Battle of Cape Matapan - Regina Marina Part 2

In part one of this short series we focussed on the initial batch of models that were required to represent the the vessels of the Regina Marina at the Battle of Cape Matapan. In particular we considered the battleship Vittorio Veneto, six heavy cruisers, two light cruisers. To complete that post we finally looked at one destroyer flotilla, the 9th. In this second part we provide an overview of the remaining destroyers.

At Matapan there were five Regina Marina destroyer squadrons, specifically the 6th, 9th, 10th, 12th and 13th Destroyer Squadrons. In total some 17 destroyers.

The 6th Squadron was the smallest with just two vessels. These were the Nicoloso da Recco and Emanuele Peggagno. Both were Navigatori class destroyers with both being commissioned in 1930. They were equipped with six 4.7" guns in three triple mounts and six torpedoes in two triple mounts. The Navigatori were designed to counter large French destroyers and had a displacement of 1,900 tons. Emanuele Peggagno was lost in 1942 while Nicoloso da Recco was the only vessel of her class to survive the war. Below, Emanuele Peggagno and Nicoloso da Recco under fire.

At Matapan they formed a division with the light cruisers Duca degli Abruzzi, Giuseppe Garibaldi under Admiral Antonio Legnani. Below, the four vessels of Legnani's division with the destroyers in the foreground. 

The 13th Destroyer Squadron comprised four vessels. Specifically the Alpino, Bersagliere, Fuciliere, Granatiere. All were Soldati class destroyers and built as part of the first batch with these four vessels being commissioned in 1939. They were armed with four 4.7" guns in two twin mounts, one short 4.7" star shell gun and six torpedo tubes in two triple mounts. Alpino and Bersaglierie were lost during the war while Fuciliere & Granatiere survived the war. Below, the 13th Destroyer Squadron.

The 12th Destroyer Squadron comprised three vessels, also all Soldati class destroyers, and all commissioned between 1938 and 1939. At Matapan they escorted the 3rd Cruiser Division which comprised the heavy cruisers Trieste, Trento and Bolzano. Only Carabiniere survived the war being decommissioned in 1965.

Above and below, the 12th Destroyer Squadron. Like all these models they are painted with Vallejo paints with a watered down Citadel Badab Black wash. The splash markers are homemade.

The 10th Destroyer Squadron comprised Maestrale class destroyers. The Maestrale class comprised just four vessels all of which were present at Matapan. They were the Maestrale, Libeccio, Scirocco and Grecale. Their main battery consisted of four 4.7" guns in two twin turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure. Amidships were a pair of 4.7" star shell guns. They also mounted six 21" torpedoes in two triple mounts. Below, the 10th Destroyer Squadron.

Though no 10th Destroyer Squadron vessels were lost at Matapan of the four vessels only Grecale survived the war. 

That completes the destroyer component for the Regina Marina at the Battle of Cape Matapan. No doubt these vessels will see service in some other encounters before finally being engaged at Matapan. As before the miniatures are from Navwar's 1/3000th range.