs of the Jaguar and {{sclass|Guépard|destroyer|5}} classes built for the French Navy. These ships were significantly larger than other contemporary Italian destroyers and were initially classed as esploratori or scouts. They were re-rated as destroyers in 1938.

The main armament was a new model 120 mm Italian naval gun#50-calibre Ansaldo 1926 gunCampbell, pp. 335–338 in three twin turrets which allowed for 45° elevation. The torpedo launchers consisted of two triple banks, each unusually comprising two {{convert|533|mm|0|abbr=on}} separated by one {{convert|450|mm|0|abbr=on}}. Two rangefinder positions were provided; one above the bridge and one in the after superstructure.

Unit machinery was used comprising four boilers in two widely spaced boiler rooms and two turbine rooms. The forward unit drove the port shaft and the aft unit drove the starboard shaft. Trials were run light and with overloaded machinery leading to speeds of up to {{convert|43.5|kn|lk=in}} which were not achievable under service conditions.

The ships were fast, but were found to lack stability and were rebuilt with clipper bows, increased beam and reduced superstructure in the late 1930s.

During the war the torpedoes were replaced by triple 21-inch tubes and extra anti-aircraft guns were added.

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{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |last=Ando |first=Elio |editor-last=Preston |editor-first=Antony |editor-link=Antony Preston |series=Warship Special |title=Super Destroyers |chapter=The Italian Navigatori Class, 1928 |volume=II |year=1978 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |isbn=0-85177-131-9}}
• {{cite book |last=Brescia |first=Maurizio |title=Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45 |year=2012 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, MD |isbn=978-1-59114-544-8}}
• {{cite book |last=Campbell |first=John |title=Naval Weapons of World War Two |publisher=Naval Institute Press |date=1985 |location=Annapolis, MD |isbn=0-87021-459-4}}
• {{cite book |last1=Fraccaroli |first1=Aldo |title=Italian Warships of World War II |date=1968 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Shepperton |isbn=0-7110-0002-6}}
• {{cite book |last=Roberts |first=John |editor-last=Chesneau |editor-first=Roger |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |chapter=Italy |pages=280–317 |publisher=Mayflower Books |location=New York |year=1980 |isbn=0-8317-0303-2}}
• {{cite book |last=Rohwer |first=Jürgen |author-link=Jürgen Rohwer |title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, MD |year=2005 |edition=3rd. rev. |isbn=1-59114-119-2}}
• Shores, Cull & Malizia (1991). Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942. Grub Street. {{ISBN|0-948817-16-X}}
• {{cite book |last1=Smigielski |first1=Adam |editor1-last=Chumbley |editor1-first=Stephen |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 |chapter=Italy |pages=195–218 |year=1995 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, MD |isbn=1-55750-132-7}}
• {{cite book |first=M. J. |last=Whitley |author-link=Michael J. Whitley |title=Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopaedia |year=1988 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, MD |isbn=1-85409-521-8}}

• {{cite book |last1=Cernuschi |first1=Enrico |editor-last=Jordan |editor-first=John |title=Warship 2022 |chapter=Esploratori of the Regia Marina, 1906—1939 |date=2022 |publisher=Osprey |location=Oxford |pages=147–160 |isbn=978-1-4728-4781-2}}

{{Commons category|Navigatori class destroyer}}

• [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=560&navy=IT "Navigatori class" from Uboat.net]

{{Navigatori class destroyer}}

{{Italian destroyers, frigates and corvettes post-1945}}

{{WWII Italian ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Navigatori-class destroyer}}

Category:Destroyer classes