Italian World War II destroyers At the start of World War II , Italian destroyers ( Italian : caccia - torpedinieri ) were a mix of warships dating from old , World War I designs up to some of the most modern of their type in the world . They also varied in size from enlarged torpedo - boats to " exploratori " ( an Italian designation for large destroyers approaching light cruiser size ) . Although the reputation of Italian military prowess has suffered from its performance in North Africa in World War II , blame cannot be placed with its warships nor with their crews . Their destroyers were responsible for the safe flow of convoys to supply the Axis armies in North Africa , a dangerous task , and for the suppression of British submarines . Exploratori . The designation " " exploratori " " , meaning " scouts " , was originally given to a class of Italian warship that were between the then current destroyers and cruisers , in terms of size and firepower . They were reclassified as destroyers by 1940 . The Regia Marina classified yet another group of ships ( Capitani Romani class ) as " " exploratori oceanici " " — ocean scouts . Active service . The later ships were primarily employed as fleet escorts , but not exclusively so . Other tasks included mine - laying , convoy escort , anti - submarine , supply transport and anti - shipping . Italian destroyers were usually organised into " squadriglia " of four ships of one class . Design evolution . The operational areas for the Regia Marina ( Royal Italian Navy ) were expected to be enclosed seas such as the Mediterranean , Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden . This was reflected in the design and construction of its warships , which did not need to withstand open ocean conditions . In 1941 , the appropriately named " Scirocco " foundered in a storm off Cape Spartivento . Italian destroyer designs followed differing design paths . At one end , a torpedo boat design was developed into a series of destroyer classes ( " Sella " , " Sauro " and " Turbine " ) that were comparable with their British contemporaries . There were also large destroyers of the older " Mirabello " and " Leone " classes , which , due to their older design , were kept to less dangerous tasks . The large destroyer concept was revived in the mid - 1920s , in response to new French designs . At the end of the 1920s , a design emerged ( " Freccia " class ) that was the basis for improvement and standardisation . Subsequent classes showed incremental changes that improved reliability and the " Maestrale " s were the template for the following twenty - three ships . The original anti - aircraft weaponry , consisting of mixtures of obsolete 40 millimetre Vickers cannon ( designed in 1917 ) and 13 . 2 machine - guns was clearly inadequate by the start of Italy ' s war . The chosen answer were 20 millimetre cannon and , in some individual ships , 37 millimetre guns replaced torpedo tubes . Caution is needed when considering the maximum speeds of Italian warships of this period , since Italian practice was to run the trials with ships as light as possible , often without armament . This enabled impressive speeds which were unobtainable under operational conditions . Classes . At the Italian declaration of war in June 1940 , the Regia Marina ' s destroyer force was a mix of outdated ships of World War I design and larger numbers of modern designs . " Mirabello " class . Three ships of this class were commissioned in 1916 - 17 as " exploratori " , but one was lost in the Black Sea in 1920 . In destroyer terms in the early 1920s , the ships of this class were powerful vessels , displacing 2 , 300 tons and armed with eight four inch guns in single mounts , 450 millimetres ( 17 . 7 ) inch torpedoes , depth charges and mines . Four of the eight guns were mounted along the ships ' sides , reducing a broadside to six . In 1942 – 43 , the remaining ship in the class had its four beam four inch guns removed and its anti - aircraft weaponry was strengthened to eight 20 millimetre machine guns and depth charge capacity was also increased . The " Mirabello " ' s design reflected their age and when Italy entered the war , they were used to lay minefields off Taranto and to escort convoys to Albania and Greece , relatively " safe " duties . Despite this , " Carlo Mirabello " was mined and sank off the Greek coast near Cape Dukato in 1941 . Once re - armed , the remaining ship , " Augusto Ributy " was employed escorting North African convoys . She survived and was ceded to the Soviet Union in 1946 . " Leone " class . Three " Leone " - class " exploratori " were commissioned in 1924 . They were reclassified as destroyers in 1938 . Their armament was upgraded from that of the preceding " Mirabello " s and the resultant additional topweight required increases in dimensions and displacement ( 2 , 690 tonnes ) and the machinery was also significantly uprated to maintain speed . Main guns and torpedoes were all located along the centre - line , an improvement that allowed all guns to fire to both sides , although two turrets were placed amidships and could " only " fire to either side . Eight 4 . 