Ansaldo da 90 Tonnellate-class ASW patrol boat, VAS 253 (march 1945)

LukTroy · August 16, 2023, 3:10pm

Do you want to see the VAS 253 (March 1945) in-game?

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The Ansaldo da 90 Tonnellate were a class of ASW patrol boats developed by Ansaldo, and built in the years 1942-1943.
Compared to the Baglietto da 68 Tonnellate which is already in the game in the form of VAS 201, they were bigger, sturdier and they featured a hull made of steel instead of wood. They also received a more powerful armament later in their career

History of the VAS 301-312 ASW patrol boats

The Ansaldo da 90 tonnellate-class vessels were specialised anti-submarine patrol boats, developed by Ansaldo and built in the years 1942-1943, by the Ansaldo Cerusa - Genova shipyard in twelve units (VAS 301-312).
They were developed by Ansaldo, in parallel to the studies made by Baglietto on a subchaser with mixed or wooden hulls based on the ex-jugoslavian Orjen class of torpedo boats.
The design developed by Ansaldo, was bigger, sturdier and featured a steel hull. Initially, it was supposed to have a displacemente of 75 tons, but multiple modifications increased it to 92,5 tons at normal load, and 94,5 tons at full load.
The tests of the first unit built, VAS 301 were more than successful: with normal load, the vessel reached the speed of 18,94 knots with the range of circa 500 miles.
The first four units (VAS 301-304) were delivered to the Regia Marina between the September of 1942 and January of 1943.
The commission of the remaining eight units suffered severe delays, caused by the poor results of the new Ansaldo tipo Q 172 diesel engines. Because of that, it was decided to replace the Ansaldo diesel engines on the VAS 305, with one Isotta Fraschini ASM 183, and two Carraro D/300 petrol engines, the same that were mounted on the Baglietto da 68 tonnellate II serie subchasers.
The necessary adaptation works of the VAS 305, to make it possible to mount petrol engines, further delayed the launch of the vessel. The VAS 305 could only begin the sea trials in the may 1943, which were positive and resulted in the decision of installation of these engines in the remaining 12 units.
The next unit built, VAS 306, was the last one built before the armistice. The remaining 6 units were captured by the germans during construction on 09/09/1943, and subsequently completed by them.
Other than the units captured at the shipyards, the germans were also able to get their hands on the remaining units that were already in service. They were reclassified as Räumboote/Ausland, and were designated RA 251-260 and RA 263-264, serving the Kriegsmarine. Three units, RA 252, RA 253 and RA 263, were given to the Social Republic of Italy, which renamed these units to VAS 252, VAS 253 and VAS 263.
Initially, these units had the same armament as the Baglietto da 68 tonnellate, but in the march of 1945 it was much more powerful, consisting of three 20 mm and one 37 mm cannons, in addition to the torpedoes and depth charges.
In the summer of 1943 it was decided to build further 24 units of this type, but with wooden hulls, in Italy and occupied France. They were supposed to be powered by C.L.M diesel engines of French origin and armed with three 20/70 cannons. The construction of four units (RA 265-268) was started, but none of them was completed before 1945.

VAS 301 - commissioned on 22/09/1942 as submarine hunter, captured by Germany at Genova and reclassified as the minesweeper RA 254 in the november of 1943. On 25/04/1945 scuttled by its crew in Genova, due to the threat of it being captured by the Allies. Raised and dismantled in 1947.
VAS 302 - commissioned on 02/11/1942 as submarine hunter, captured by Germany at Civitavecchia and reclassified as the minesweeper RA 257 in 1943. Sunk by Allied bombers on 02/08/1944 at Genova. Raised and dismantled in 1947
VAS 303 - commissioned on 23/11/1942 as submarine hunter, captured by Germany at Civitavecchia and reclassified as the minesweeper RA 256 on 18/10/1943. Heavily damaged by Allied bombers on 30/03/1944 in Livorno. Decommisioned on 21/06/1944 and dismantled in 1947
VAS 304 - commissioned on 27/01/1943 as submarine hunter, captured by Germany at Genova and reclassified as the minesweeper RA 255 in 1943. Sunk on 21/08/1944 in the gulf of Genova by British vessels.
VAS 305 - commissioned on 25/06/1943 as submarine hunter, captured by German torpedo boats while trying to leave Livorno and reclassified as the minesweeper RA 252 in the october of 1943. Scuttled by its crew on 25/04/1945 in Sampierdarena, due to the threat of it being captured by the Allies. Raised and dismantled in 1947.
VAS 306 - commissioned on 17/08/1943 as submarine hunter, captured by Germany at Genova and reclassified as the minesweeper RA 251 on 13/10/1943. Scuttled by its crew on 22/08/1944 near Golfe-Juan, after being damaged by British vessels.
VAS 307 - captured and completed by the germans. Commissioned on 01/11/1943 as the minesweeper RA 253. Heavily damaged on 25/08/1944, as a result of a collision with the landing barge F 767 in Cap D’Agde. Repaired and handed over to the Social Republic of Italy, where it was introduced as the VAS 253. On 25/04/1945 it was scuttled by its crew at Genova, due to the threat of it being captured by the Allies. Raised and dismantled in 1947.
VAS 308 - captured and completed by the germans. Commissioned on 09/10/1943 as the minesweeper RA 263. Handed over to the Social Republic of Italy, where it was introduced as the VAS 263 on 01/10/1944. On 25/04/1945 it was scuttled by its crew at Genova, due to the threat of it being captured by the Allies. Raised and dismantled in 1947.
VAS 309 - captured and completed by the germans. Commissioned on 21/03/1944 as the minesweeper RA 258. On 25/04/1945 it was scuttled by its crew at Genova, due to the threat of it being captured by the Allies. Raised and dismantled in 1947.
VAS 310 - captured and completed by the germans. Commissioned in 1944 as the minesweeper RA 264. On 25/04/1945 it was scuttled by its crew at Genova, due to the threat of it being captured by the Allies. Raised and dismantled in 1947.
VAS 311 - captured and completed by the germans. Commissioned on 01/06/1944 as the minesweeper RA 259. On 21/08/1944 heavily damaged by British at the Cape of Genova. It caught fire and it was scuttled by its crew.
VAS 312 - captured and completed by the germans. Commissioned on 03/08/1944 as the minesweeper RA 260. On 10/08/1944 it sunk as a result of a navigation error, which made the hull get damaged by rocks near Cape Mortula. Raised and dismantled in 1947.
RA 265-268 - construction started after the armistice, but never completed. They featured a wooden hull and engines of French origin.

Why I’m proposing her?

I believe the Italian coastal tree lacks heavily armed vessels at lower tiers, that could deal damage to heavily armored gun boats. The VAS 253 in her march 1945 configuration, would be perfect for that. With 3x 20 mm Oerlikon and 1x Breda 37 mm cannons, in addition to torpedoes and depth charges, she would make a very good subchaser at lower tiers. She also has a steel hull, which would make it more durable compared to other vessels in the Italian tree, like the VAS 201 or MS 15.

General specifications (March 1945)

Displacement : 92 t at normal load.
Full length : 34,1 m.
Draught : 2,1 m.
Breadth : 5 m.
Hull material : steel
Machinery : 1x 1100 h. p. ASM 183 + 2x 300 h. p. D/300 petrol engines, for a total of 1700 h. p.
Max speed : 19 knots.
Complement : 26

Armament and equipment