- Yes
- No
65PN during navigation (1920)
Development history
The 40PN-class torpedo boats were an evolution of the highly successful 1PN-class, the first of their type to be mass-produced in Italy. 30 units were built between 1916 and 1918 across five different shipyards, with the last operational units being stricken in 1934. Modern, fast, well-armed, and possessing very good seaworthiness, the PN type is often considered to be the best coastal torpedo boat design ever fielded by the Regia Marina.
Based on the earlier 1PN project, the 40PN-class was heavier while retaining similar hull dimensions and the same powerplant—two vertical triple-expansion (VTE) engines paired with two Thornycroft boilers. This layout yielded an impressive top speed of 27 knots, albeit with slightly reduced endurance compared to their predecessors.
Their main gun battery was upgraded to two 76 mm cannons across all units. Secondary fit-outs varied by shipyard sub-series: units 58OL through 60OL received an additional 37 mm cannon, while 64PN through 69PN were fitted with an additional 6,5 mm machine gun. The twin torpedo tube layout was retained, along with the capacity to carry 8–10 naval mines.
The 40PN-class saw active service during World War I, primarily conducting patrols in the Adriatic and participating in the occupation of former Austro-Hungarian coastal towns. Likely due to their relatively late entry into service, none were lost in action. All remaining units were eventually stricken between 1927 and 1934.
Service History of 65 PN
- 06/08/1916 - 22/01/1918: Officially enrolled in the Naval Register (Quadri del Naviglio). Following completion at the Pattison shipyard, she entered service and was dispatched north to Venice, where she joined the 20th Coastal Torpedo Boat Squadron (20ª Squadriglia torpediniere costiere) on February 2.
- 1918 - 1919: Operated actively throughout the rest of World War I as a coastal defense and patrol vessel in the Adriatic. Following the Armistice, she was deployed to Trieste and Pola for vital liaison missions with Venice, dispersed with hazardous mine-clearing operations across the Adriatic.
- 24/04/1920: Dispatched to Pola under local command, carrying out intensive liaison and transport duties connecting the islands of the Kvarner (Quarnaro) gulf with various Istrian ports.
- 16/06/1921 – 25/08/1921: Assigned to the special division based in Fiume. On August 16, she undertook a towing assignment, departing Pola to tow the MAS 277 to Fiume before returning safely to Pola on August 25.
- 1922 – 1928: Her operational status shifted through active and reserve readiness rotations (entering the 2nd Torpedo Boat Group in November 1922 and transferring to the 1st Group in May 1924). For roughly four consecutive years, she operated out of a permanent base in Pola, patrolling and servicing the ports and coasts of Dalmatia.
- 01/05/1928 – 16/05/1929: Entered the torpedo boat maintenance group for scheduled structural refits. Once completed, she was assigned to the Pola reserve, resuming her cross-Adriatic liaison duties.
- 1930 – 1931: Served for a designated period as a stationary guard ship (nave stazionaria) in the port of Zara.
- 29/02/1932: Having reached the end of her operational lifespan and outlived tactical utility, the 65PN was officially and definitively stricken from the naval registry, subsequently sent for scrap.
Why I’m proposing her?
Other than being one of the most successful designs to be ever fielded by the Regia Marina, it would offer an unique gameplay style at tier II (possibly III?), offering a balanced mix of firepower, mobility, and survivability.
General specifications
- Displacement : 129 t at normal load, 157-168 t at full load.
- Full length : 42,5 m.
- Draught : 1,59 m.
- Breadth : 4,6 m.
- Machinery : 2 VTE, 2 Thornycroft boilers, for a total of 2700 h. p.
- Max speed : 27 knots.
- Complement : 30
Armament and equipment
- 2x1 76/30 A1914
- 1x1 6,5/80 Colt machine gun
- 2x1 450 mm tipo 1910/450 torpedo tubes
- 10 mines
https://navyworld.narod.ru/Torpediniere.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20240811145329/https://navypedia.org/ships/italy/it_dd_40pn.htm