Sauro class Destroyer

Regia Marina -4 destroyers: Cesare Battisti, Daniele Manin, Francesco Nullo, Nazario Sauro. Built 1925-1927, interwar, ww2, 4 lost.

The Sauro class were an improved follow-up of the Sella class, which themselves improved on the early 1920s Palestro class destroyers. They were beamier, longer with the biggest change being their two twin main artillery mounts and triple torpedo tubes instead of twins. They settled not only a standard for the next Turbine class, but also for the next Freccia and 1930s Regia Marina destroyers. They were laid down at Genoa and Fiume in 1924 and completed in 1927 (Sauro 1926). Like the Sella class, all exceeded design power and speed on trial, one achieving over 37kts, but later proved unreliable; sea speed was 31 kts. All four were lost in the Red Sea, Manin and Sauro being bombed by British aircraft, Nullo sunk by the destroyer Kimberley and Battisti scuttled off the coast of Arabia.

Design of the class

Development

While the “Sella” were still under construction in 1923 four more destroyers were ordered by the Regia Marina’s chief of staff. They were ab improve version with a larger hull to carry more armament, laid down at the started of 1924. Having four guns instead of three and six torpedo tubes instead of four was a massive improvement indeedn but for this designers had to manage a tour de force of keeping the hull moderately larger. This traduced into an increase in length of 6 meters and extra beam, but for a increase of only 1000 hp output.

The drafting was entrusted to Cantieri Orlando of Genoa, the master buiilder in teh contract, with plans later transmitted to Fiume’s CNQ. This, two pairs were ordered at the same time to gain time in delivery. On their final design, their general lines were very similar to the Sella but with an increase in standard displacement of circa 150 tons and a construction which proceeded much faster thanks to improvements made in between, with the lead vessel delivered in 1926.
On trials, she showed a greater transverse stability and greater autonomy lacking however still longitudinal structural weaknesses, vibrations, and a still sub-par seaworthiness. These issues already on the Sella class remained unsolved.

Final Characteristics

The characteristics of the “Nazario Sauro” recalled the general scheme of the “Sella”, but on a greater displacement and a speed setup at 35 knots. They were better armed with 120mm/45 mm guns in dual mounts and 533 mm torpedoes, and remedied shortcomings found in the previous class, being more seaworthy and having better shapes overall, better buoyancy which enabled to increase the armament and autonomy with larger fuel oil tanks.

The first two objectives were not achieved, but stability was a clear improvement. Sauro and Battisti were built in Odero shipyards (Genoa) for the first two and in the Cantieri del Quarnaro of Fiume for the last two, Nullo and Manin. Most of their design aspects were improved upon to produce the next Turbine class (eight ships, 1927) and improved again for the next Freccia class (1930), which however was improved massively on all chapters and setup yet another new standard.

Hull and general design

The Sauro-class destroyers were enlarged and improved Sella class in general design, but there were many subtleties in design changes. They were larger overall, going from a 955 to a 1040t or 1,058 metric tons in standard displacement and from 1,457 to 1,575t fully loaded or 1,600 metric tons. Their overall length also grew from 85 to 90.16 meters (296 ft), as well as their beam from 8.60 (28 ft 2 in) to 9.2 meters (30 ft 2 in), mean draft of 2.9 meters (9 ft 6 in) versus 2.70m (8 ft 10 in). Complement was 8–10 officers, 146 enlisted men.

Like the Sella class, they have a near-straight prow, while the forecastle is about 2/5 of the hull length. The bow flare is more important to better keep the foredeck dry and the hull forms in general are fuller. They also had rounded sterns ending with traditional guard bars. The general shape and location of the shaft struts, rudder, keel slopes, counter-keels, was about the same. The main change was a fuller prow to support a twin artillery mount rather than a single one with the same new 120 mm guns and new triple TTs. They had the same external outlook with two raked funnels and two masts of similar height, albeit the aft one was one deck lower. The rear twin mount was at the same height as the forecastle one, on top of the aft quarterdeck structure.

To be clear, according to conways, these were considered like modified versions of the Sella class, with the beam increased to compensate for the additional top-weight of triple TT and two twin 120mm mountings. Apart from this and a slightly larger hull, these ships were generally similar to the previous class, and they differed little from them in appearance.

