San Giorgio-class destroyer
{{short description|Destroyers of the Italian Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
| infobox caption = }} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:MM SanMarco.jpg | Ship caption = San Marco }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = San Giorgio class | Builders = *Cantieri Navali del Tirreno Riuniti | Operators = {{navy|Italy|navy-1947}} | Class before = {{sclass2|Soldati|destroyer|4}} | Class after = {{sclass|Impetuoso|destroyer|4}} | Total ships planned = 2 | Built range = 1939–1941 | Total ships on order = | Total ships completed = 2 | Total ships active = | In commission range = 1955–1980 | Total ships retired = 2 | Subclasses = {{sclass2|Capitani Romani|cruiser|4}} }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Destroyer | Ship class = | Ship displacement = *{{convert|4850|LT|t|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} standard
| Ship length = *{{convert|142.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|14.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = {{convert|5.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship propulsion = *4 × Thornycroft boilerss, {{convert|110,000|shp|MW|abbr=on}}
| Ship speed = {{convert|39|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = {{convert|4060|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|16|kn|abbr=on}} | Ship complement = 314 | Ship armament = *3 × twin 5-inch/38 cal. guns
| Ship sensors = *1 × AN/SPS-6 air-search radar | Ship armor = | Ship notes = }} |
The San Giorgio class was a class of two destroyers of the Italian Navy. They entered service in 1955, with the last one being decommissioned in 1980. Formerly {{sclass2|Capitani Romani|cruiser}}s of the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during World War II, they were rebuilt as destroyers during the Cold War. San Giorgio (ex Pompeo Magno) was the first to enter service in 1955 and was modified again from 1963 to 1965 to become a training ship until 1980. San Marco (ex Giulio Germanico) was scuttled by the Germans after the incomplete ship fell into German hands following the Italian Armistice. Following the war, the vessel was raised, rebuilt and renamed and entered service in 1956. San Marco served until 1971.
Design
For the two units the main reconstruction works concerned the armament. The eight 135 mm/45 Italian naval gun, capable of delivering very precise shots, but lacking satisfactory anti-aircraft capability, were removed and replaced with six less powerful US 5-inch/38-caliber gun but with the fundamental ability to perform effective anti-aircraft fire. The guns were configured in three twin turrets, one forward and two aft. In place of the second twin forward turret, a Menon anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mortar was installed.
The anti-aircraft armament was also reconfigured with the removal of the eight Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda) replaced by four Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60 in quad variant and two in twin variant systems. The guns were controlled by a US Mark 37 director with Mark 25 radar on top. Other electronic devices were the AN/SPS-6 air-search radar, the SG-6B surface-search radar and an SQS-11 sonar. The ASW armament was complemented by four side anti-submarine mortars and two depth charge tracks.
Ships in the class
| class="wikitable"
!Pennant !Name !Builders !Laid down !Launched !Commissioned/Recommissioned !Decommissioned | |
| rowspan="2" |D 562
| rowspan="2" | {{ship|Italian destroyer|San Giorgio | 2}}
| rowspan="2" |Fincantieri, Ancona | rowspan="2" |3 September 1939 | rowspan="2" |24 August 1941 |24 June 1943 |1 May 1948 |
| 1955
|1980 | |
| D 563
|{{ship|Italian destroyer|San Marco | 2}}
|Regio Cantiere di Castellammare di Stabia |3 April 1939 |26 July 1941 |1955 |1971 |
History
After the World War II, given the changing needs of the Navy in the Mediterranean, it was decided to transform the two ships into destroyers. For the former Pompeo Magno (San Giorgio) and for the former Giulio Germanico (San Marco) the work took place from 1953 to 1955 respectively at the Cantieri del Tirreno in Genoa and the Navalmeccanica in Castellammare di Stabia.{{Cite web|title=Gli incrociatori leggeri classe Capitani Romani|url=http://www.tuttostoria.net/storia-contemporanea.aspx?code=1343|access-date=2021-06-14|website=TuttoStoria}}
= ''San Giorgio'' =
San Giorgio entered service in the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) with the name Pompeo Magno in 1943 shortly before the armistice. After removal from the Navy list it was marked by the designation FV 1. In 1950 it was chosen for reconstruction as a destroyer and renamed San Giorgio. Once the work was completed, the ship entered service in the Italian Navy on 1 July 1955 with the pennant number D 562.
From 1963 and until 1965, San Giorgio was again subjected to modification works at the Arsenal of La Spezia to be transformed into a training ship for the students of the Naval Academy of Livorno, carrying out this task until it was disarmed in 1980.
= ''San Marco'' =
San Marco was built with the name Giulio Germanico in the Royal Shipyard of Castellammare di Stabia. Laid down in 1939 and launched in 1941, the cruiser was completing the set-up when the armistice of 8 September was signed. Falling into the hands of the Germans who had taken control of the shipyard, the ship was scuttled when the following 28 September the German occupation troops left the city.
After the war the hull of Giulio Germanico was recovered in the port of Castellammare and marked the designation FV 2. Given the good overall condition of the hull in 1950 it was decided to rebuild the ship as a destroyer and renamed San Marco. Once the work was completed, the ship entered service in the Italian Navy on 1 January 1956 with the pennant number D 563, serving until 1971 when it was disarmamed.
Gallery
File:RN Pompeo Magno (1943).jpg|Pompeo Magno
File:MM San Giorgio Taranto.jpg|San Giorgio
File:RN Giulio Germanico.jpg|Giulio Germanico
File:Italian destroyer San Marco (D563) underway c1962.jpg|San Marco
References
{{commons category|San Giorgio class destroyer}}
{{reflist}}
{{Portal bar|Italy|Engineering}}
{{Italian destroyers, frigates and corvettes post-1945|state=collapsed|noshipclass=yes}}
{{Ship classes of the Marina Militare}}
Category:Capitani Romani-class cruisers