Italian destroyer Zeffiro (1904)

Last updated
RN Zeffiro 1905.jpg
Zeffiro anchored in the Gulf of La Spezia in 1905. She is in her original two-funnel configuration.
History
Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg Kingdom of Italy
NameZeffiro
NamesakeZephyr, a west wind
Builder Cantiere Pattison, Naples, Kingdom of Italy
Launched14 May 1904
CommissionedApril 1905
Reclassified Torpedo boat 1921
DecommissionedMarch 1924
Fate
  • Discarded 13 March 1924
  • Scrapped
General characteristics
Type Destroyer
Displacement
  • 325 long tons (330 t) normal
  • 380 long tons (390 t) full load
Length
  • 63.39 m (208 ft 0 in) pp
  • 64.00 m (210 ft 0 in) oa
Beam5.94 m (19 ft 6 in)
Draught2.29 m (7 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • As built: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
  • Post-World War I: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Complement55
Armament

Zeffiro ("Zephyr") was an Italian Nembo-class destroyer. Commissioned into service in the Italian Regia Marina (Royal Navy) in 1905, she served in the Italo-Turkish War and World War I, playing an active role in the Adriatic campaign. Reclassified as a torpedo boat in 1921, she was decommissioned in 1924.

Contents

Construction, commissioning, and modernization

Zeffiro sometime between 1908 and 1910 in her original two-funnel configuration. Zeffiro2.jpg
Zeffiro sometime between 1908 and 1910 in her original two-funnel configuration.
Zeffiro with three funnels after her 1912 modernization. Zeffiro1.jpg
Zeffiro with three funnels after her 1912 modernization.

Zeffiro was laid down at the Cantiere Pattison (English: Pattison Shipyard ) in Naples, Italy, and launched on 14 May 1904 and completed on 1 April 1905. [1] She was commissioned in April 1905.

At various times between 1909 and 1912, each of the Nembo-class destroyers underwent a radical modernization; Zeffiro′s took place in 1912. Her coal-fired boilers were converted into oil-fired ones, and her original two short, squat funnels were replaced with three smaller, more streamlined ones, profoundly altering her appearance. Her armament also changed, with her original five QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt 57 mm/43 guns replaced by four Cannon 76/40 (3 in) Model 1916 guns, and her original four 356-millimetre (14 in) torpedo tubes replaced by four 450-millimetre (17.7 in) tubes. [2] [3] [4] Sometime between 1914 and 1918, Zeffiro underwent additional modifications in which minelaying equipment was installed aboard her. [3] [4]

Service history

Italo-Turkish War

The Italo-Turkish War began on 29 September 1911 with the Kingdom of Italy′s declaration of war on the Ottoman Empire. At the time, Zeffiro was assigned to the Division of the Torpedo Boat Inspector and was being held in reserve at La Spezia. [5] On the afternoon of 29 September, however, she took part in one of the first clashes of the war, the Battle of Preveza, when she, along with the destroyers Alpino, Artigliere, and Carabiniere and the torpedo boat Spica engaged the Ottoman Navy torpedo boats Antalya and Tokad as they attempted to leave the port of Preveza on what then was the Ionian Sea coast of the Ottoman Empire. The Italian ships attacked the two torpedo boats at 14:00, and Artigliere seriously damaged Tokad and pursued her into the anchorage as she attempted to return to Preveza. Meanwhile, Zeffiro, Alpino, Carabiniere and Spica surrounded Antalya. Hit repeatedly, seriously damaged, and on fire, with four members of her crew killed in action and numerous other crewmen wounded, Antalya struck her colors and ran herself aground on a nearby beach. As Antalya′s crew abandoned ship, members of Alpino′s crew boarded and captured her and removed her flag and her only usable gun, after which Alpino finished her off with gunfire. Zeffiro, Alpino, Carabiniere, and Spica then joined Artigliere in the harbor and sank Tokad and an Ottoman gunboat. As the Italian ships departed, the crew of the Greek steamer Marte cheered them. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

In a 1912 magazine article [11] and a 1913 book [12] based on contemporary sources, United States Navy Commodore W. H. Beehler offers a different version of the events of 29 September 1911. According to Beehler, the Italian ships sighted Antalya and Tokad in the Ionian Sea between Corfu and Preveza, steering north-northwestward, at either 15:00 [11] or 16:00. [12] The Italians opened fire, and the Ottoman ships returned fire only feebly. Tokad steamed northward chased by three Italian destroyers, while Antalya headed south with two Italian destroyers in pursuit. Hit 15 times and on fire, Tokad beached herself near Nicopolis and was totally destroyed, with her commanding officer and eight of her sailors either killed by the Italian gunfire or drowned. Meanwhile, Antalya reached Preveza undamaged. The Italian destroyers were undamaged and fired 100 76-millimetre rounds during the engagement. [11] [12]