They did, however, have shorter funnels (the second being cut down more than the first), an additional rangefinder platform between the TT and a slightly larger bridge structure. The armament type and layout of these ships became standard for all Italian destroyers, up to and including the Soldati class, except the Navigatori class.

Powerplant

The Sauro class were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines coupled with Thornycroft or Yarrow boilers depending on the yard. Each drove a propeller shaft with the steam supplied by three boilers. The turbines, all identical between ships, were rated at 36,000 shaft horsepower (27,000 kW). This was for a top speed, at normal load, of 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph). On light load and trials they all reached in excess of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) with even short bursts at 37 knots. They also carried around 230t fuel oil in normal conditions (versus 250t for the Sella) for a range of 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h, 16 mph) cruise speed. The two forward boilers exhausted in the same fore funnel. The turbines sets were located below the torpedo tube banks. Fuel tanks were located in the lower fore hull, wit two more aft of the turbines.

Armament

Their main battery comprised four 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure.[2] Anti-aircraft (AA) defense for the Sauro-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 six 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships. The Sauros could also carry 52 mines.[2]

Cannone da 120mm/45 Schneider-Canet-Armstrong Modello 1919

The Schneider-Canet-Armstrong Model 1919 weighted 4,600 kg and had a -5°/+30° elevation. They were shared by the Leone, Sauro, Turbine and Sella classes and existed in three models. Sauro and Turbine had the modello 1926. The twin mount weighted 16.6 tons (16.9 mt).

Mass: 4,354t (9600 ibs) total per gun
Length: 4.98 meters (196.3 in), barrel 5.4 meters (212.6 ft)
Shell: E: 48.5 lbs. (22 kg), AP: 51.0 lbs. (23.15 kg).
Breech: Horizontal or vertical sliding breech block
Rate of fire: 7 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 2,460 fps (750 mps)
Range: 16,950 yards (15,500 m) at 33°

2-in (40mm/39 Vickers-Terni M1917

In short, this was an Italian copy of the 2-pounder “pompom”. It was called Vickers-Terni modello 1915/1917, exact caliber 1.573 inches. Carried by the Sella, Sauro, Turbines, Navigatori classes. The mount was the M1930 1,878 lbs. (852 kg) capable of +80 degrees, manual, with five operators and steel-link belts.

Specs:
Weight 550 lbs. (249 kg) including cooling water
Overall lenght 96 in (2.438 m), bore 62 in (1.575 m), 200 rpm cyclical, 50-75 rpm practical
Fired the HE or CP rounds of 2.95 lbs. (1.34 kg) at 2,000 fps (610 mps).
Maximum Effective Range: 1,200 yards (1,100 m)

Breda 13.2mm/76 HMG

No info if anterior to the modello 13.2 mm/75.7 (0.52″) AA MG or Model 1931.
Specs (Modello 1931)
Gun Weight: 104.5 lbs. (47.5 kg), Bore Length 39.4 in (1.000 m). 500 rounds per minute cyclic.
Fired 5.4 in (13.7 cm) 0.28 lbs. (0.125 kg) rounds at 2,592 fps (790 mps), effective range: 2,200 yards (2,000 m).

533 mm Torpedoes

These were the first destroyers with 120 mm main guns and 533 mm torpedo tubes, on par with their competitors. In fact rival France had even larger torpedoes at 550 mm. They were in two axial banks aft.
They were likely given the 53.3 cm (21″) Si 270/533.4 x 7.2 “M” model. This was a model manufactured in Naples (Silurificio Italiano).
There were no reloads.

Specs:
Weight; 3,748 lbs. (1,700 kg)
Overall Length: 23 ft. 7 in. (7.200 m)
Warhead: 595 lbs. (270 kg)
Range/Speed settings: 4,400 yards (4,000 m)/46 kts, 8,750 yards (8,000 m)/35 kts, 13,100 yards (12,000 m)/29 kts
Powered by Wet-heater. Later versions went to 48/38/30 knots on the same ranges settings.

Mines

The ships carried also 32 mines as well during wartime, far more than the Palestro/Curtatone, either the Vickers Elia (VE) 1,676 lbs. (760 kg), 320 lbs. (145 kg) WH, or Sautter-Harlé types M1916 154 or 220 ib.

