Oriani-class destroyer
The Oriani class, were a group of four destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the mid-1930s. They were improved versions of the s and had increased machinery power and a different anti-aircraft armament. The increase in power, however, disappointed in that there was only a marginal speed improvement. The obsolete 40 mm/39 pom-pom anti-aircraft guns were finally discontinued, being replaced by extra Breda Model 1931 Machine Gun| machine guns; otherwise armament was unchanged.
Modifications
Significant upgrades were made to the weapons systems of the two ships that survived Matapan, similar to those made to the Maestrales. One torpedo tube mounting was replaced by two /54 guns; Breda Model 35| cannon, a 120 mm star-shell gun and depth charge throwers were also installed. Before the end of the war, one ship, Oriani had German Seetakt radar and an additional 20 mm cannon.Ships
All four ships were built by OTO Livorno and named after poets:| Ship | namesake | Launched | Completed | Notes |
| Alfredo Oriani | 30 July 1936 | 15 July 1937 | Damaged in the Battle of Cape Matapan, she took part in the successful attack on Harpoon convoy in June 1942. The ship escaped from La Spezia during the Italian Armistice in 1943 and was interned in Malta. She was given to the French Navy as a war reparation, where she served as the D'Estaing until 1954 | |
| Vittorio Alfieri | 20 December 1936 | 1 December 1937 | Sunk on 28 March 1941 in the Battle of Cape Matapan | |
| Giosuè Carducci | 28 October 1936 | 1 November 1937 | Sunk 28 March 1941 in the Battle of Cape Matapan | |
| Vincenzo Gioberti | 19 September 1936 | 27 October 1937 | Sunk on 9 August 1943 by the British submarine |