View source for Fante-class destroyer

{{short description|Destroyers of the Italian Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| infobox caption = 
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = File:GeniereD555.jpg
| Ship caption = ''Geniere''
}}{{Infobox ship class overview
| Name = ''Fante'' class
| Builders = *[[Bath Iron Works]]
*[[Tampa Shipbuilding Company]]
| Operators = {{navy|Italy|navy-1947}}
| Class before = {{sclass|Artigliere|destroyer|4}} 
| Class after = {{sclass|Audace|destroyer (1971)|4}} 
| Total ships planned = 3
| Built range = 1941-1943
| Total ships on order = 
| Total ships completed = 3
| Total ships active = 
| In commission range = 1969-1977
| Total ships retired = 3
| Subclasses = {{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer|4}}
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship type = [[Destroyer]]
| Ship class = 
| Ship displacement = *{{convert|2050|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} standard
*{{convert|2500|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} full
| Ship length = *{{convert|376.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|39.5|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship draft = {{convert|17.5|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship depth = 
| Ship hold depth = 
| Ship propulsion = *4 × GM Mod. 16-278A [[diesel engine]]s with electric drive, {{convert|60,000|shp|MW|abbr=on}}
*2 × [[Propeller|screws]]
| Ship speed = {{convert|36.5|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range = {{convert|5500|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn|abbr=on}}
| Ship complement = 329
| Ship armament = 
*(''Fante'' and ''Lanciere''):
*2 × single [[5-inch/38-caliber gun|5"/38 cal gun]]s
*1 × [[RUR-4 Weapon Alpha]]
*3 × twin [[3-inch/50-caliber gun|Mark 33 3"/50 cal gun]]s
*2 × triple [[Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes|Mark 32]] [[torpedo tube]]s
*2 × [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Mark 10 Hedgehog mortar]]s
*1 × depth charge track
*(''Geniere''):
*4 × single 5"/38 cal guns
*3 × twin Mark 33 3"/50 cal guns
*2 × triple Mark 32 torpedo tubes
*2 × Mark 10 Hedgehog mortars
*1 × depth charge track
| Ship sensors=*1 × [[AN/SPS-6]] [[Air search radar|air-search radar]]
*1 × [[AN/SPS-10]] [[surface-search radar]]
*1 × [[Mark 37 director|Mark 37]] [[Gun Director|Director]]
| Ship armor = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

The '''''Fante'' class''' was a class of 3 [[destroyer]]s by the [[Italian Navy]]. They entered service in 1969, with the last one being decommissioned in 1977.<ref>{{cite web|date=17 April 2020|title="""SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM""": I 175 caccia Fletcher della US NAVY e le unità cedute alla M.M.: il Fante (D 561), il Lanciere (D560) e il Geniere (D 555)|url=https://svppbellum.blogspot.com/2020/04/i-175-caccia-fletcher-della-us-navy-e.html|access-date=2021-06-13|website=SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM}}</ref>

== History ==
The ''Fante'' class of destroyers of the Italian Navy consisted of three units belonging to the [[United States Navy]] of the {{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer|4}} that Italy bought from the United States in 1969-1970, in order to replace the destroyers of the {{sclass|Artigliere|destroyer|4}}. The ships underwent changes compared to their original armament, and being very worn ships, served only for five years, except the ''Lanciere'' which was immediately disarmed and cannibalized to provide spare parts for her two sisters.

The ships purchased were in fact initially two, the [[USS Walker (DD-517)|USS ''Walker'']] (''Fante'')<ref>{{Cite web|title=Navi e Armatori - Approdi di Passione|url=https://www.naviearmatori.net/ita/foto-154637-4.html|access-date=2021-06-13|website=www.naviearmatori.net}}</ref> and [[USS Taylor (DD-468)|USS ''Taylor'']] (''Lanciere'')<ref>{{Cite web|title=Navi e Armatori - Approdi di Passione|url=https://www.naviearmatori.net/eng/foto-246276-4.html|access-date=2021-06-13|website=www.naviearmatori.net}}</ref> who joined the Navy in June 1969. The disastrous conditions of the second ship, however, led to purchase in January 1970 a third unit, the [[USS Prichett (DD-561)|USS ''Prichett'']] (''Geniere'').<ref>{{Cite web|title=Navi e Armatori - Approdi di Passione|url=https://www.naviearmatori.net/eng/foto-246276-4.html|access-date=2021-06-13|website=www.naviearmatori.net}}</ref> The ''Lanciere'', therefore, was reused to supply spare parts to the two sister units.

== Ships in the class ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Pennant
!Name
!Builders
!Laid down
!Launched
!Commissioned
!Decommissioned
|-
|D 561
|''[[USS Walker (DD-517)|Fante]]''
|[[Bath Iron Works]]
|31 August 1942
|31 January 1943
|2 July 1969
|1977
|-
|D 555
|''[[USS Prichett (DD-561)|Geniere]]''
|[[Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation]]
|20 July 1942
|31 July 1943
|17 January 1970
|1975
|-
|D 560
|''[[USS Taylor (DD-468)|Lanciere]]''
|Bath Iron Works
|28 August 1941
|7 June 1942
|2 July 1969
|January 1971
|}

== References ==
<references />

{{commons category|Fante class destroyer}}

{{Fante-class destroyers}}
{{Ship classes of the Marina Militare}}
{{Italian destroyers, frigates and corvettes post-1945|state=collapsed|noshipclass=yes}}

[[Category:Destroyer classes]]
[[Category:Fante-class destroyers]]
[[Category:Cold War naval ships of Italy]]
[[Category:Destroyers of the Italian Navy]]