heavy cruisers "Zara" Class Heavy Cruisers

[mc205v 786]

The "Zara" Class Heavy Cruisers (Zara, Fiume, Gorizia and Pola) were the most armored heavy cruisers built up to that time and even later, very few classes of cruisers equaled or exceeded the "Zara" in protection. The decision to build the "Zara" had been made as early as 1928, to keep up with the other main Marines, with this new Class they aimed at superior quality. The designers (Ship Projects Committee, headed by Lieutenant General of the Naval Engineer Fabio Mibelli) were told that they did not feel bound by the 10,000 ton limit of standard displacement foreseen by the Washington Treaty; studies showed that a ship meeting the specific requirements would have a standard displacement of 12,000 tons. It should be noted that from 1931 onwards, for a few years, the "Zara" they would have been the most powerful and modern ships in service in the "Regia Marina", as the works for the major modernization of the battleships "Duilio" and "Doria" had not yet started, nor had the construction of the new battleships "been ordered" Littorio ". The units of the "Zara" class combined the main armament typical of most heavy cruisers (eight 203 mm cannons in twin towers), an average speed and particularly powerful armor (150 mm belt, 20-70 mm bridge, towers 120-140 mm, barbettes 140-150 mm, bulkheads 90-120 mm, tower 70-150 mm), unlike their poorly protected predecessors of the Trento class (the weight of the armor of the Zara, 2700 tons, was triple that of Trento). The protection provided for two armor bands instead of one (more precisely, an armored bridge and a "secondary" armored belt below the armored bridge and the main belt), a scheme common more to the battleships than to most heavy cruisers. "Zara" and "Fiume" were ordered in September 1928, the "Gorizia" in October 1929 and the "Pola" last, in 1930. Indeed "Zara" and "Fiume" were almost identical in appearance, while the "Gorizia"had smokestacks with a slightly different shape, and even more marked was the difference in appearance with the" Pola ". It is interesting to note that the "Zara" was the head of the class, but was ordered and placed second, the ordination dates back to September 27, 1928, twelve days after that of the "Fiume", and the setting to July 4, 1929, while the "River" had already been set up on April 29. The two ships were launched on the same day (April 27, 1930) and then the "Zara" "exceeded" the twin in the speed of completion, entering service a month and three days before the "Fiume".

Specifications of the R.N. Zara

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Crew:
Officers: 31
Second Chiefs, Sergeants and Seamen: 810

Displacement: 
Empty weight: 13.580 tons
Full load: 14.530 tons

Dimensions:
Length: 182,8 m - 180 m between stern and bow
Width: 20,6 m
Nominal Draft: 6,2 m
Full Load Draft: 7,2 m

Protection Armor:
Horizontal maximum: 70 mm
Vertical maximum: 150 mm 
Turrets maximum: 150 mm
Tower: 150 mm

Engine System:
8 boilers Thornycroft type
2 groups of turbines Parsons type
2 propellers
Power: 95.000 HP 
Speed: 33 knots (61,12  km/h)

Autonomy:
5361 miles (8628 km) at 16 knots
3390 miles (5456 km) at 25 knots
1958 miles (3151 km) at 31 knots

Armament:
8 Cannons 203/53 Mod. 1927 (4 twin turrets)
16 Cannons 100/47 OTO Mod. 1928 (8 twin turrets)
4 Cannons 40/39 mm AA Vickers-Terni
8 Machine guns 13,2 mm AA Breda Mod. 31 
Catapult with 2 reconnaissance seaplane IMAM Ro.43

 

Specifications of the R.N. Fiume

Spoiler

Crew:
Officers: 31
Second Chiefs, Sergeants and Seamen: 810

Displacement: 
Empty weight: 13.260 tons
Full load: 14.168 tons

Dimensions:
Length: 182,8 m - 180 m between stern and bow
Width: 20,6 m
Nominal Draft: 6,2 m
Full Load Draft: 7,2 m

Protection Armor:
Horizontal maximum: 70 mm
Vertical maximum: 150 mm 
Turrets maximum: 150 mm
Tower: 150 mm

Engine System:
8 boilers Thornycroft type
2 groups of turbines Parsons type
2 propellers
Power: 95.000 HP 
Speed: 33 knots (61,12  km/h)

Autonomy:
5361 miles (8628 km) at 16 knots
3390 miles (5456 km) at 25 knots
1958 miles (3151 km) at 31 knots

Armament:
8 Cannons 203/53 Mod. 1927 (4 twin turrets)
16 Cannons 100/47 OTO Mod. 1928 (8 twin turrets)
4 Cannons 40/39 mm AA Vickers-Terni
8 Machine guns 13,2 mm AA Breda Mod. 31 
Catapult with 2 reconnaissance seaplane IMAM Ro.43

 

