San Giorgio-class destroyer

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 Capitani Romani-class cruisers 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.

San Marco
Class overview
Name	San Giorgio class
Builders	Cantieri Navali del Tirreno Riuniti Regio Cantiere di Castellammare di Stabia
Operators	Italian Navy
Preceded by	Soldati class
Succeeded by	Impetuoso class
Subclasses	Capitani Romani class
Built	1939–1941
In commission	1955–1980
Planned	2
Completed	2
Retired	2
General characteristics
Type	Destroyer
Displacement	4,850 long tons (4,928 t) standard 5,600 long tons (5,690 t) full load
Length	142.2 m (466 ft 6 in)
Beam	14.4 m (47 ft 3 in)
Draft	5.1 m (16 ft 9 in)
Propulsion	4 × Thornycroft boilerss, 110,000 shp (82 MW) 2 × screws
Speed	39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph)
Range	4,060 nmi (7,520 km; 4,670 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement	314
Sensors and processing systems	1 × AN/SPS-6 air-search radar 1 × SG-6B surface-search radar 1 × SP radar 1 × AN/SQS-11 sonar 1 × Mark 37 director
Armament	3 × twin 5-inch/38 cal. guns 1 × Menon ASW mortar 4 × quad 40 mm Bofors guns 2 × twin 40 mm Bofors guns 2 × depth charge tracks

Design

For the two units the main reconstruction works concerned the armament. The eight 135-millimetre (5.3 in)/45 calibre guns, capable of delivering very precise shots, but lacking satisfactory anti-aircraft capability, were removed and replaced with six less powerful US 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal guns 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 37 mm (1.5 in)/5 cal guns replaced by four 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors guns 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

Pennant	Name	Builders	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned/Recommissioned	Decommissioned
D 562	San Giorgio	Fincantieri, Ancona	3 September 1939	24 August 1941	24 June 1943	1 May 1948
					1955	1980
D 563	San Marco	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.

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

• 
  Pompeo Magno
• 
  San Giorgio
• 
  Giulio Germanico
• 
  San Marco