Sella class Destroyer

Regia Marina -4 destroyers: Francesco Crispi, Quintino Sella, Bettino Ricasoli, Giovanni Nicotera. Built 1923-1927, interwar, ww2, 2 lost, 2 sold Sweden.

The Sella-class destroyers were a group of four destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) 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.
These ships formed the basis for most subsequent destroyers built by the Italians, but were disappointing in service with unreliable machinery.

Development

Formed by four ships, the Sella class was built at the Pattison shipyards of Naples, between 1926 and 1927. In 1940 Giovanni Nicotera and the Bettino Ricasoli, were sold to Sweden and the other two, Quintino Sella and Francesco Crispi, took part in the Second World War as escorts in the Adriatic and Aegean routes as well as support ships for MAT-related explosive boats attacking Suda Bay. They were both lost following the armistice of 8 September 1943.

They drew in large part on the previous Palestro/Curtatone class destroyers, but with a resvised main armament of three 120mm/45 guns, two forward in a twin Modello 1926, first Italian destroyers to adopt this arrangement. Aft was a single single Modello 1924 mount instead of two a for the previous Curtatone class. To this were added two Vickers-Armstrong QF 2-pounder guns and two twin banks for 533 mm torpedo tubes. Their aft deck also had rails and the ability to carry and lay 40 mines. Top speed was 35 knots on a fully loaded displacement of 1480 t and modifications in the rudder and placement of the shaft struts increasing agility albeit they were still at unease in rough seas. More so, on the long run their turbines proved unreliable. Modifications were made to the armament in 1929 when the aft single mount was replaced by the same twin Modello 1926 forward as well as an increase in anti-aircraft armament.

The class was characterized by significant innovations:
-First ships with two turbine groups of different pressure, couplers and reducers
-First to adopt the 120/45 mm guns as main caliber
-First to be equipped with the Salvagnini mechanical fire control system.
They were therefore rather experimental units but had teething problems of stability, seakeeping, autonomy and superstructure strenght. In 1928 Sella was modified with the installation of large anti-roll fins and ballast as well reinforcements to the superstructures. They armament was reinforced at the same occasion and will change again later.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

The Sella-class destroyers were schamtically enlarged and improved versions of the Palestro-Curtatone class, especially the latter, with a comparable overall length of 84.9 meters (278 ft 7 in), 8.6 meters (28 ft 3 in) in beam and 2.7 meters (8 ft 10 in) draft*. Standard displacement was 970 metric tons (950 long tons) at standard load, 1,480 metric tons (1,460 long tons) when deeply loaded for a complement of 8–9 officers, 144 enlisted men. The design overall recalled the Curtatone, but the forecastle was lower, there was no bulwark but more flare. The bridge was also far more developed and lower as well and the ships had a better stability overall.
*A bit longer, 3 inches wider, a bit draftier.

Powerplant

The Sella class were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines driving each a propeller shaft. Steam was provided by three Yarrow boilers. The Parsons turbines were rated at 36,000 shaft horsepower (27,000 kW). This made for a top speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) in regular service but on trials they achieved on light speeds above 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph). In comparison the previous Curtatone class had Zoelly steam turbines and four boilers for 20,000 hp. So the Sella were far more powerful. They also had two large, unequal size, raked funnels closer together. The extra beam was used also for larger tanks so that they could have more (250t) fuel oil to give them a range of 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km; 4,100 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) versus 1,800 nmi (3,300 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) for the Curtatone class.

Armament

As completed as said above they had two 5-inches or 120mm/45 Schneider-Canet-Armstrong guns modello 1918-19 aft, one single 120mm/45 Schneider-Canet-Armstrong 1918 frorward, two 40mm/39 Vickers-Terni 1917 amidship, two 13.2mm/76 heavy machine guns in the bridge’s wings, and two twin 533mm torpedo tubes (introduced on the Curtatone in axis) but also at the stern twin Depth charge tracks and rails for 32 mines.
This main battery of 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in a twin-gun mount aft and single mount forward was a measuring to reduce top weight on the forwecastle and improve seakeeping. It was however estimated later armament as more important and this was switched back to a twin mount in 1929, so before transfer to the Swedish Navy. Note that the previous Curtatone, albeit having a taller forecastle had twin mounts with lighter 102 mm guns.

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).

Crispi and Solferino at Suda Bay, Crete, 1941

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.

Upgrades

In 1929 as already precised, their forward single 120mm/45 was replaced by the same twin mount but an upgraded 120mm/45 OTO 1926 model.
In 1938, they lost their 13.2mm/76 HMG for twi twin 13.2mm/76 modello 1931.
In 1941-1942 the one unsold saw the removal of their 40mm/39 pompom for four 20mm/70 Scotti-Isotta Fraschini modello 1939 and two new DCT.

A small color profile, src unknown.

Francesco Crispi was laid down at Pattison on 29 April 1927. In 1928 in manoeuvers she was grounded on the Meloria rock, taking damage and she needed reapairs.
No records for 1929-1940. In the Second World War she was in IV Destroyer Squadron (flagship Sella), her own class now reduced to two ships, based in Rhodes.
Given her age she was spared frontline service and rather was used in the calmer Aegean Sea as convoy escort and ASW patrol ship.
At the start of 1941 she underwent modifications to be used as support unit for assault boats (MTM and assimilated). Amidships were installed saddles for six explosive boats, three per side. Small electctric cranes operated them, lifted and deposed at sea. The crew was trained for these maneuvers until they managed to perform in in just 30-40 seconds.

