The ''Oriani'' class (also known as the Poeti class), were a group of four destroyers built for the (Royal Italian Navy) in the mid-1930s. They were improved versions of the s and had increased machinery power and a different anti-aircraft armament. The increase in power, however, disappointed in that there was only a marginal speed improvement. The obsolete 40 mm/39 pom-pom anti-aircraft guns were finally discontinued, being replaced by extra machine guns; otherwise armament was unchanged.

Modifications

Significant upgrades were made to the weapons systems of the two ships that survived Matapan, similar to those made to the ''Maestrale''s. One torpedo tube mounting was replaced by two /54 guns; cannon, a 120 mm star-shell gunCampbell, pp. 335–338 and

depth charge A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive hydraulic shock. Most depth charges use ...

throwers were also installed. Before the end of the war, one ship, ''Oriani'' had a German

Seetakt Seetakt was a shipborne radar developed in the 1930s and used by Nazi Germany's ''Kriegsmarine'' during World War II. Development In Germany during the late 1920s, Hans Hollmann began working in the field of microwaves, which were to later beco ...

radar and an additional 20 mm cannon.

Ships

All four ships were built by O.T.O. Livorno and named after poets:

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

Page from Uboat.net

Classe Oriani
Marina Militare website {{WWII Italian ships Destroyer classes Destroyers of the Regia Marina Ship classes of the French Navy