World War I

1915

World War I broke out in 1914, and Italy entered the war on the side of the Allies with its declaration of war on Austria-Hungary on 23 May 1915. At the time, Zeffiro, under the command of Capitano di corvetta (Corvette Captain) Arturo Ciano – a future admiral – as well as Alpino, Carabiniere, and the destroyers Ascaro, Fuciliere, and Pontiere made up the 4th Destroyer Squadron, based at Brindisi. [13] In the predawn hours of 24 May 1915, during the first night of Italy's participation in the war, Zeffiro took part in the Raid on Porto Buso. At 02:00, she entered the navigable channel that led to the island of Porto Buso at the mouth of the river Ausa in the Grado Lagoon, a part of the larger Marano Lagoon, on which an Austro-Hungarian barracks and small port were located. At 03:00, from a range of about 500 metres (550 yd), she fired a torpedo at the port's jetty, damaging it. She then destroyed the motor boats and other small boats moored there and bombarded the barracks, damaging them and setting them on fire. The bombardment killed 11 Austro-Hungarians, who either died in the shelling itself or drowned while trying to swim to safety, and 48 others, including the commanding officer, surrendered to Zeffiro, which brought them aboard and took them to Venice as prisoners-of-war. Of the Austro-Hungarians based on Porto Buso, only 23 avoided death or capture, only six of whom were on Porto Buso itself: The other 17 were on other islands in the lagoon at the time of the raid. [13] [14] [15]

1916

On 30 April 1916, Zeffiro got underway to lay a minefield in the Adriatic Sea off Šibenik (known to the Italians as Sebenico) on the coast of Austria-Hungary, but had to abort the mission and return to base after encountering the Austro-Hungarian hospital ships Anfitride and Tirol. [13] On the nights of 3–4 May and 4–5 May 1916,Zeffiro and Fuciliere succeeded in laying a minefield off Šibenik. [13]

Supported by Alpino, Fuciliere, and the coastal torpedo boats 40 PN and 46 OS, Zeffiro, under the command of Capitano di fregata (Frigate Captain) Costanzo Ciano – brother of her previous commander – and with Lieutenant Nazario Sauro, an Italian irredentist, aboard as pilot, entered the port of Poreč on the western side of Istria, a peninsula on Austria-Hungary's coast, at dawn on 12 May 1916. A group of men from Zeffiro, including Sauro, captured a gendarme who showed them the location of an aircraft hangar. In the meantime the other ships had joined Zeffiro, and at 04:50 they began a bombardment which lasted about 20 minutes. [13] [15] The hangar suffered damage from hits by 76-millimetre (3 in) shells from the Italian ships. Austro-Hungarian coastal artillery batteries returned fire, and then 10 Austro-Hungarian seaplanes attacked the Italian ships. Allied aircraft came to the defense of the Italians, resulting in a dogfight in which Austro-Hungarian seaplanes collided with two Italian and one French aircraft. All the Italian ships returned to base, although they suffered damage and a number of casualties, including four men killed in action. [15]

On 18 July 1916 Zeffiro and the torpedo boats Climene and Procione towed three seaplanes – L 141, L 156, and L 157 – to a point in the Adriatic Sea about 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) from the Dalmatian island of Mljet (known to the Italians as Meleda) – and supported them as they made an incursion into the Velebit Channel (known to the Italians as the Morlacca Channel) between the Dalmatian coast and the island of Pag (known to the Italians as Pago). The incursion was unsuccessful, yielding no results except for the loss of two of the seaplanes. [13]

1917–1918

On 24 September 1917 Zeffiro, Carabiniere, and Pontiere got underway from Venice to intervene in a clash between the Italian coastal torpedo boats 9 PN, 10 PN, 11 PN, and 12 PN and four Austro-Hungarian Navy destroyers. The battle ended following the intervention of Italian aircraft, and the Austro-Hungarian destroyers withdrew before the Italian destroyers could engage them. [13]

By late October 1918, Austria-Hungary had effectively disintegrated, and the Armistice of Villa Giusti, signed on 3 November 1918, went into effect on 4 November 1918 and brought hostilities between Austria-Hungary and the Allies to an end. World War I ended a week later with an armistice between the Allies and the German Empire on 11 November 1918.