Modifications

Initially for fire control they were given a small rangefinder, located between the two smokestacks, which was not ideal for axial fire (chase or retreat). In 1933 modernization, a telemetry station replaced it, now located above the bridge, and connecting to a new fire control center feeding data to both 120mm/45 mounts. In 1936 after some service in East Africa, they received a well-needed air conditioning system, installed in internal spaces. There were scored of minor modifications as well. But this increase weight and reduced speed, autonomy and their service life. They still were capable of 30 knots and 2000 miles range at cruising speed in 1940.

Career of the Sauro class

Nullo at Massawa, East Africa

Cesare Battisti was laid down at Odero, Sestri Ponente on 2.1924, launched on 11.12.1926, completed on 4.1927 but commissioned on 13 April 1927. In 1930, she collided with her sister Manin in manoeuvres. In 1935 before her transfer to the Red Sea, she received tropicalization, notably air-conditioning and other modifications, so her top speed fully loaded fell to 31.7 knots, and autonomy at 14 knots of 2000 miles (600 lost). But it’s not before 1939 she sailed to the Red Sea.
When Italy entered the the war in 1940 she was assogned to the III Destroyer Squadron in Massawa, Ethiopia, with her three sisters Sauro, Nullo and Manin.
On 27 June 1940 she tried to rescue the submarine Perla which ran aground after a British DD attack. A DC detonation broke her pressure hull, the seawater leak caused batteries to erupt into a storm of methyl chloride fumes, poisoning most of the crew. On 26 July Battisti left Massawa with Nullo and the submarine Guglielmotti in search of a signalled British steamer but missed her.
Their mission was now to intercept British convoys in transit in the Red Sea. With her sisters she performed ten such missions but without achieving success, lacking air recce and radar. In the night of 30-31 August with Manin for example, or on 19 December also with Manin, Leone and Pantera on convoy «BN 5» (23 merchant ships escorted by HMNZS Leander and sloops Auckland, Yarra and Parramatta). In 21 October 1940 at 2.19 am, with her sisters as well as Leone and Pantera, the British convoy «BN 7», composed of 32 merchantmen escorted by HMNZS Leander, HMS Kimberley, HMAS Yarra, HMS Auckland, HMIS Indus but the Italian flotilla had to retreat under a smoke screen. Nullo, isolated sunk after her duel with Kimberley.
As the surrender of Massawa was near it was planned an evacuation plan to France or Japan for the long range ships and scuttled the shorter range vessels. The 6 destroyers of squadrons III (Battisti, Sauro, Manin) and V (Tigre, Leone, Pantera) planned a suicide mission on Suez (Tigre, Leone, Pantera) and Port Said (Sauro, Manin, Battisti). If failed, they were to return to Massawa and scuttle there to block the port. The mission started on March 31, but Leone ran aground, an uncontrollable fire burst out, and had to be abandoned and scuttled. The others were doomed by the failed diversionary action by the Luftwaffe on Suez, and they were all redirected to Port Said. On April 2, 1941 Battisti at 2:00 PM left Massawa but had to give up as her powerplant broke down. She limped to the Arabian coast and scuttled close to the shore on April 3 close to Scio Aiba, sinking under 50 meters. Her entire crew had to march through the desert for a week before meting an isolated human settlement, the few survivors were saved by a violent downpour which brought some water. Long story short, some made it back to Italy after a true odyssey. Others ended as POWs.

