Spica class
Italian torpedo boats

Italian torpedo boat Spica class

Spica class (32 ships)
Type: Italian torpedo boat.
History: Like its German counterpart the Italian navy favoured the construction of diminutive destroyer-type escorts, usually described as torpedo boats. Though a long series of related classes had been completed by the mid-1920s, the type had lapsed for a decade before being resumed with the 32-strong Spica class, laid down between 1934 and 1937. The design was influenced by that of the Maestrale class destroyers then completing but, though superficially similar in overall profile, their single funnel lacked the massive trunking of that of the larger ships, serving as it did only one boiler room. The main armament consisted of 100-mm (3.94-in) guns of a new pattern with a respectable 16-km (10-mile) range. As these came only in single mountings, three were carried in the usual layout of one forward and two superimposed aft. Despite the fact that previous torpedo boats had been fitted with 533-mm (21-in) torpedo tubes, the Spicas reverted to the earlier 450-mm ( 17.72-in) weapons of far inferior hitting power and range. For some odd reason these were initially single, sided mountings only, later exchanged for the more logical twin centreline type. As with most Italian ships they could lay mines but were also fitted for high-speed minesweeping, with conspicuous paravanes and associated gear right aft.

The class ship Spica, which was sold in 1940 to Sweden.

Under the wartime construction programme a group of 42 improved Spicas was also planned. Of these, known as the Ariete class, only 16 were laid down, the majority of them being completed by the Germans after the Italian capitulation.

Torpedo boat Eridano of the Ariete class, build for the German navy in northern Italy.

Of the 32 Spicas, 23 became war casualties and a pair were sold, perhaps oddly, to the Swedish navy. The Airone and Ariel were sunk together in October 1940 when, with others, they unwisely attacked a British cruiser force covering an early Malta convoy. Of the latter, HMS Ajax was instrumental in their sinking, damaging also the destroyers Artigliere and Aviere, the former of which was eventually lost while in tow. A year later another pair, the Aldebaran and Altair, were lost in a minefield laid by the British submarine HMS Rorqual in the Gulf of Athens.

Users: Italy, Sweden, Germany.

Torpedo boat of Spica class.

Torpedo boat Dragone of Ariete class, completed for the Germans in Genoa as TA 30 and sunk in June 1944 by British MTB's.

3d model of Italian torpedo boat Spica class.

This 3d model is a current element of the WW2 game WW2 Total. The data for production, movement and combat of the Axis and Allies units are here !