Name Diana Completed 12 November 1940 Construction started 31 May 1939 Length 114 m | Laid down 31 May 1939 Launched 20 May 1940 | |
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Fate Sunk by HMS Thrasher, 29 June 1942 Builder Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro | ||
Diana was a fast aviso (Italian: avviso veloce) or sloop of the Italian Regia Marina which served during the Second World War. Originally designed as a yacht and despatch vessel for the Italian Head of Government, she was converted for military use.
Diana was laid down on 31 May 1939 at the Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro in Fiume, launched on 20 May 1940 and completed on 12 November 1940. The planned main armament consisted of two 90/50 guns, modern anti-aircraft weapons used on the latest Italian battleships, but eventually a pair of old 102/35 4-inch guns was fitted in their place. Six 20 mm Breda 20/65 mod. 35 guns completed the anti-aircraft defence.
During the war Diana was used as fast transport for valued cargo. On 29 June 1942 she was sunk by two torpedoes launched by the British submarine HMS Thrasher, with a loss of 336 lives.