Etna-class cruiser (1941)

This article is about the uncompleted World War II cruisers. For the 1880s cruiser class, see Etna-class cruiser.

The Etna class were two cruisers originally ordered in Italy for the Thai Navy in 1938 and subsequently requisitioned for service by the Italian Navy on the outbreak of World War II, neither ship was completed and the damaged hulls were scrapped after the war.

An Etna-class cruiser
Class overview
Name	Etna class
Builders	C.R.D.A., Trieste
Operators	Regia Marina  Royal Thai Navy
Built	1939–1942
Planned	2
Completed	0
Lost	2
General characteristics
Type	Cruiser
Displacement	5,900 long tons (6,000 t) standard
Length	153.8 m (504 ft 7 in) overall
Beam	14.47 m (47 ft 6 in)
Draught	5.95 m (19 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	2 shaft geared turbines 3 boilers 40,000 hp (29,800 kW)
Speed	28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Complement	580
Armament	(as redesigned for Italy) 3 × twin 135 mm (5.3 in)/45 OTO-Ansaldo 1938 guns 10 × 65 mm (2.6 in)/64 Ansaldo-Terni 1939 AA guns 10 × twin 20 mm (0.8 in)/65 Breda 1935 AA guns
Armour	Belt 60 mm (2.4 in) Deck 20–35 mm (0.8–1.4 in)

Design

The Thai government ordered two light cruisers from CRDA, Trieste in 1938. The ships were to displace 5,500 tons and be armed with six 6-inch (152 mm) guns in three twin turrets. Work on the vessels continued after Italy entered the war at a slowed pace until the Italian government took over the contract in late 1941.

The Italians modified the design to have 5.3-inch (135 mm) guns as main armament and 2.6 in (65 mm) guns as anti-aircraft armament. The aircraft equipment and torpedo tubes were also deleted and the superstructure modified. Extra cargo space comprising four holds of 600 cubic metres (21,000 cu ft) total volume, was also included to enable the ships to act as fast transports to North Africa. Collapsible crane derricks were fitted to access the cargo space. Extra accommodation was fitted in the former seaplane hangar and on the main deck.

Ships

Ship	Laid down	Launched	Fate
Etna (ex-Taksin)	23 September 1939	28 May 1942	Scuttled September 1943
Vesuvio (ex-Naresuan)	26 August 1939	6 August 1941	Scuttled September 1943

When Italy surrendered to the Allies in September 1943 the hulls of the ships were 53% complete. Although both vessels were sabotaged before being captured by the Germans, they were able to continue some construction work before abandoning the project. The ships were scuttled in Trieste harbour in 1945. The hulls were re-floated and scrapped in the late 1950s.

References

• Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-544-8.
• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
• Whitley, M. J. (1995). Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-141-6.

External links

• Etna (1941) Marina Militare website