Daniele Manin was laid down at CNQ Fiume on 10.1924, launched on 15.6.1925 and completed on 1 March 1927. In 1930, she collided with Battisti. In 1931, she collided with the motor vessel Egitto, leading to long repairs (serious damage) only completed in 1934 but received a modernization to her fire control. Her service was shot, as in 1935 she was tropicalized for the Red Sea (see above). Some sources said she also took part in at least one mission off Spain during the Spanish Civil War. In 1940 she was in the III Destroyer Squadron, Massawa with her sisters. Later they were joined by the Leone class scouts.
On the morning of June 28, near the Shab Shak lighthouse she rescued part of the crew of the submarine Perla, which ran aground after an attack by a British destroyer. She took part in the same, largely inefficient interception missions of British convoys, like on August 30-31, or on 19 September. On 21 October 1940, however, she was deployed in force against the convoy «BN 7» but had to retreat under a smoke screen as the fight turned to their disadvantage. She took part in another mission on December 3 with Tigre, Leone and Sauro as well as the submarine Ferraris, again, convoy not spotted.
Before the fall of Italian East Africa she took part in the same “suicide mission”, with her class (less Nullo) directed to attack Port Said.
The V Squadron meanwhile (Leone class) failed and returned to Massawa for a new mission against Port Sudan starting on April 2, 1941. Battisti later scuttled herself after an engine failure, and her remaining sisters were spotted by reconnaissance aircraft and at dawn on April 3, they were just 30 miles from Port Sudan, after 270 miles they were attacked by about 70 Bristol Blenheim and Fairey Swordfish in waves. The destroyers followed a zigzag pattern, opening a furious AA fire but at 7.30 they managed to damage Sauro and Manin, while Tigre and Pantera retreated only to fell on allied ships and scuttled themselves off the Arabian coast later. Sauro was sunk at c9:00 AM, Manin under command of frigate captain Araldo Fadin fought off the attacks at high speed, claimed two attackers hit and resisted for two hours alone.
But then she was eventually framed and hit by two 224 kg bombs. Dead in the water she became target practice for further attacks. The capitain order the scuttling charges to be setup, two boats were launched taking double the number of men authorized, barely stating afloat. Commander Fadin also left the boat last, seriously wounded by a splinter, with more than 60 survivors. But the scuttling charges failed, and the ship remained afloat. XO lt. Armando Crisciani, chief engineer Rodolfo Batagelj, torpedo officer Ulderico Sacchetto returned on board at midday to check what went wrong. But while in board the Manin capsized and sank, broken in two, with the three men going down with her. They were awarded potshumous Gold Medals for military valor back home.
One launch managed to land after days of navigation (Fabio Gnetti) on the coast of Saudi Arabia, interned. The launch commanded by Fadin was rescued after several days by a British sloop and ended as POWs.

Francesco Nullo was laid down at CNQ Fiume on 10.1924, launched on 14.11.1925 and completed on 15 April 1927. In sea trials, 1927, she became the fastest of her class at 37.4 knots. The next year she took part in Italo Balbo’s «Crociera aviatori del Mediterraneo Occidentale». In 1933, she was modified and received a fire control center and in 1935 she was tropicalized for the red sea like her sisters. She was deployed in 1935 but returned in 1936 to take part in the
Spanish Civil War’s coastal surveillance missions. From September 1938, Nullo in the III Destroyer Squadron had a new captain, Aldo Cocchia.
On 10 June 1940 she arrived at Massawa, Eritrea, her unit commanded from March 1940 by squadron leader Sergio De Judicibus.
Like her sisters she was deployed in interception of British convoys (ten missions) with a complete lack of success on July 26, August 24-25. On September 6 captain De Judicibus fell ill and had to be hospitalized.
On 20 October 1940, under command of Lt.Cdr. Costantino Borsini she departed at 2.19 am, with Sauro, Leone and Pantera against convoy «BN 7» but this turned sour, and they had to retreat under a smoke screen. Nullo was hit and suffered a rudder failure. She was found isolated at low speed, limping back to Massawa, until caught up by HMS Kimberley at full speed. This modern destroyer (class K) was accompanied by the Australian sloop Yarra.

HMS Kimberley, of the J-K-N prewar class. Compared to the old Nullo, this was a completely unequal fight. She had six main guns, ten torpedo tubes, and was capable of 36 knots, based on 2,330 long tons (2,370 t) deep load.

They pummelled her for almost an hour, until none of her guns were operational. Her captain order her to ran aground near the Harmil Island. She was abandoned while Kimberley continued to fire as no white flag had been raised. Commander Borsini remained on board to go down with his ship. His attendant, sailor Vincenzo Ciaravolo, who had already abandoned the ship, returned with him and both disappeared after a hit seemingly hit an ammunition magazine. She was devastated by a series of explosions and likely broke in two and capsized rapidly at 6.35 on 21 October 1940.
Gold Medal for Military Valor were awarded to Commander Borsini and Sailor Ciaravolo. HMS Kimberley had to retreat though, targeted by the the coastal battery «Giulietti» on the island of Harmil, which had 120/45 mm guns. On lucky hot in her engine room left the British destroyer dead in the water. She was later taken in tow by HMZN Leander and HMS Kingston. The battery took care of the survivors of Nullo, 106 in all. Her wreck is still there under 60-80 m, 5 miles from the Harmil lighthouse.