Post-World War I

After World War I ended, Zeffiro underwent modifications to her superstructure, propulsion system, and armament. Her bridge was moved aft, one of her three funnels was removed, [3] [4] and her engine power dropped to 3,400 horsepower (2,535 kW) and her maximum speed to 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph). [4] In addition, one of her 76-millimetre guns was removed and a Colt Browning 65-millimeter/80-caliber antiaircraft machine gun was installed. [4] Reclassified as a torpedo boat in 1921, she was stricken from the naval register in 1923 [3] [4] and subsequently scrapped.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Preveza (1911)</span> A battle that occurred during the Italo-Turkish War in 1911

The Battle of Preveza was the first naval engagement fought during the Italo-Turkish War, which took place in the Ionian Sea on 29–30 September 1911. The action took part in two separate engagements, the first off Preveza, and the second at Gomenítza the following day. Five Italian destroyers encountered a pair of Ottoman torpedo boats off the port of Preveza on 29 September and forced one aground; the second fled into the safety of Preveza. The next day, the Italian destroyers raided Gomenítza, where another two torpedo boats and an armed yacht were at anchor. The Italians sank both torpedo boats and seized the yacht as a prize.

Italian cruiser <i>Cesare Rossarol</i> Italian Alessandro Poerio-class scout cruiser

Cesare Rossarol was an Italian scout cruiser. Commissioned into service in the Italian Regia Marina in 1915, she served during World War I, participating in the Adriatic campaign until she was sunk in 1918.

Soldato-class destroyer

The Soldato class was a class of destroyers of the Italian Regia Marina built by Ansaldo of Genoa prior to the First World War. Ten were built for the Regia Marina between 1905 and 1910, while an eleventh ship was built for China but purchased by Italy before completion. They served during the First World War, where one was lost, with the remaining ships sold for scrap in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Italian destroyer <i>Carabiniere</i> (1909) Italian Soldato-class destroyer

Carabinere ("Carabinier") was a Soldato-class ("Soldier"-class) destroyer of the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned in 1910, she served in the Italo-Turkish War and World War I. Reclassified as a torpedo boat in 1921, she was stricken in 1925.

Italian destroyer <i>Giuseppe Missori</i> Italian Rosolino Pilo-class destroyer

Giuseppe Missori was an Italian Rosolino Pilo-class destroyer. Commissioned into service in the Italian Regia Marina in 1916, she served in World War I, playing an active role in the Adriatic campaign. Reclassified as a torpedo boat in 1929, she participated in the Mediterranean campaign and Adriatic campaign of World War II until the Italian armistice with the Allies, prompting Nazi Germany to capture her. Subsequently operating in the Kriegsmarine as TA22, she participated in the Adriatic campaign until she was seriously damaged in 1944. She sank in May 1945.

Italian destroyer <i>Francesco Nullo</i> (1914) Italian Rosolino Pilo-class destroyer

Francesco Nullo was an Italian Rosolino Pilo-class destroyer. Commissioned into service in the Italian Regia Marina in 1915, she served in World War I, participating in the Adriatic campaign. She supported Gabriele D'Annunzio′s actions in Fiume in 1920, and was renamed Fratelli Cairoli in 1921. Reclassified as a torpedo boat in 1929, she served in the Mediterranean campaign of World War II until she was sunk in 1940.

Italian destroyer <i>Giuseppe Sirtori</i> Italian Giuseppe Sirtori-class destroyer

Giuseppe Sirtori was the lead ship of the Giuseppe Sirtori-class destroyers. Commissioned into service in the Italian Regia Marina in 1916, she served during World War I, participating in the Adriatic campaign. During the interwar period, she took part in operations related to the Corfu incident in 1923 and was reclassified as a torpedo boat in 1929. During World War II, she took part in the Mediterranean campaign and later the Adriatic campaign until she was scuttled in 1943.

Italian destroyer <i>Turbine</i> (1901) Italian Nembo-class destroyer

Turbine was an Italian Nembo-class destroyer. Commissioned into service in the Italian Regia Marina in 1902, she served in the Italo-Turkish War and World War I. She was sunk during the latter conflict in May 1915 on the day after Italy entered the war.

Italian destroyer <i>Aquilone</i> (1902) Italian Nembo-class destroyer

Aquilone was an Italian Nembo-class destroyer. Commissioned into service in the Italian Regia Marina in 1903, she served in the Italo-Turkish War and World War I, playing an active role in the Adriatic campaign. Reclassified as a torpedo boat in 1921, she was stricken in 1923.

