Duca degli Abruzzi

History

Design

The Abruzzi-class cruisers were considered the fifth and final subgroup of the Condottieri-class “family” of cruiser designs; incorporating the second major redesign and often considered the most balanced of all the cruisers. Overall, the designers chose to reduce the speed and increase the size of the cruisers; forfeiting agility for increased protection, stability and armament.

The cruisers looks superficially similar to their predecessors, with the most striking difference being the arrangement of the funnels; the increased beam allowing the two catapults to be placed off-centre, so the funnels could be brought closer together. Internally, the armour scheme was similar to the previous designs, with some noticeable improvements. For instance, the main belt consisted of two parts: a forward 30mm plate with a thicker 100mm slab placed some distance inside. The first was to detonate the fuses of incoming shells, with the latter plate there to absorb fragmentation and further penetration. Additionally, the main deck was increased to 40mm, the control tower was increased to 70mm in some areas and the exposed barbettes were increased to 100mm. Interestingly, the Abruzzi-class was one of the few ships that had armouring along the base of the funnels, most likely to avoid splintering entering the boiler compartments.

The additional hull space meant that the class was able to carry 8 boilers – 2 more than their predecessors – for further redundancy in machinery for safety. Feeding to two geared turbines, the power plant generated close to 104,000 shaft horsepower. Although slower by 2 knots in comparison to the Duca d’Aosta-class, the ships still managed a respectable 34 knots in speed trials.

Although the calibre of the armament was standardized to 152mm, the Abruzzi-class carried the longer 55 calibre guns as main armament; the ones first installed on the Littorio-class as secondary armament. Furthermore, the class increased the battery count from 8 to 10 rifles. These were organized as a pair of two-gun and three-gun turrets fore and aft; two-gun turret superfiring over the three-gun turret. Additionally there were 100mm AA guns organized around the superstructure, and a triple-torpedo launcher found on each side of the beam.

Wartime modification included replacing the 13.2mm AA guns for 20mm auto-cannons, and a radar set installed to a modified foremast over the forward superstructure.

Cruiser Luigi di Savoia Duca Degli Abruzzi – named after the Prince Luigi Amedeo – was the lead ship of the Duca degli Abruzzi-class cruisers. She was laid down 28 December 1933 at shipyards in modern day Lerici, Italy. Launched on 21 April 1936, she was commissioned into the Regia Marina on 1 December 1937.

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  Duca degli Abruzzi during sea trials, circa 1938.

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  Abruzzi at high speed, date and location unknown.

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  Giuseppe Garibaldi, sister ship of Duca degli Abruzzi, heads to sea.

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  Sketch of her sister ship, Giuseppe Garibaldi.