Aquila-class cruiser

Nibbio (Mărășești) in 1919
Class overview
Name:	Aquila class
Builders:	Pattison, Naples
Operators:	Regia Marina Romanian Naval Forces  Soviet Navy  Spanish Navy
Succeeded by:	Regele Ferdinand class
In commission:	1917-1965
Completed:	4
Retired:	4
General characteristics
Type:	Scout cruiser
Displacement:	1,820 tons
Length:	94.7 m (310 ft 8 in)
Beam:	9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
Draught:	3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
Installed power:	5 x Thornycroft type boilers 40,000 hp (30,000 kW) (designed)
Propulsion:	2 shaft Tosi type geared turbines
Speed:	34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) (designed)
Range:	1,700 nautical miles (3,100 km; 2,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	146
Armament:	As built: 3 x 152 mm (6.0 in) naval guns (3x1) 4 x 76 mm (3.0 in) guns (4x1) 2 x 6.5 mm machine guns 4 × 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes (2×2) 24 or 38 mines 1944: 4 × 120 mm (4.7 in) naval guns (2x2) 4 × 37 mm SK C/30 AA guns (4x1) 4 x 20 mm C/38 AA guns (4x1) 4 × 13 mm M1929 machine guns (2x2) 4 × 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes (2×2) 1 depth charge thrower 2 depth charge racks 50 mines

The Aquila class was a group of scout cruisers built in Italy during the First World War. Initially ordered by Romania in 1913 as a class of large destroyers, the four ships saw service in both world wars, but for different owners and had a complex history.

The four warships were ordered in 1913 by Romania, from the Pattison Shipyard in Naples. Designed by engineer Luigi Scaglia and based on Romanian specifications, the ships were to be large destroyers armed with three 120 mm guns, four 75 mm guns, five torpedo tubes, and have a 10-hour endurance at full speed, as they were required to operate in the limited perimeter of the Black Sea. However, the four ships were interned on 5 June 1915, soon after Italy joined the war. At that time, one ship was completed 60%, one 50%, one 20% and the fourth was yet to be laid down. They were completed as scout cruisers and commissioned on 27 July 1916, with the names Aquila, Falco, Nibbio and Sparviero. Aquila was the first to be completed, on 8 February 1917, followed by Sparviero on 15 July, Nibbio on 15 May 1918 and Falco on 20 January 1920.

Each cruiser measured 94.7 meters in length, with a beam of 9.5 meters and a draught of 3.6 meters. Power plant consisted of Tosi turbines and five Thornycroft boilers, generating a designed output of 40,000 hp powering two shafts, which gave each warship a designed top speed of 34 knots. However, this actually oscillated between 35 and 38 knots, depending on the vessel. Each ship had a complement of 146, with ranges of 1,700 nautical miles at 15 knots and 380 nautical miles at 34 knots. Nibbio and Sparviero were each armed with three 152 mm Armstrong guns and four 76 mm Ansaldo guns, while Aquila and Falco were each armed with two twin 120 mm guns and two 76 mm Ansaldo guns. Each warship also carried four 457 mm torpedo tubes (two pairs) and two 6.5 mm machine guns. Nibbio and Falco could also carry mines, 24 and 38 respectively.

Each warship had a displacement of 1,820 tons.

Sparviero and Nibbio were sold to Romania on 1 July 1920, being renamed Mărăști and Mărășești.

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