battleship Battleship Caio Duilio class - Caio Duilio (1942)

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

Although the armament, tonnage and dimensions of the Caio Duilio class are very similar to the Conte di Cavour class (already included in suggestions) the are, in fact a distinct class and have many differences from the Conte di Cavours.  Like the Cavours the Caio Duilio class is a World War I era battleship.  There were two ships of the class, the Andrea Doria and the Caio Duilio.  Both were laid down in 1912 but the Duilio would be completed in May of 1915 and the Doria in March of 1916.

 

As built the ships had a dreadnought style typical of the time period.  Their main battery consisted of thirteen 12in guns arranged in three triple and two double turrets.  For secondary armament the ships carried 16 single 6in guns and 19 single 3in guns.  

 

Both ships were completed after Italy entered World War I and like many capital ships of the period the two saw very limited use.  Their main opponent was the Austro-Hungarian Navy, whose capital ships remained in port.  Furthermore the Regia Marina determined the narrow waters of the Adriatic amplified the threat of submarines and  mines to capital ships.  Thus, outside of a few short patrols the ships stayed in port, ready to sail to confront the Austro-Hungarian fleet should it ever depart the safety of THEIR ports.

 

Specifications as built:

Displacement (Full):  22,994 tons

Length:  176.1m

Beam:  28.0m

Draft (Full):  9.50m

Number of shafts:  4

Machinery:  4 sets Parsons steam turbines, 20 yarrow boilers, 31,009 h.p.

Max Speed:  21.3 knots

Armor (in millimeters):  belt: 250 - 80, upper belt: 220, turrets: 280, barbettes: 280, battery: 130, CT: 280, main deck: 24 with 40mm slopes, middle deck: 30, upper deck: 44 - 30, forecastle deck: 44

Armament:  3 x 3 - 305/46 A1909, 2 x 2 - 305/46 A1909, 16 x 1 - 152/45 A1911, 13 x 1 - 76/50 A1909, 6 x 1 - 76/50 A1909 AA, 3 - 450 TT sub (1 bow, 2 beam)

Crew:  1233

 

As Italy began work on their LIttorio class battleships in the early 1930s they recognized that the that the ships would take many years to complete so the Regia Marina began a modernization program of their existing battleships.  Both the Conte di Cavour class and the Caio Duilio class were taken in for an extensive refit.  The primary goal was confronting the Dunkerque class ships of the French Navy.  To this end the overhaul of the Duilio and the Dorea created virtually new ships.  Work began 1937 and was completed in 1940.

 

 

 

As you can see from the pictures the two ships were radically changed.  The refit extended the hull, the armament was completely changed and modernized, armor protection was improved, and the machinery was significantly changed.  The overall changes made the vessels modern, powerful warships with vastly improved firepower (larger guns, better layout, extensive modern AA), better protection (added armor in many places), and greater speed (all oil-fired boilers and more powerful machinery as well as increased length of the ship).

 

Specifications 1940 refit:

Displacement (Full):  29391 tons

Length:  186.9m

Beam:  28.6m

Draft (Full):  10.4m

No of shafts:  2

Machinery:  2 sets Beluzzo steam turbines, 8 yarrow boilers, 87,000 h.p. (at overload output)

Max Speed:  28kts

Armor (in millimeters):  belt: 250 - 220, upper belt: 170, turrets: 280, barbettes: 280 + 50, secondary turrets: 120, battery: 130, CT: 260, main deck:100 - 80, upper deck: 44

Armament:  2 x 3 - 320/44 M1936, 2 x 2 - 320/44 M1934, 4 x 3 - 135/45 OTO 1937, 10 x 1 - 90/50 Ansaldo 1938, 6 x 2 - 37/54 Breda 1932, 3 x 1 - 37/54 Breda 1939, 8 x 2 - 20/65 Breda 1935

Crew: 1485

 

Both ships would serve throughout World War 2.  Their refits would not be complete until well after Italy joined the war and the two vessels would conduct a handful of patrols with no contact before both being attacked by British Swordfish during the raid on Taranto in November of 1940.  The Dorea would escape the attack unharmed while the Duilio would be struck by a torpedo and nearly sunk.  The Duilio would be successfully repaired and return to service in May of 1941 and both ships would participate in First Battle of Sirte where the Dorea would engage British cruisers and destroyers.  Neither side, however, would press the attack and it would ultimately prove an inconclusive fight.  The two ships would do convoy escort work until early 1942 where fuel shortages would basically sideline both vessels till the end of the war.  Both ships would would alternate the role of Fleet Flagship after the war until being stricken from the register in 1956 and then broken up for scrap in 1957 and 1961 respectively.

 

The ships would see some minor upgrades during the war which would cause minor changes to their AA suite. 

 

For War Thunder I am recommending the Caio Duilio in her 1942 configuration.  This configuration would be identical to her 1940 configuration with the addition of 2 X 2 - 37/54 Breda 1932.

 

Sources:

http://www.navypedia.org/ships/italy/it_bb_duilio.htm

https://www.naval-encyclopedia.com/ww2/Italy/caio-duilio-class-battleships/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Doria-class_battleship

 

[ItssLuBu 1,798]

Approved and open for discussion. 

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

43 minutes ago, ItssLuBu said:

Approved and open for discussion. 

That was fast...don't worry...eventually I will run out of Italian ships.  Eventually.

[WiseMinerva 454]

Yes please +1

[FouManchou 2,463]

Looking forward to reproducing this in WT :

 

Spoiler

 

[Milocat 4,848]

+1, if all nations get battleships adding this for Italy is a no-brainer.

[Z3r0_ 4,127]

10 minutes ago, Milocat said:

+1, if all nations get battleships adding this for Italy is a no-brainer.

 

They will.  It's just a matter of when it'll happen.  I don't see it happening before the French naval tree is added though.  Maybe they'll be added WITH the French Navy (which I suspect will come later this year), similar to how the Japanese Navy's introduction also brought heavy cruisers.

Edited June 17, 2020 by Z3r0_

[ThedepthPunisher 194]

+1 it must complete the Italian ships! 

[ironcell26 252]

+1

[Охраняет-Камни 6,650]

+1 a very nice addition to the Battleship line

some additional info about cannons

Spoiler

Naval weapons of WW2 by John Campbell

 

 

 

Edited June 18, 2020 by _Condottiero_

[John4Plays 70]

Battleship? Yes!

+1 from me!

[Artyom_Ascaron 48]

due to the calibre of the main guns we could  see this class ( as well as the modernized Cavours) very soon, they would have a superior AA defence compared to the ships we already have in game and they would look much better ( #noBias). I would stare at it for hours without even realizing it .

[ConroeDoctrine 133]

+1

today the update "wind of change" has dropped and has brought to the USA and Japan a new battleship each. This means that now all countries that possess a navy ingame have 3 battleships at their disposal. All except Italy of course, which still has only 1. I feel like it's about time for Italy to get at the very least a second one, considering for how long we've been without a single battleship compared to the other countries.

Edited March 24, 2022 by ConroeDoctrine

[Fireraid233 4,274]

+1 not sure why Italy still only has 1 BB

Edited April 6, 2022 by Fireraid233

[ItalianAce02 40]

+1 Yes! Yes! Yeeeeeeees!

[JamesPond1200@psn 299]

Now that her sister Andrea Doria is confirmed, I want to see this one added in her WWII configuration. It would be a nice upgrade and give some balance to the Parizhskaya Kommuna. +1 PLEASE

[TerraStalker 158]

Now we should wait also for WW2 configuration

[S__bastienZ88 635]

+1

[CokeSpray 7,272]

Suggestion passed to the developers for consideration.