American naval attaché at Rome, Italy reported on 19 May 1937 No.283 that in the discussion of the Italian Naval Budget before the Senate on 15 May Undersecretary of State admiral Cavagnari (1) stated that before the end of the fiscal year 10-600 tons torpedo boats and 14 submarines were to be added to the fleet. Furthermore were 4 Orsa type escort patrol vessels to be launched.(1) The naval attaché confirmed this adding that the four Orsas already had been launched. The torpedo boats were named Sagittario, Vega, Andromeda, Antares, Castore, Altair, Alderbaran, Cigno, Canopa and Cassiopea. The submarines were named Perla, Gemma, Berillp, Diaspro, Turchese, Corallo, Onice, Iride, Ambra, Malachite, Aradam, Magalle, Dessie, Dagabur and Adua. There were no more torpedo boats to be completed for the end of the fiscal year but probably the 4 remaining Adua-class submarines be added to the fleet before 1 July.
Notes
1. Domenico Cavagnari (20 July 1876 Genoa-2 November 1966 Rome) chief of staf of the navy 1934-1940, dismissed after the lost Battle of Taranto.
2. The Orsa or Pegaso-class were large torpedo boats or destroyer escorts, an enlarged Spic-aclass design with a displacement of 850 (standard)-1,600 (full load) tons.
Source
National Archives USA. Record Group 38: Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Series: Secret Naval Attaches Reports. Estimate of potential military strength (pt.). Summaries. Reports from London, Paris, Brussels, Rome and Berlin. Roll M975-001.
No comments:
Post a Comment