7 inch ( 120 millimetres - the new standard for Italian destroyers ) were mounted in four twin turrets and torpedo tubes were now 21 inch . All three were part of the Italian Red Sea Flotilla at the start of Italy ' s war in June 1940 , where they were employed to lay mine fields and to disrupt British convoys , without any success . All were lost by early April 1941 . " Leone " ran aground and was sunk by her sisters . After an abortive mission against Port Sudan , " Pantera " was sunk by carrier - based Swordfish aircraft and " Tigre " was later scuttled . " Sella " class . The four " Sella " class were enlarged " Palestro " class torpedo boats , commissioned in 1926 / 27 and displacing 1 , 500 tonnes . As completed , these ships had a single 120 millimetre ( 4 . 7 inch ) gun , four 533 millimetre ( 21 inch ) torpedo tubes , two 40 millimetre and two 13 . 2 millimetre guns . The single 120mm gun mounting was changed to a twin in 1929 and an additional twin mount was installed sometime before 1942 . The 40mm weapons were an old pattern and they were replaced by two 20mm . Two more 20mm and two depth charge throwers were added . In use , the class proved to be unreliable . Two , " Bettino Ricasoli " and " Giovanni Nicotera " , were sold to Sweden and transferred just as Italy declared war . The remaining two were stationed in the Aegean for much of the war . They laid minefields and escorted convoys and were involved in actions against British operations off Rhodes and Crete . In the latter case they carried the explosive motorboats that seriously damaged HMS York at Suda Bay . At the Italian surrender in 1943 , the Germans sunk the " Quintino Sella " and captured " Francesco Crispi " , renaming her " TA15 " . " Sauro " class . Four " Sauro " class destroyers were commissioned in 1926 / 27 . They were developments of the preceding " Sella " class , with a broader beam to allow for the greater weight of weaponry from that in the " Sellas " ' original specification and some layout changes . The machinery remained substantially unchanged and , consequentially , the " Sauros " were no more reliable . They displaced 1 , 625 tonnes , with four 120mm guns and six 533 mm torpedo tubes . Secondary armament , 40mm and 13 . 2mm guns were unchanged at the time of their early loss . The four destroyers were based in the Red Sea to defend Italian Somaliland . All were lost by early April 1941 , when Massawa fell . Three were lost on anti - shipping sorties and the fourth , left in port through engine defects , was scuttled . " Turbine " class . Eight 1 , 700 tonne " Turbine " class destroyers were commissioned in 1927 and 1928 . These ships were a further development of the " Sella " design , with a larger hull , significantly increased engine power and fuel storage . The result was slightly faster ships with greater range . Armament was unchanged but a greater mine capacity was available . After 1940 , the two surviving ships had their old model 40mm guns replaced by modern 10mm ones . In addition , " Turbine " had one triple torpedo tube mounting replaced by a 37mm gun . All of the class were based at Tobruk , north Africa , and used to lay minefields and run supplies from Italy . This was an exposed location and six were sunk before the end of September , 1940 , most in harbour by naval aircraft . Two survived until the Italian surrender , one ( " Turbine " ) was captured by the Germans and renamed " TA14 " . " Euro " joined the Allies and was subsequently sunk off Leros . Navigatori class . The twelve Navigatoris were commissioned between December 1929 and May 1931 . They were a modern form of the earlier " exploratori " - large destroyer - type of ship , displacing 2 , 650 tonnes and were a response to the French " Jaguar " and " Guépard " classes . Weaponry , compared to the earlier " exploratori " was reduced to six 120mm in three twin turrets , one of which was amidships . The guns were a new model ( Ansaldo 1926 pattern , 50 calibre ) and the mountings allowed 45° elevation . The class used two sizes of torpedoes , in two triple banks , each unusually composed of two 533mm ( 21 in ) separated by one 450mm ( 17 . 