Leone-class destroyer

The ships were designed as scout cruisers (esploratori), essentially enlarged versions of contemporary destroyers. They were initially ordered in 1917, but postponed due to steel shortages, and re-ordered in 1920.Gray, p. 267 They had an overall length of {{convert|113.41|m|ft|0|sp=us}}, a beam of {{convert|10.36|m|ft|sp=us|0}} and a mean draft of {{convert|3.1|m|ftin|sp=us}}. They displaced {{convert|2195|LT|t|lk=on}} at standard load, and {{convert|2289|LT|t|-1}} at deep load. Their complement was 10 officers and 194 enlisted men.

The Leones were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by four Yarrow boilers. The turbines were rated at {{convert|42000|shp|lk=on}} for a speed of {{convert|33|kn|lk=in}} in service, although all of the ships exceeded that speed during their sea trials. The ships carried {{convert|393|LT|t}} of fuel oilWhitley, p. 158 that gave them a range of {{convert|2000|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|15|kn}}.

Their main battery consisted of eight 120 mm Italian naval gun#45-calibre Schneider-Canet-Armstrong 1918/19 guns in four twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure and the remaining turrets positioned between the funnels and the torpedo tube mounts amidships.McMurtrie, p. 281 Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Leone-class ships was provided by a pair of Cannon 76/40 Model 1916 AA guns in single mounts amidships. They were equipped with six {{convert|450|mm|in|adj=on|sp=us|1}} torpedo tubes in two triple mounts. The Leones could also carry 60 mines.

The ships were outfitted for colonial service, and by 1935 they were deployed in the naval base of Massawa, Eritrea.[http://www.trentoincina.it/dbunita2.php?short_name=Tigre Cacciatorpediniere Tigre] {{in lang|it}} The ships were re-rated as destroyers in 1938 and fought in World War II, when the Italian entry in the war left Italian East Africa isolated from Italy.Etnasi, Fernando (2007). Otto milioni di baionette: in guerra con le suole di cartone. EdUP, p. 72. {{ISBN|88-8421-170-0}} {{in lang|it}}

File:L-Espl.jpg

The only appreciable action in which the destroyers were involved was the attack on the Allied convoy BN 7, in the early hours of 21 October 1940. Leone and Pantera, along with {{ship|Italian destroyer|Francesco Nullo|1925|2}} and {{ship|Italian destroyer|Nazario Sauro||2}}, shelled the convoy and its escort, inflicting some splinter damage to the leading transport ship, especially on one of her lifeboats, and launched at least two torpedoes aimed at {{HMAS|Yarra|U77|6}}, which dodged them.O'Hara, p. 103 The attack was nevertheless repulsed by the cruiser HMS Leander, which fired 129 six-inch rounds on the Italian destroyers. Leone, Pantera and Sauro successfully disengaged but Nullo was chased by {{HMS|Kimberley}} and forced to run aground on Harmil island, where she was later wrecked by RAF Blenheim bombers. Kimberley took two hits on a boiler from coastal batteries, and had to be towed to Aden by HMS Leander.

The destroyers remained at dock in Massawa until the very end of ground operations in East Africa. Their commander ordered them to steam out on 31 March 1941, for a naval bombardment against targets around the Suez Canal, in a mission without return. Leone ran aground off Massawa, and was then destroyed by her sister ships. After being spotted and harassed by British aircraft, Pantera and Tigre reached the Arabian shores, where their crews scuttled them.Jackson, Ashley (2006). The British Empire and the Second World War. Continuum International Publishing Group, p. 283. {{ISBN|1-85285-417-0}}

Two more ships Lince and Leopardo were cancelled in 1920 or 1921.

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{cite book|last=Brescia|first=Maurizio|title=Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45|year=2012|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=978-1-59114-544-8}}
• {{cite book |last=Campbell |first=John|title =Naval Weapons of World War Two |publisher =Naval Institute Press|date =1985 |location =Annapolis, Maryland|isbn =0-87021-459-4}}
• {{cite book |last1=Fraccaroli |first1=Aldo |title=Italian Warships of World War II |date=1968 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Shepperton, UK |isbn=0-7110-0002-6}}
• {{cite book

| editor1-last = Gray

| editor1-first = Randal

| year = 1985

| title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921

| publisher = Naval Institute Press

| location = Annapolis, Maryland

| isbn = 978-0-87021-907-8}}

• {{cite book|last=O'Hara|first=Vincent P.|year=2009|title=Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945|publisher=Naval Institute Press| location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=978-1-59114-648-3}}
• {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau |editor1-first=Roger |publisher=Mayflower Books|location=New York|year=1980|isbn=0-8317-0303-2 |chapter=Italy |last1=Roberts |first1=John|pages=280–317}}
• {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland |year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2|authorlink=Jürgen Rohwer}}
• {{cite book|first=M. J.|last=Whitley|title=Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia |year=1988|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-85409-521-8 |authorlink=Michael J. Whitley}}

• {{cite book |last1=Cernuschi |first1=Enrico |editor1-last=Jordan |editor1-first=John |title=Warship 2022 |date=2022 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford|pages=147–160 |isbn=978-1-4728-4781-2 |chapter=Esploratori of the Regia Marina, 1906—1939}}

• [https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/LMNO/leone.aspx Classe Leone] Marina Militare website

{{Portal bar|Italy|Engineering}}

{{Leone class destroyer}}

{{WWII Italian ships}}

Category:Destroyer classes

Category:Destroyers of the Regia Marina

Category:Ships built in Italy

Category:Ships built by Gio. Ansaldo & C.