Gabbiano-class corvette

The Gabbiano class corvettes were a group of 59 vessels built for the Regia Marina of Italy for service during the Second World War. They were built to a war-time design and intended for anti-submarine and escort duties.

Design
The Gabbiano's were designed to be built quickly and in large numbers and began to enter service in May 1942. These ships were equipped with electric 'creep' motors with an endurance of 16 nmi at 6 kn for silent running while engaged in anti-submarine searches, but the Regia Marina did not consider removing features such as torpedo tubes from its escort ships to reduce topweight or allow more anti-submarine weapons to be carried. Overall they were successful in their role, with good qualities for operation in the Mediterranean. The ships were fitted with sonar and hydrophones.

Service
Sixty vessels were ordered and 29 completed by September 1943. Many of these vessels were seized by the Germans after the Italian surrender in 1943, and operated under new names until the end of the war. The Germans completed 20 ships under construction. Fourteen ships survived the war and were operated by the postwar Marina Militare as patrol vessels until 1972. Two corvettes played important parts in the Italian history: while Persefone brought Mussolini, under arrest after the 25 July 1943, from Gaeta to Ponza, on September 9th 1943 Baionetta transported the royal family and the italian government with Marshall Badoglio from Pescara to Brindisi during their escape from Rome after the armistice.