Sauro-class destroyer
{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=Destroyer Nazario Sauro.jpg |Ship caption=Italian destroyer Sauro }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Sauro class |Builders= |Operators={{navy|Kingdom of Italy|name=Regis Marina}} |Class before={{sclass|Sella|destroyer|4}} |Class after={{sclass|Turbine|destroyer|4}} |Cost= |Built range=1924–1927 |In service range= |In commission range=1927–1941 |Total ships completed=4 |Total ships lost=4 }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption=(as built) |Ship type=Destroyer |Ship displacement=*{{cvt|1058|t|LT|lk=on}} (standard)
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1}} (full load)
|Ship length= {{convert|90.16|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{convert|9.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draught= {{convert|2.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship power=*3 Yarrow boilers
|Ship propulsion=2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines |Ship speed={{convert|31|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range= {{convert|2600|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|14|kn}} |Ship complement=154–156 |Ship armament=* 2 × twin 120 mm Italian naval gun#45-calibre OTO 1926
|Ship notes= }} |
The Sauro class were a group of four destroyers built for the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} (Royal Italian Navy) in the late 1920s. They were based in the Red Sea Italian colony of Eritrea and all fought in World War II being sunk during the East African Campaign in 1941.
Design and description
The Sauro-class destroyers were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding {{sclass|Sella|destroyer|4}}. They had an overall length of {{convert|90.16|m|ft|0|sp=us}}, a beam of {{convert|9.2|m|ftin|sp=us}} and a mean draft of {{convert|2.9|m|ftin|sp=us}}. They displaced {{convert|1058|t|LT|sp=us|lk=on}} at standard load, and {{convert|1600|t|LT|sp=us|-1}} at deep load. Their complement was 8–10 officers and 146 enlisted men.
The Sauros were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Yarrow boilers. The turbines were rated at {{convert|36000|shp|lk=on}} for a speed of {{convert|31|kn|lk=in}} in service,Roberts, p. 298 although the ships reached speeds in excess of {{convert|36|kn}} during their sea trials while lightly loaded.McMurtrie, p. 281 They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of {{convert|2600|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|14|kn}}.Whitley, p. 160
Their main battery consisted of four 120 mm Italian naval gun#50-calibre Ansaldo 1926 guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure.Fraccaroli, p. 47 Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Sauro-class ships was provided by a pair of QF 2 pounder naval gun AA guns in single mounts amidships and a pair of Breda Model 1931 Machine Gun. They were equipped with six {{convert|533|mm|in|adj=on|sp=us|0}} torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. The Sauros could also carry 52 mines.
Ships
These ships formed the 3rd Squadrilla and were based in the Red Sea.
class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Construction data |
scope="col" | Ship name
! scope="col" | Namesake ! scope="col" | Builder ! scope="col" | Completed ! scope="col" | Fate |
---|
scope="row" | {{ship|Italian destroyer|Cesare Battisti||2}}
| Odero, Sestri Ponente | 13 April 1927 | Scuttled 3 April 1941 |
scope="row" | {{ship|Italian destroyer|Daniele Manin||2}}
| CNQ Fiume | 1 March 1927 | Sunk by aerial bombing, 3 April 1941 |
scope="row" | {{ship|Italian destroyer|Francesco Nullo|1925|2}}
| CNQ Fiume | 15 April 1927 | Beached on Harmil island following a battle with {{HMS|Kimberley|F50|6}}, 21 October 1940; destroyed by three RAF Bristol Blenheim bombers the next day |
scope="row" | {{ship|Italian destroyer|Nazario Sauro||2}}
| Odero, Sestri Ponente | 23 September 1926 | Sunk by an Allied bombing, 3 April 1941 |
Operational history
The destroyers were outfitted for colonial service, and by 1935 they were deployed in the naval base of Massawa, Eritrea.[http://www.marina.difesa.it/storia/almanacco/parte05/navi0518.asp Cacciatorpediniere Sauro] {{in lang|it}} Italian's entry in World War II 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}}
=Attack on convoy BN 7=
The only appreciable action in which the destroyers were involved was the attack on the Allied convoy BN 7, on the first hours of 21 October 1940. Nullo and Sauro, along with Leone and Pantera shelled the convoy and its escort, inflicting some splinter damage to the leading transport ship, and launched at least two torpedoes aimed at {{HMAS|Yarra|U77|6}}, which successfully 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. While Sauro and the other destroyers successfully disengaged, Nullo was chased by the destroyer {{HMS|Kimberley|F50|6}} 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.
=End of the surviving units=
The three surviving destroyers remained at dock in Massawa until the very end of ground operations in East Africa. Their commander ordered them to steam out on 2 April 1941, for an almost suicidal attack on Port Sudan. The squadron was soon discovered by British air reconnaissance, and immediately bombed by land-based Swordfish aircraft from the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Eagle|1918|6}}. Battisti managed to reach the Arabian coast, where she was scuttled by her crew. Manin and Sauro kept firing their antiaircraft guns until they were sunk by the British planes.Jackson, Ashley (2006). The British Empire and the Second World War. Continuum International Publishing Group, p. 283. {{ISBN|1-85285-417-0}}
Notes
{{reflist|2}}
Bibliography
- {{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=McMurtrie |editor1-first=Francis E. |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1937 |date=1937 |publisher=Sampson Low |location=London |oclc=927896922}}
- {{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}}
External links
- [https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/PQRS/sauro.aspx Classe Sauro] Marina Militare website
{{Portal bar|Italy|Engineering}}
{{Sauro class destroyer}}
{{WWII Italian ships}}