Ansaldo 1939 Destroyer Proposal

[Karle94]

Here's a more obscure Ansaldo design for a "fleet air-defense" destroyer armed with 5x120mm DP guns in stabilized single mountings similar to the earlier 90mm mounts. The hull mostly resembles previous destroyer classes, though the superstructure does not. Light AA was provided by four twin 20mm mounts, and the design had two quadrouple torpedo launchers.

[Graham1973]

What a co-incidence, I've been reading through one of J. E. MacDonnell's later (1977) novels and from the limited description the Italian destroyer in that novel would probably be close in appearance to the ship above, the two major differences are in armament, the torpedo tubes are two triple sets and the AA is 37mm rather than 20mm.

[Karle94]

It's quite possible, if not likely that had this class been built, they would have completed in 42-43 with the single 37mm mounts, considering the design date of 1939 for the single mount.

[Graham1973]

It's quite possible, if not likely that had this class been built, they would have completed in 42-43 with the single 37mm mounts, considering the design date of 1939 for the single mount.

Here is the full armament as pulled from the novel:

5 x 4.7inch guns (Five single mounts), 6 x TT (Two triple mounts) 6 x 37mm AA, depth charges.

[emperor_andreas]

They would've been nice-looking ships for sure!

[Graham1973]

They would've been nice-looking ships for sure!

I agree, here's what J. E MacDonnell had to say about his creation (Which IMHO probably used a Fletcher Class destroyer as the start point for the authors imaginings...)

Destroyers are the prettiest of warships, but Ascari's line was beautiful. A gazelle of movement. Her slim stem rose from the water sloping forward, cutting a clean bow-wave. Then the line lifted symetrically to her forward turrets and up to the streamlined bridge, the peak and then down again over the funnel to the after guns and finally her low stern, cut square for speed. And that funnel: it was raked backwards, oval in shape to let the wind slide past with a minimum of friction and it branched out to fore and aft at it's base.

J. E. MacDonnell, Standoff, 1977, pg. 71

Note about the name, it's that of an actual destroyer, one of the Italian Soldati Class which was lost in 1943 after striking mines.

[ptdockyard]

This design has only come to light in the past ten years or so, starting in an article in Storia Militare. I agree that J. E. MacDonnell was probably using the Fletcher as an example.

That being said, I have seen a very fuzzy photo of a drawing of an Italian destroyer design (different from the Commandanti) that has a similar layout to the Fletcher.

Now I am on the hunt for this book!

Dave G.