Italian ''Ariete'' - Class Torpedo Ship

By Crusader1307

The Italian "Ariete"-Class of Torpedo Ships, were fast attack ships used for Destroyer Escort duties, for The Fascist Navy during World War II. Designed and deployed from 1941 to 1945, only 16 were built. After the Fall of Mussolini (and his re-establishment as a Puppet Ruler under Hitler), the majority of Ariete-Class Torpedo Botswana were used by the German Kreigsmarine. A typical "Ariete" Boat displaced 745-tons and were 273-feet long. They stood some 30-feet tall. Propelled by a dual shaft steam turbine and 2 boilers, they could achieve 22,000HP and 34-knots. "Ariete"-Class vessels were armed with (2) 100mm Guns, (10) 20mm Guns, (6) Torpedoes and up to 20 anti-Ship mines. They were deployed in The Adriatic and Aegean Seas, as well as escorts off The North African Coast. Of the 16 deployed by The Germans, all were sunk or destroyed, save 1 ship.