Italian destroyer <i>Alpino</i> (1909) Italian Soldato-class destroyer

Alpino was a Soldato-class ("Soldier"-class) destroyer of the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned in 1910, she served actively in the Italo-Turkish War, operating in the Ionian, Aegean, and Red Seas. During World War I she initially operated in the upper Adriatic Sea, conducting reconnaissance and minelaying operations and supporting actions by motor torpedo boats and aircraft. She subsequently operated in the southern Adriatic and the Ionian Sea, where she was assigned to escort operations and patrolling the Otranto Barrage in the Strait of Otranto. Reclassified as a torpedo boat in 1921, she was stricken in 1928.

Fuciliere ("Fusilier") was a Soldato-class ("Soldier"-class) destroyer of the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned in 1910, she served during World War I. Reclassified as a torpedo boat in 1921, she was stricken in 1932.

Pontiere ("Bridgeman") was a Soldato-class ("Soldier"-class) destroyer of the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned in 1910, she served in World War I. Reclassified as a torpedo boat in 1921, she was stricken in 1929.

Italian destroyer <i>Ascaro</i> Italian Soldato-class destroyer

Ascaro ("Askari") was a Soldato-class ("Soldier"-class) destroyer of the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned in 1913, she served during World War I. Reclassified as a torpedo boat in 1921, she was stricken in 1930.

Italian destroyer <i>Garibaldino</i> Italian Soldato-class destroyer

Garibaldino was a Soldato-class ("Soldier"-class) destroyer of the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned in 1910, she served in the Italo-Turkish War and World War I. During the latter conflict she sank after a collision in 1918.

Italian destroyer <i>Artigliere</i> (1907) Italian Soldato-class destroyer

Artigliere was a Soldato-class ("Soldier"-class) destroyer of the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned in 1907, she served in the Italo-Turkish War and World War I. She was stricken in 1923.

Corazziere ("Cuirassier") was a Soldato-class ("Soldier"-class) destroyer of the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned in 1910, she served in the Italo-Turkish War and World War I. She was stricken in 1928.

Italian destroyer <i>Bersagliere</i> (1906) Italian Soldato-class destroyer

Bersagliere was the lead ship of the Soldato-class ("Soldier"-class) destroyers of the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned in 1907, she served in the Italo-Turkish War and World War I. She was stricken in 1923.

Lanciere ("Lancer") was a Soldato-class ("Soldier"-class) destroyer of the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned in 1907, she served in the Italo-Turkish War and World War I. She was stricken in 1923.

Italian cruiser <i>Guglielmo Pepe</i> Italian Alessandro Poerio-class scout cruiser

Guglielmo Pepe was an Italian Alessandro Poerio-class scout cruiser. Commissioned into service in the Italian Regia Marina in 1915, she served during World War I, participating in the Adriatic campaign, often supporting raids by Italian motor torpedo boats. She was reclassified as a destroyer in 1921 due to her light displacement. Like her sister ships, Alessandro Poerio and Cesare Rossarol, she was named after a famous Neapolitan light cavalryman who helped defend Venice from attacks by the Imperial Austrian Army during the revolutions in 1848.

References

Citations

  1. "Nembo Class Destroyer (1912)". dreadnoughtproject.org. The Dreadnought Project. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  2. "Italian Zeffiro – Warships 1900-1950" (in Czech and English). Warships of World War II. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Marina Militare.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nembo destroyers (1902 – 1905) – Regia Marina (Italy).
  5. Beehler 1913, p. 10.
  6. "TDT Antalya - Warships 1900-1950]". November 2017. bot=InternetArchiveBot.
  7. "TDT Tokat - Warships 1900-1950]". November 2017. bot=InternetArchiveBot.
  8. La Guerra Italo Turca - Betasom - XI Gruppo Sommergibili Atlantici.
  9. La Guerra Italo Turca Del 1911 - Blitzkriegmilitaria Forum Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine .
  10. "rassegnastampa.difesa.it" (PDF). February 2018. bot=InternetArchiveBot.
  11. 1 2 3 Beehler, W. H. (June 1912). "The Italian-Turkish War". Proceedings . Vol. 38/2/142. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute.
  12. 1 2 3 Beehler 1913, p. 22.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Favre, pp. 67, 69, 98, 127, 129, 162, 170–171, 207..
  14. Prima Azione Della R. Marina – Betasom – XI Gruppo Sommergibili Atlantici (in Italian).
  15. 1 2 3 Giorgio Giorgerini, Attacco dal mare. Storia dei mezzi d'assalto della Marina italiana, pp. 35–38 (in Italian).

Bibliography