Turbine class destroyer

"Turbine" class was a class of destroyers built for the Italian "Regia Marina" in the late 1920s. They were essentially larger versions of the earlier sclass|Sella|destroyer|1.

"Turbine" class ships

*"Aquilone" - Built by Odero, Sestri Ponente. Completed 3 December 1927. Sunk by aircraft from HMS "Illustrious" in Benghazi harbor on September 17, 1940.
*"Borea" - Built by Ansaldo, Genoa. Completed 14 November 1927. Sunk by aircraft from HMS "Illustrious" in Benghazi harbor on September 17, 1940.
*"Espero" - Built by Ansaldo, Genoa. Completed 30 April 1928. Sunk by HMAS "Sydney" off Tobruk on June 28, 1940 (Battle of the Espero Convoy).
*"Euro" - Built by CT Riva Trigoso. Launched on July 7, 1927 and completed on 22 December 1927. Sunk off by German aircraft off Leros Island, Greece on October 1, 1943.
*"Nembo" - Built by CT Riva Trigoso. Completed on 14 November 1927. Sunk by aircraft from HMS "Eagle" in the Gulf of Bomba on July 20, 1940.
*"Ostro" - Built by Ansaldo, Genoa. Completed on 9 June 1928. Sunk by aircraft from HMS "Eagle" in the Gulf of Bomba on July 20, 1940.
*"Turbine" - Built by Odero, Sestri Ponente. Completed 27 August 1927. Seized by the Germans during the Italian Armistice, Served in the Kriegsmarine as the TA14 Sunk by USAAF aircraft in Salamis on September 16, 1944.
*"Zeffiro" - Built by Ansaldo, Genoa. Completed 15 May 1928. Sunk by aircraft from HMS "Eagle" in Tobruk on July 5, 1940.

History

At the beginning of World War II, when Italy declared war against Britain and France, all eight ships of the "Turbine" class were based in Tobruk, Libya. They were tasked with mine laying duties and running supplies between Tobruk and Taranto. On June 16, 1940, "Turbine" sank the British submarine HMS|Orpheus|N46|6 just off Tobruk.

On June 28, 1940, "Espero", "Ostro" and "Zeffiro" were in convoy, heavily loaded down with cargo, when they were intercepted by a British task force of five ships. In the ensuing battle, warship|HMAS|Sydney|1934|6 sank the "Espero" as it lagged behind to allow the other two destroyers to escape.

On July 5, 1940, British aircraft carrier HMS|Eagle|1918|6 launched an attack on Tobruk harbor. Its Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers sank the "Zeffiro", and severely damaged the "Euro". Later that month, on July 20, another Swordfish from HMS "Eagle" spotted the "Nembo" and "Ostro" in the Gulf of Bomba and sank them both with torpedoes. In September 17 of the same year, HMS|Illustrious|R87|6 attacked Benghazi harbor where "Aquilone" and "Borea" were berthed, and both were sunk.

After the Italian armistice in September of 1943, "Euro" was assigned to the allied fleet and was later sunk by German Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" dive bombers off Leros Island, Greece. "Turbine" was seized by the German Navy and put into service in the Aegean Sea as a torpedo boat. On June 19 1944, at Porto Lago, she was badly damaged by an explosion, which was thought to have been sabotage. She set in to the port of Salamis for repairs, but an air strike on the port on 16 September sunk her before they could be entirely completed.

References

* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=559 Uboat.net: "Turbine" class destroyers]
* [http://www.steelnavy.com/RM%20Turbine.htm SteelNavy Ship Modeling: "Turbine" class]