Sauro-class destroyer

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.

These ships formed the 3rd Squadrilla and were based in the Red Sea.

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}}

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.

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}}

{{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=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}}

• [https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/PQRS/sauro.aspx Classe Sauro] Marina Militare website

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{{Sauro class destroyer}}

{{WWII Italian ships}}

Category:Destroyer classes

Category:Destroyers of the Regia Marina

Category:Ships built in Italy