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Italian Dark

Printed From: BMPT Forum
Category: Boats (In alphabetical order)
Forum Name: Dark Class
Forum Description: Discussion on Dark Class boats
URL: http://www.bmpt.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=253
Printed Date: 28 March 2024 at 6:25pm


Topic: Italian Dark
Posted By: tonclass
Subject: Italian Dark
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 11:38am

Does anyone know the identity of the Italian Patrol Boat 'GENNA' (G 68) ? All I know is she was one of the 'Darks'.

Pic available on request.

Rgds

Rik




Replies:
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 12:12pm

Hi Rik

From the PTF Nasty website, Alan Vincent confirms his company bought no less than 11 of the 18 Darks from the RN and scrapped the Deltics, replacing them with GM 6-71s for the deliveries to Livorno and La Spezia in 1967 subsequent to purchase by the Italian Govt (they were subsequently re-engined with CRM 18 cyl diesels). She could be any of them, all I know is that Gladiator, Hero and Scout were not among them.

Rgds, Christian.

p.s. yes please pic to when you get a chance.

 



Posted By: tonclass
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 12:16pm

Pic on it's way Christian.

Rik



Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 12:24pm

Hello Rik

According to Jane's 1970-71 - in Feb 1967 - Dark Avenger-'Biter -'Hunter -'Invader were sold to Italy and used by the 'Guardia di Finanza' - Jane's is not infallible and Conway's All the World's Ships 1947-95 does not mention this Italian Marine Arm - while Lt Cdr Ben Warlow states (Minor War Vessels in Focus) that Dark Rover (ex Dark Cavalier?) was transfered to the Italian Customs in 1966.



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Pioneer - Forum Moderator


Posted By: tonclass
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 12:36pm

Ted,

thanks for the info. Interestingly, have a photo of Biter & Antagonist in Genoa prior to conversion. Pic is dated 12th October 1967. There are 4 ships lined up and photographed from either end, so cannot tell which ones the middle two are.

Are there any photo's out there of them after conversion ? Might be able to compare them to the one I have. She may be the Customs version and not one of the GDF ones.



Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 12:51pm

Rik

I'm just a little confused - I thought the GDF was the Italian Custom's -no? and if you count up Christian's 11 being bought off the RN by Alan Vincent 'Hero 'Gladiator and 'Scout not being one of them - where did the extra boat come from? 

Ted  



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Pioneer - Forum Moderator


Posted By: tonclass
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 12:57pm

Sorry Ted. I got a bit confused with your mention of a 1966 date for Dark Rover. I thought they all transferred in 1967 ? Didn't read your Italian properly either. 'Finance Police' = Customs. Oops !!

Rik



Posted By: tonclass
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 1:07pm

Antagonist + 3 in Genoa. October 1967.

 



Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 1:15pm

I feel a bit silly posting this, it's the only view of one of these post Italian conversion which I've found;

 



Posted By: tonclass
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 1:18pm

It certainly matches the pic I sent you Christian.

Cheers



Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 2:07pm

Hi Rik

Back at work now and have seen your picture, very many thanks-there's no doubting they are the same (I think the model maker has improved slightly on the real thing, looking from further forward as in your picture they look like UFOs!). I have to say I prefer the look of these boats with the original Admiralty MTB bridge, although they were never very handsome they at least have an air of authority with the original bridge, the Italians made them look like a private yacht.

Rgds,Christian.  



Posted By: marenostrum
Date Posted: 19 December 2010 at 6:48pm
Hello everyone.
I apologize if you resurrected this old post, but I am a soldier of the Guardia di Finanza, which is a military police economic / financial Repupplica Italian.
So I think it will be useful in providing news about the Dark Italian.

Dark

FEATURES:
Dark
Displacement: t. 57 LENGTH: m. 21.7 WIDTH: M 5.7 DIVE: m. 1,1
HULL: Mahogany ARMAMENT: 1 mtr. MK/10 20/70 ENGINES: 2 Diesel turbocharged 18-cylinder W CRM 18/DS from 1350 hp at 2000 rpm SPEED ': 28 knots RANGE: 500 mg CREW: 4 under / li + 8 UNIT Towns' "Calabrese" - "Lagan"- "The Thorn" - "Genna"- "lunges"- "Sanna" - "Urso"- "Vital"

In the mid-'60s, the need to deal urgently with the progressive aging of the fleet led the General Command, as he was looking for a good prototype of nation-building - to consider the offer of eight Dark class torpedo boats, built in 1956 by Vosper of Southampton for the Royal Navy, who had put in "mothballs" after a short period of use.

