VELITE

Nome- Name: VELITE (CLASSE SOLDATI - II SERIE)
Nazionalità - Nationality: ITALIA - ITALY
Tipologia - Type: CACCIATORPEDINIERE - DESTROYER
Anno/data – Year/date: 5 maggio 1943 - 5 May 1943
Luogo - Location: Livorno - Leghorn
Autore della fotografia – Photo’s author: A. Fraccaroli
Collezione di provenienza – From the collection of: MAURIZIO BRESCIA
Note - Notes: VARATO NEL 1941 DAI CANTIERI OTO DI LIVORNO. CONSEGNATO ALLA FRANCIA IN CONTO DANNI DI GUERRA NEL 1948. LA MARINE NATIONALE LO RIBATTEZZO' DUPERRE' UTILIZZANDOLO SINO ALLA RADIAZIONE NEL 1961.
On 21 November 1942, while returning from Biserta escorting m/s Monginevro and Sestriere (along with destroyers Bombardiere and Legionario), Velite was torpedoed byHMS Splendid, losing her stern, the rudder, the two propellers and their shafts. She was towed to Leghorn in January 1943 and rebuilt using the stern of the incomplete sister ship Carrista, whose bow had already been fitted to Carabiniere in 1942. This image was taken at Leghorn on 5 May 1943, when Velite was being drydocked in the final stages of the overhaul. She was back in service in summer 1943, arriving at La Spezia for recommissioning on 23 August.