Design and description
The Sella-class destroyers were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding Palestro and Curtatone classes. [1] They had an overall length of 84.9 meters (279 ft), a beam of 8.6 meters (28 ft 3 in) and a mean draft of 2.7 meters (8 ft 10 in). They displaced 970 metric tons (950 long tons ) at standard load, and 1,480 metric tons (1,460 long tons) at deep load. Their complement was 8–9 officers and 144 enlisted men. [2]
The Sellas were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Thornycroft boilers. The turbines were rated at 36,000 shaft horsepower (27,000 kW ) for a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) in service, [3] although Quintino Sella reached a speed of 37.3 knots (69.1 km/h; 42.9 mph) from 35,090 shp (26,170 kW) during her sea trials while lightly loaded. [4] The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km; 2,100 mi) at a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph). [5]
Their main battery consisted of four 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in one twin-gun turret aft of the superstructure and one single-gun turret forward of it. [2] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Sella-class ships was provided by a pair of 40-millimeter (1.6 in) AA guns in single mounts amidships and a pair of 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns. They were equipped with four 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two twin mounts amidships. [3] The Sellas could also carry 32 mines. [2]
Fate
In the afternoon of 11 September 1943 during Operation Achse, at 4:50 p.m., S 54 stopped the Italian steamer Pontinia (715 GRT) about 30 nm south of Venice and she was taken as a prize. At 5:45 p.m., the approaching Quintino Sella, which was actually on her way to Taranto to surrender to the British, was sunk with two torpedoes from the Kriegsmarine S-boats S 54 under tactical leader Oberleutnant zur See Klaus-Degenhard Schmidt and S 61 under Oberleutnant zur See Axel von Gernet. The captain Corrado Cini, seriously wounded (he later had to suffer the amputation of a leg), and most of the survivors were rescued by order of Schmidt and brought to Pontinia and Leopardi, others were rescued later by Italian fishing boats. A total of 27 crew members of the ship perished, but also many of the 300 civilians from Venice, which Quintino Sella had on board.
In 1956, an unsuccessful attempt was made to recover the ship. The wreck was again identified in 1972, in good condition, and was partially dismantled to recover metals.
The Maestrale class were a group of destroyers built for the Regia Marina and served in World War II. They formed the basis for subsequent Italian destroyer designs; the Oriani and Soldati classes.
The Sauro class were a group of four destroyers built for the Regia Marina 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.
The Sella-class destroyers were a group of four destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the 1920s. Two of these ships fought in World War II and both were sunk after the Italian capitulation to the Allies. The two other ships were sold to the Swedish Navy in 1940 and were scrapped in the late 1940s.
Euro was one of eight Turbine-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina during the 1920s. She was named after Euro, weak winter easterly wind bringing rain and storms to the Mediterranean.
Corazziere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in mid-1939, she was the last of the first batch of a dozen ships to enter service.
Grantiere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in early 1939, she was one of the last of the first batch of a dozen ships to enter service.
Corsaro was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in mid-1942, she was one of the second batch of seven ships.
Mitragliere was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in early 1942, she was the first ship to be finished of the second batch of seven ships.
Legionario was one of nineteen Soldati-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Completed in early 1942, she was one of the second batch of seven ships.
Vincenzo Gioberti was one of four Oriani-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the mid-1930s and early 1940s. Completed in 1937, she served in World War II.
Lampo was one of four Folgore-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the early 1930s. Completed in 1932, she served in World War II.
Dardo was one of four Freccia-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the early 1930s. Completed in 1932, she served in World War II. The ship was captured by the Germans after the Italian armistice in September 1943 and used by the Kriegsmarine under the name TA31 until she was sunk in April 1945.
Francesco Nullo was one of four Sauro-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the 1920s. Completed in 1927, she served in World War II.
Cesare Battisti was one of four Sauro-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the 1920s. Completed in 1927, she served in World War II.
Daniele Manin was one of four Sauro-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the 1920s. Completed in 1927, she served in World War II.
Nazario Sauro was the lead ship of her class of four destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the 1920s. Completed in 1926, she served in World War II.
Francesco Crispi was one of four Sella-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the 1920s. Completed in 1927, she served in World War II.
Pantera was one of three Leone-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the early 1920s.
Tigre was one of three Leone-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the early 1920s.
Leone was the lead ship of her class of three destroyers built for the Regia Marina in the early 1920s.
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