7 in ) . As originally built , the class retained the older anti - aircraft fit of two 40mm and four 13 . 2mm guns . Fifty - six mines were carried , except for the flagship , " Nicolosso Da Rocco " , which required the space for staff facilities . The class ' machinery introduced a unit design , whereby the boilers and engine for one shaft was housed separately from those for the other shaft . Power output was substantially increased , in order to deliver the desired speed . A new style of bridge layout and structure was also introduced . As originally built , the Navigatori ships were insufficiently stable and too wet . Cures were applied in two stages , firstly in the mid - 1930s when some superficial changes were made to reduce superstructures and move fuel bunkers , and subsequently in 1938 – 1940 , when the beam was increased and bows raised . Displacement was increased thereby and speed significantly reduced . During World War II , several programmes were started to upgrade weaponry , in particular anti - aircraft weapons , but none were applied uniformly to all ships in the class . These included full triple 533mm torpedo mountings , 40mm guns replaced by greater numbers of 20mm ones , The after torpedo tubes were replaced by 37mm guns . Several ships were adapted for radar but ony two received the equipment ; " Leone Pancaldo " had the Italian EC3 / ter Gufo set and " Lanzaretto Malocello " had the German FuMo 26 / 40G . The three squadrons of this class served in the Mediterranean , escorting north African convoys , laying offensive minefields , bombarding shore targets and screening the fleet . Five ships survived until the Italian surrender , but two of these were sunk in September 1943 after action against a German convoy and another was scuttled in port to avoid capture by the Germans . One was captured by the Germans and served with them as " TA44 " . One ship survived the war in Italian service . " Freccia " or " Dardo " class . The four " Freccia " class destroyers , commissioned between October 1931 and May 1932 , were a reversion to the smaller type of fleet destroyer and they were intended to keep pace with the new " Zara " - class cruiser s and required greater speed and engine power to do so . Despite their design origins with the " Turbine " class , various changes resulted in the displacement , as originally built , increasing to 2 , 150 tonnes These changes included a larger hull , remodelled bridge and had their engine exhausts trunked to a single funnel . Poor stability and engine reliability were serious problems when the ships entered service and remedies were attempted which , in turn , led to fuel contamination . Weaponry was as for the " Turbine " s , except that an improved version of the 120mm gun was installed ( Ansaldo 1926 pattern ) . Later , the obsolete 40mm and 13 . 2mm guns were replaced by 20mm / 65 calibre ones . In one ship , a torpedo mounting was replaced by two 37mm guns . At the start of Italy ' s war , the four ships formed the 7th Squadron based at Taranto and they were at the Battle of Calabria . Otherwise , their main role was convoy protection . Three were lost before the Italian surrender and one , " Dardo " , was captured by the Germans ( renamed " TA31 " ) . Four ships , the " Kondouriotis " class , were built for the Greek Navy , based on the " Freccia " design . " Folgore " class . The four " Folgore " s , commissioned between June and September 1932 , were modified " Freccia " s and they are sometimes included in that class as the " second group " . Displacement was marginally reduced at 2 , 130 tonnes . The one major alteration was to reduce beam in order to improve their speed , this resulted in reduced fuel capacity and , consequently , their range . They were no more reliable or seaworthy than their earlier sisters . Their anti - aircraft gunnery was similarly improved . These ships ' service was closely similar to the " Freccia " s . They were based at Taranto and also took part in the Battle of Calabria . They also spent much of their time escorting north African convoys , on which duties they were all lost before the Italian surrender . " Maestrale " class . After the disappointments of the " Dardo " and " Folgore " classes , the " Maestrale " development was a largely successful attempt to eliminate faults . The four ships , commissioned from September to November 1934 , were larger than the earlier classes , 2 , 255 tonnes and longer and broader . Engines and armament , as completed , were unchanged from the " Dardo " s , but a later version of the 120mm gun was used , the O . T . O . Pattern 1931 . During service , efforts were made to improve the potency of the anti - aircraft weaponry ; 40mm and 13 . 