The units, refurbished and re-power the Baglietto yard in Varazze, were delivered to the Guardia di Finanza in 1969.

They were characterized by mixed construction of the hull: keel, frames and were covered in light alloy, while the planking was mahogany triple layer.

The "Lagan " was equipped with a pilot basis, of no Isotta Fraschini ID type 2 365512V, 1450 HP at 1800 rpm.

Crews will remember how the marine unit very sturdy, but not very fast. They were all struck off by the early 90s.
The last unit was decommissioned in 1995.
thanks





Posted By: marenostrum
Date Posted: 26 December 2010 at 7:06pm
http://www.gdf.gov.it/repository/ContentManagement/information/N2072719983/Architettura_del_naviglio_storico_della_Guardia_di_Finanza.pdf?download=1 - www.gdf.gov.it/repository/ContentManagement/information/N2072719983/Architettura_del_naviglio_storico_della_Guardia_di_Finanza.pdf?download=1   

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Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 26 December 2010 at 8:56pm

The link now works (with patience) if you are able to read Italian - it appears to be an illustrated historical technical paper - around page 70 are some illustrations recognisable as being close to the Dark class.



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Pioneer - Forum Moderator


Posted By: marenostrum
Date Posted: 27 December 2010 at 8:42pm
apologize if I was not able to post only the pages of the Dark, but I had to go away.
However, it might be interesting, considering that the Guardia di Finanza uses light fast shipping for over 50 years.
Thanks again for the space.


Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 27 December 2010 at 9:20pm
No apologies needed here 'marenostrum'Thumbs%20Up we are all very interested to hear of the Italian 'Dark' craft.

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Pioneer - Forum Moderator


Posted By: marenostrum
Date Posted: 03 January 2011 at 5:23pm
.. a nice static model of Dark Italian, recently exposed to a modeling show in Messina (Sicily).
 
http://img529.imageshack.us/i/darkni.jpg/">
.... While this is the same today
http://img12.imageshack.us/i/oltramonti.jpg/">

New Year's greetings to all.




Posted By: johnk
Date Posted: 04 January 2011 at 11:14am
Hi there,
 
Fantastic shots of these craft, many thanks and happy new year to you,
 
Johnk


Posted By: marenostrum
Date Posted: 18 March 2013 at 8:48pm
Hello everyone, even if this tread is older, I think it's worth it to answer the original question.
The Genna, not a Dark, but a ship that was seized by the Guardia di Finanza in 1983/84 while unloading cigarettes, in contrast to the Italian laws.
It was originally powered by three MTU engines from about 2000 Hp each.
Having regard to the validity of the medium, was incorporated in G.diF. after personnel of the same organization, in its shipyard Palerno, Sicily, do the work of adaptation.
After years of honorable service operating, ended his career as a unit addestrativa, meanwhile was rimotorizzata with three CRM 1050 Hp.
The only photo I found, it is in this PDF attachment regarding the sale of Genna and other units abandoned.
  http://www.gdf.gov.it/repository/contentmanagement/information/n1853200434/schede_natanti.pdf?download=1#page=9&zoom=auto,0,720 - http://www.gdf.gov.it/repository/contentmanagement/information/n1853200434/schede_natanti.pdf?download=1#page=9&zoom=auto,0,720

I greet you
, apologizing again for my bad English.


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Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 19 March 2013 at 9:22am
Thanks Vito, very interesting.

More photos of a model here;

  http://www.altomareblu.com/modellismo-gdf-g62-calabrese/ - http://www.altomareblu.com/modellismo-gdf-g62-calabrese/



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Posted By: marenostrum
Date Posted: 25 April 2013 at 10:32pm
Here is a picture of Genna.
  http://www.naviearmatori.net/albums/userpics/10001/DSCF0566.JPG - http://www.naviearmatori.net/albums/userpics/10001/DSCF0566.JPG


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