Nazario Sauro was laid down on Odero at Sestri Ponente on 2.1924, launched on 12.5.1926 and completed on 23 September 1926. In 1927, she was accidentally rammed by a steamer in La Spezia and needed long repairs. In 1933, she received a new fire control center. In 1935, she was tropicalized, made a tour of duty in Massawa and returned in 1936-1937 to take part in the Spanish Civil War. She was back in the Red Sea in 1938 with the IIIrd DS, still there in June 1940 when Mussolini declared war on France and Britain. Like the others, she was tasked of intercepting British convoys in the Red Sea. On paper, they were doomed to fail. They had no radar, intel was scarce, aviation reconnaissance and support was almost non-existent. It was finding a needle in a haystack. Plus, so close to Suez and Port Said, RAF and RN presence was strong. She took part in the fruitless search for example of 24-25 August and the large scale attack of 21 October 1940, against convoy BN 7, defended by HMNZS Leander, HMS Kimberley and three sloops. Sauro tried to torpedo merchantmen but missed and pummelled them while her sisters and Leone class drawn fire from the escort. She herself narrowly missed HMAS Yarra. But the battle degenerated, and she fled under a smoke screen while her sister Nullo was isolated and later finished off by Kimberley.
On December 3, she sortied with Tigre, Leone, Manin, Ferraris(sub) for another unsuccessful search. But Torpedoes were launched on another convoy, in February 1941, but Sauro missed. This was their last mission as the land battle was turning to defeat as Commonwealth troops were about to take Italian East Africa, Massawa was about to fall.
Sauro was mobilized for a desperate sortie against Port Said. The V Squadron left Massawa on 31 March, Leone ran aground, later scuttled and after a Luftwaffe diversionary action on Suez failed they were redirected to attack all Port Said. On April 2, 1941 they departed by Battisti had to scuttle herself after an engine failure. The remaining formation of 4 destroyers was continuously spotted (no air support on their side) along the way and on April 3, while short of Port Said, they were attacked by waves of 70 Bristol Blenheim and Fairey Swordfish. The formation was broken and the DDs dispersed in zigzag, opening fire. At 7:30 Sauro and Manin remained by Tigre and Pantera retreated, only to be ambushed by ships and scuttled themselves later. The following day at 9:00 AM Sauro was hit by a 224 kg bomb which apparently broke her keel. She sank in half a minute, trapping 78 men down under. The survivors were likely picked up later by Commonwealth ships and ended as POWs.

Read More/Src

Books

Erminio Bagnasco e Enrico Cernuschi. Le navi da guerra italiane 1940-1945. Parma, Ermanno Albertelli Editore, 2005

Links

https://web.archive.org/web/20120618021419/http://www.regiamarinaitaliana.it/Ct%20classe%20Sauro.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20241208175738/https://www.navypedia.org/ships/italy/it_dd_sauro.htm
https://www.betasom.it/forum/index.php?/topic/28656-ultima-missione-in-mar-rosso/
https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/pilastro-operativo/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/PQRS/sauro.aspx
http://www.trentoincina.it/dbunita2.php?short_name=Battisti
http://www.trentoincina.it/dbunita2.php?short_name=Nullo
http://www.trentoincina.it/dbunita2.php?short_name=Manin
http://www.trentoincina.it/dbunita2.php?short_name=Sauro
https://web.archive.org/web/20140323173448/http://www.icsm.it/regiamarina/marrosso.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauro-class_destroyer
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classe_Nazario_Sauro_(cacciatorpediniere)
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operazioni_navali_in_Africa_Orientale_Italiana
https://web.archive.org/web/20091226023413/http://www.danieleranocchia.it/naval_history/seconda_guerra.htm
https://www.ilcornodafrica.it/tragedia-alle-dahlak-laffondamento-del-francesco-nullo/

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Model Kits

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/dd/it/NazarioSauro-350-mda/pages/Sauro-01.htm

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