2 mm guns were replaced by newer 20mm ones and subsequently increased in number , two 37mm anti aircraft were installed in place of a torpedo tube mounting . A 120mm starshell gun was installed on some ships to mitigate the Italian Navy ' s disadvantages in night actions . Although mainly used as fleet escorts , these ships also laid minefields and escorted convoys , during one such duty , they missed the Battle of Calabria and were never involved in a major fleet action . They came to a mixed bag of fates . Two were lost before the Italian surrender , one torpedoed and one lost in a storm ; one , under repair at the surrender was scuttled to avoid German capture . The fourth , " Grecale " , joined the Allies , was involved in actions against the Germans and survived into long post - war Italian service . " Oriani " or " Poeti " class . These four ships were commissioned between July and December 1937 . They were effectively a repeat of the preceding " Maestrales " with an increased engine power . The increase in power , however , disappointed in that there was only a marginal speed improvement . The obsolete 40mm anti - aircraft guns were finally discontinued , being replaced by extra 13 . 2mm machine guns ; otherwise armament was unchanged . The ships displaced 2 , 510 tonnes as built . Significant upgrades were made to the weapons systems of the two ships that survived Matapan , similar to those made to the " Maestrales " . One torpedo tube mounting was replaced by two 37mm guns ; 20mm cannon , a 120mm star - shell gun and depth charge throwers were also installed . Before the end of the war , one ship , " Oriani " had German Seetakt radar and additional 20mm cannon . The four " Oriani " s operated as fleet escorts for much of the war , being present at the battles of Calabria and Matapan , two being sunk at the latter action . Another was sunk shortly before the Italian surrender . One ship , " Oriani " , survived to serve with the Allies and was subsequently transferred to France and renamed " D ' Estaing " . Soldati class . Nineteen " Soldati " were built in two batches ; twelve commissioned between August 1938 and May 1939 and the second batch of five between February and August 1942 . The remaining two ships were not completed before the surrender ; one was scrapped while under construction and the final one was completed under German colours . First group . The first batch took the " Oriani " design , with some modifications giving an increased displacement of 1 , 645 tonnes . Weapons systems were modified but these were not consistent between all ships of the class . The 120mm guns remained the main battery , in two twin mountings , fore and aft , but a later pattern was used , the 1936 or 1937 Ansaldo . As completed , the anti - aircraft battery consisted of twelve machine guns . Five ships are known to have had a second fire control director installed aft ; two ships are known not have been so fitted . All except " Carabiniere " had a 120mm star shell gun amidships , to help reduce the Italian ships ' disadvantage in night actions . All ships had two triple 21 inch torpedo tube mountings . In 1940 – 41 , the second , aft , directories were removed from those ships that had them . Five ships had an additional single 120mm gun ( Ansaldo 1940 pattern ) to replace their star - shell gun . The anti - aircraft machine - guns were replaced by 20mm cannon and further strengthened in 1943 . Three ships received two single 37mm anti - aircraft guns , which replaced the single 120mm ( where installed ) and the aft torpedo tube mountings . One ship , " Fuciliere " , had an Italian " Gufo " radar set installed in 1943 . Second group . Seven modified Soldati class were ordered in 1940 and laid down in late 1940 – 41 . These ships were equipped with five 120mm guns ( 2 twin and one single replacing the start shell gun of the earlier ships ) and extra light AA guns . Comandanti Medaglie d ' Oro class . None of this class were ever launched , only nine were laid down . " Curtatone " class . 4 vessels - 890 t Captured ships . The Regia Marina also operated some destroyers built for foreign navies , captured from either France or Yugoslavia .