Specifications of the R.N. Gorizia

Spoiler

Crew:
Officers: 31
Second Chiefs, Sergeants and Seamen: 810

Displacement: 
Empty weight: 13.660 tons
Full load: 14.560 tons

Dimensions:
Length: 182,8 m - 180 m between stern and bow
Width: 20,6 m
Nominal Draft: 6,2 m
Full Load Draft: 7,2 m

Protection Armor:
Horizontal maximum: 70 mm
Vertical maximum: 150 mm 
Turrets maximum: 150 mm
Tower: 150 mm

Engine System:
8 boilers Thornycroft type
2 groups of turbines Parsons type
2 propellers
Power: 95.000 HP 
Speed: 33 knots (61,12  km/h)

Autonomy:
5361 miles (8628 km) at 16 knots
3390 miles (5456 km) at 25 knots
1958 miles (3151 km) at 31 knots

Armament:
8 Cannons 203/53 Mod. 1927 (4 twin turrets)
16 Cannons 100/47 OTO Mod. 1928 (8 twin turrets)
4 Cannons 40/39 mm AA Vickers-Terni
8 Machine guns 13,2 mm AA Breda Mod. 31 
Catapult with 2 reconnaissance seaplane IMAM Ro.43

 

Specifications of the R.N. Pola

Spoiler

 

Crew:
Officers: 31
Second Chiefs, Sergeants and Seamen: 810

Displacement: 
Empty weight: 13.531 tons
Full load: 14.360 tons

Dimensions:
Length: 182,8 m - 180 m between stern and bow
Width: 20,6 m
Nominal Draft: 6,2 m
Full Load Draft: 7,2 m

Protection Armor:
Horizontal maximum: 70 mm
Vertical maximum: 150 mm 
Turrets maximum: 150 mm
Tower: 150 mm

Engine System:
8 boilers Thornycroft type
2 groups of turbines Parsons type
2 propellers
Power: 95.000 HP 
Speed: 33 knots (61,12  km/h)

Autonomy:
5361 miles (8628 km) at 16 knots
3390 miles (5456 km) at 25 knots
1958 miles (3151 km) at 31 knots

Armament:
8 Cannons 203/53 Mod. 1927 (4 twin turrets)
16 Cannons 100/47 OTO Mod. 1928 (8 twin turrets)
4 Cannons 40/39 mm AA Vickers-Terni
8 Machine guns 13,2 mm AA Breda Mod. 31 
Catapult with 2 reconnaissance seaplane IMAM Ro.43

 

Photos:

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ZARA - Longitudinal section and plane of the upper hold.

ZARA - Longitudinal section.

"ZARA" class - General protection plan.

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Heavy Cruiser "Zara" Class Main Guns

R.N. Zara

R.N. Fiume

R.N. Gorizia

R.N. Gorizia

R.N. Pola

Turrets of the Pola

Sources:

Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare - Gli Incrociatori Italiani 1861 - 1975

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNIT_8-53_m1927.php

http://www.regiamarina.net/detail_text_with_list.asp?nid=71&lid=1&cid=2

https://www.world-war.co.uk/italy/zara.php3

https://svppbellum.blogspot.com/2018/12/incrociatori-pesanti-della-classe-zara.html

http://conlapelleappesaaunchiodo.blogspot.com/2016/03/zara.html
 

Edited May 26, 2020 by mc205v

[leroyonly 4,311]

Open for discussion. 

[mc205v 786]

25 minutes ago, leroyonly said:

Open for discussion. 

Thanks!

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

Did these ships ever get upgraded AA armament?

[mc205v 786]

32 minutes ago, Conte_Baracca said:

Did these ships ever get upgraded AA armament?

Upon entering the war, in 1940 all units were armed as follows: 8-203 / 53, 12-100 / 47, 8-37 / 54 and 8-13.2. As you can see they had lost 4-100 / 47 and 4-40 / 39,

to make room for 8-37 / 54, I sincerely prefer to have all 100/47, because the standard anti-aircraft armament is more than good.

[Milocat 4,857]

We need at least one of these in the Italian naval tree.  +1.

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

58 minutes ago, mc205v said:

Upon entering the war, in 1940 all units were armed as follows: 8-203 / 53, 12-100 / 47, 8-37 / 54 and 8-13.2. As you can see they had lost 4-100 / 47 and 4-40 / 39,

to make room for 8-37 / 54, I sincerely prefer to have all 100/47, because the standard anti-aircraft armament is more than good.

Yeah....the more secondary guns that actually hurt things the better.

[Охраняет-Камни 6,650]

The best Italian heavy cruiser? Of course yes! 2 can be in the regular tree, 1 premium and 1 event maybe.

[CokeSpray 7,274]

Suggestion passed to the developers for consideration.

[leroyonly 4,311]

As the Zara class Heavy Cruiser, Zara has been added as per update 1.101 Raining Fire,

 

Moved to Implemented Suggestions.