San Giorgio-class Destroyer, San Marco (D 563) - From Consul to Apostle

R_nminbiY_n · October 5, 2022

San Giorgio-class Destroyer San Marco (D 563)

History:

One of the Capitani Romani-class (Roman Captains) scout cruisers (or destroyer leaders depending on the translation of esploratore), originally laid down in 1939 by the Navalmeccanica company at Castellammare di Stabia as Giulio Germanico. It was launched in 1941, and was nearly complete with its crew stationed by the time of the Italian Armistice. Soon after, the German forces attacked the port and its shipyard in an attempt to seize the ships. The Italian forces resisted the troops with the gunfire support of the ships under construction, fending off the Germans for 3 days until the Germans invited the Italian force to negotiate, only to execute the Italian commanders, massacre the Italian troops, and destroy the shipyard. The ships fell under German control, but the rapidly advancing Allied forces forced them to abandon the port, and they destroyed all the ships and sacked the city.

After the war, the other 3 surviving ships of its class were to be ceded to France, but one was able to be retained. The Italians salvaged the Guilio Germanico in 1948, and as it was still in good condition, they chose to rebuild it to same specification as San Giorgio (ex-Pompeo Magno). Work started in 1953 and it was completed in 1956, also being renamed San Marco. It served in the 2nd Naval Division, and it and San Giorgio were the fastest ships in the fleet. In 1957, it was reclassified as a destroyer leader, and it participated in various parades, visits, and exercises during its career. In 1962 the ship was modernized at La Spezia (though there was no changes in specifications?), and upon its return in 1963 was made the flagship of the 2nd Naval Division, as its sister had become a training ship. In 1971 it was decommissioned, and scrapped after.

Specifications: (1956)

Armament:

3x2 5"/38 (127mm) in Mk.38 mounts

4x4 40mm/56 Bofors amidships

2x2 40mm/56 Bofors fore

1x3 305mm Menon ASW Mortar

4x depth charge throwers and 1x depth charge rack

Displacement:

4850 tons standard

5600 tons full

Length: 142.2m

Beam: 14.4m

Draft: 5.1m

Propulsion: 2 Beluzzo or Parsons geared steam turbines with 4 Thornycroft boilers, 110 000 hp, driving 2 shafts

Speed: 39 knots (72.2 km/h)

Range: 4060nmi (at 16 knots)

Crew: 360

Systems:

AN/SPS-6 Radar

SG-6B Radar

Mk.37 Fire Director and Mk.25 FCR

MK.51 AA FCS

SQS-11 Sonar

Images:

Spoiler

Italian_destroyer_San_Marco_(D563)_under

Italian_destroyer_leader_San_Marco_(D563

Drawings:

Sources:

https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/PQRS/san_marco_caccia.aspx

https://www.seaforces.org/marint/Italian-Navy/Destroyer/D-563-ITS-San-Marco.htm

http://fotonavimilitari.blogspot.com/2012/02/cacciatorpediniere-san-marco.html

https://www.navypedia.org/ships/italy/it_cr_regolo.htm

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classe_Capitani_Romani

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giulio_Germanico_(incrociatore)

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Marco_(D_563)

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classe_San_Giorgio_(cacciatorpediniere)

http://www.culturanavale.it/documentazione.php?id=195

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:San_Marco_(D_563)

Edited October 7, 2022 by RenminbiYen
Shout out to Conte_Barraca and Dotter Conroe, hopefully you'll forgive me if you were already working on this