Leone-class destroyer

Leone class destroyers

Company type	Destroyer class
Industry	Naval shipbuilding
Founded	1920s
Headquarters	Italy
Products	Destroyers

Template:Infobox ship class overview {{Infobox ship characteristics

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Header caption=(as built)

Ship type=Destroyer

Ship displacement=*2,195 long tons (2,230 t) (standard) 2,289 long tons (2,326 t) (full load)

Ship length= 113.41 m (372 ft 1 in) (overall)

Ship beam= 10.36 m (34 ft)

Ship draught= 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in) (average)

Ship propulsion=2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines

Ship power=*4 Yarrow boilers 42,000 hp (31,000 kW)

Ship speed= 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)

Ship range= 2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Ship complement=10 officers and 194 enlisted personnel

Ship armament=*4 × twin 120 mm (4.7 in) guns 2 × single 76 mm (3.0 in) AA guns 2 × triple 450 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes 60 Naval mines

|} The Leone class destroyers were constructed for the Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) during the early 1920s. Although five vessels were initially planned, only three were completed. Throughout World War II, all three ships operated out of Massawa, located in Eritrea, and were ultimately lost during the East African Campaign (World War II).

Design and description

Conceived as enlarged destroyers functioning as scout cruisers (known in Italian as esploratori), these ships were originally ordered in 1917 but delayed because of steel shortages, with construction resuming in 1920. Their overall length measured 113.41 metres (372 ft 1 in), a beam of 10.36 metres (34.0 ft), and an average draft of 3.1 metres (10 ft 2 in). The vessels displaced 2,195 long tons (2,230 t) at standard load and 2,289 long tons (2,326 t) when fully loaded, accommodating a crew of 10 officers alongside 194 enlisted sailors.

Propulsion was provided by two geared steam turbines manufactured by Parsons, each driving a single propeller shaft and powered by steam from four Yarrow boilers. Rated at 42,000 shaft horsepower (31,000 kW), these turbines enabled a service speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph), with actual speeds exceeding this during trials. Fuel capacity was 393 long tons (399 t) of oil, which allowed for an operational range of approximately 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) cruising at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

Armament comprised eight 120 mm guns arranged in four twin turrets: one positioned forward, one aft of the superstructure, and two placed between the funnels and torpedo tube mounts amidships. For air defense, the ships featured two single-mounted 76 mm anti-aircraft guns amidships. Torpedo weaponry included six 450 mm tubes arranged in two triple mounts, while the vessels could also deploy up to 60 naval mines.

Operational history

Designed for colonial duties, these vessels were stationed by 1935 at the naval base in Massawa, Eritrea. In 1938, they were officially reclassified as destroyers and subsequently participated in World War II. The Italian declaration of war resulted in the isolation of Italian East Africa from mainland Italy.

Attack on convoy BN 7

File:L-Espl.jpg

The class leader, Leone

The destroyers’ most notable engagement occurred during the early hours of 21 October 1940, when they attacked the Allied convoy BN 7. The ships Leone and Pantera, alongside Francesco Nullo and Nazario Sauro, opened fire on the convoy and its protective escort. Their bombardment caused minor splinter damage to the leading transport vessel, particularly affecting one of its lifeboats. Additionally, at least two torpedoes were launched targeting HMAS Yarra, which successfully evaded them. Despite this offensive, the cruiser HMS Leander repelled the attack by firing 129 six-inch shells at the Italian destroyers. While Leone, Pantera, and Sauro managed to withdraw safely, Nullo was pursued by HMS Kimberley and forced to run aground on Harmil island. Subsequently, RAF Blenheim bombers destroyed her wreck. During the skirmish, Kimberley sustained two boiler hits from shore batteries and required towing to Aden by HMS Leander.

Final operation

The destroyers remained moored at Massawa until ground combat in East Africa concluded. On 31 March 1941, under orders from their commander, they set out on a one-way mission to shell targets near the Suez Canal. During this operation, Leone ran aground near Massawa and was later destroyed by her sister ships. After being detected and attacked by British aircraft, crews of Pantera and Tigre scuttled their vessels upon reaching the shores of the Arabia.

Ships

Construction data

Ship	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
Leone	23 November 1921	1 October 1923	1 July 1924	Wrecked on submerged rock 1 April 1941
Pantera	19 December 1921	18 October 1923	28 October 1924	Scuttled 3/4 April 1941
Tigre	23 January 1922	7 August 1924	10 October 1924	Scuttled 3/4 April 1941

Plans for two additional vessels, Lince and Leopardo, were cancelled around 1920 or 1921.

Bibliography

• Brescia, Maurizio (2012). The Navy of Mussolini: A Comprehensive Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-544-8.
• Campbell, John (1985). World War Two Naval Armaments. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
• Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Naval Vessels of the Second World War. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
• Gray, Randal, ed. (1985). Conway's Complete Guide to Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-907-8.
• O'Hara, Vincent P. (2009). Mediterranean Naval Warfare: The Great Fleets in Conflict 1940–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-648-3.
• Roberts, John (1980). "Italy". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's Complete Record of Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 280–317. ISBN 0-8317-0303-2.
• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). A Naval Timeline of World War II 1939–1945: The Sea War Chronicles (Third Revised Edition ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). A Global Encyclopedia of World War II Destroyers. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.

Further reading

• Cernuschi, Enrico (2022). "Esploratori of the Regia Marina, 1906—1939". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2022. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. pp. 147–160. ISBN 978-1-4728-4781-2.

External links

• Leone Class official Marina Militare website