In January 1941, with her sister Sella, she left for a first mission with these explosive boats against Suda in Crete, but had to return when informed of the departure of the ships they intended to attack. In February she left with Sella for a second attempt on Suda, only to return to port again when a reconnaissance reported only ships of little importance. On 25 February with the British occupation of the islet of Castelrosso, she was prepared in Rhodes with Sella and the torpedo boats Lupo and Lince, to carry and land 240 men to Castelrosso. This was done, but the operation was difficult due the rough sea. The island was recaptured.
For a new assault on Suda, she was deployed in Stampalia under command of frigate captain Ugo Ferruta. Between 16.30 and 17.30, on 25 March 1941, they left for a set point, 6 miles from the Akrotiri peninsula, aarriving at 23.30, then they unloaded their six explosive boats and at 23.41 started to return, leaving the MTS boats to their one-ticket mission. This was a stunning success: They managed to sink the heavy cruiser HMS York and the tanker Pericles, which remained semi-submerged in shallow waters. All six pilots, ejected in the final run, were captured.

On 27 May with the TBs Lince, Libra and Lira and two MAS, she escorted convoy transporting the Italian contingent to Crete, 2,400 men of the 9th Infantry Regiment and 13 light tanks, 4 vehicles and mules. On 28 May she was detached to shell and destroy the lighthouse and station of Capo Sidero and was back to the convoy at 3.45 pm and until 17.20 she assisted the landing in the bay of Sitia.
While in the Aegean she was attacked by the RAF on 27 November 1942, hit and damaged by a bomb but survived and coukld return under her own power.
She was caught at the armistice at Piraeus, captured by the Germans and incorporated into the Kriegsmarine as TA 15. They modified her again, adding captured 40mm/56 mm Bofors and 37/54 mm Breda AA guns. On 8 March 1944, she was attacked by British aviation north of Crete with bombs and strafed with rockets and sank.
She was salvaged but by 12 October 1944, hit again by aviaiton while in repairs at Piraeus, sank there and her remained BU postwar.

Quintino Sella was laid down at Pattison on 25 March 1926, Completed in 1926, lead vessel of her class. From 1926 to 1928 under Lieutenant Commander Aimone di Savoia-Aosta, then Odoardo Somigli from March 1928 she became flagship of the IV DD flotilla, her unit. In 1936 she cruiser in the Aegean Sea aznd received new boilers. In 1939 her aft funnel was lowered by two meters with a cap.
As the Second World War she was still the leader of the IV Destroyer Squadron in Rhodes. She had the same stiry as her sister, notably modifications to carry and operate MTS explosive boats and making several attempted attacks in early 1941 in Suda Bay as well as the 25-26 assault to retake Castelrosso. She had to return as the sea was too rough for landing operations, taken over by the two torpedo boats. A few hours later Sella and Crispi had a brief clash with HMS Jaguar. They eventually returned to the islet and disembarked their troops.
Under Lieutenant Commander Arturo Redaelli on 25 March she sailed to the Akrotiri peninsula to launch her MTS boats which succeededing in sinking HMS York and the tanker Pericles. Next she took part in the occupation of Crete. On 21 May 1941, she left Piraeus, and underway they were mistook for British sjips and attacked by a squadron of Ju-87 Stukas. She was hit and suffered serious damage and several sailors killed.
On 26 September she left Piraeus with Libra and the auxiliary cruiser Brioni to escort transports to Candia, attacked the next day by HMS Tetrarch after an initial unsuccessful attack the Città di Bastia sank. The next day they were attacked again in the Kea Channel bye Tetrarch hich missed.
On 7 October she left Suda to Piraeus with Castelfidardo and two steamers when HMS Talisman missed Salzburg but hit Trapani. Sella depht-charged her for half an hour. On 15 October in another escort she was missed by HMS Thunderbolt.
On 25 October at 13:18 her convoy was attacked by HMS Triumph which sank the steamship Monrosa, but Sela cojnter-attacked and claimed to have damaged her.
On 20 October she made an escort from Samos to Rhodes when ambushed by HMS Thrasher, which sank the freighter Lero and she managed to recover with her sister the entire crew.
On 25 October 1942 while off Chios, they were attacked by HMS Taku, hitting the tanker Arca she escorted. Back to Italian waters, was from then on used for training in the Adriatic. With the armistice of September 1943 she was in Venice, moored at the Giardini pier with her engines being worked on when Lieutenant Commander Corrado Cini was ordered to leave and surrender to the Allies in Taranto. She managed to cast off at 15:30 on 11 September, taking on board 300 civilian refugees, fleeing from the German occupation. At 16:30 she lost her boiler no. 2, which was turned off, managing to cruise at 14 knots, she latter crossed the steamer Pontinia, but the latter had been captured by two German motor torpedo boats, S 54 and S 55 from Brindisi and they hid behind Pontinia until Sella passed just 400 meters in from of the merchant ship. Then S 54 emerged from behing Pontinia and launched two torpedoes. There was just no time to answer fire, apart with the machine guns on the port side and trying to deodge the torpedoes, but they both hit under the bridge and still working boiler room no. 1, which exploded. Due to this, she broke in two with the bow sinking almost immediately, and the stern continued to drift for about 200 meters, and capsized to port, sinking in turn at 30 miles south of Venice. Commander Cini survived but was seriously wounded and part of the survivors were rescued by Pontinia and the nearby motor vessel Leopardi under German hands as well as the two S-Boote, later by Italian trawlers. In total, 27 of her crew and 170-200 civilians went down with the ship.
In her service she had carried our 116 escort mission. In 1956 an attempt was made to recover her and she was partly scrapped. This was resumed in 1972 and she was partially dismantled, ammunition depot blown up twice. She is still there under 25 metres.

Bettino Ricasoli was laid down at Pattison on 11 December 1926, named after the Italian Prime Minister Bettino Ricasoli, launched on 29 January 1926 and commissioned on 11 December. In December 1939, a Swedish commission departed to Italy to investigate the purchase of warships. This led to the acquisition of the Psilander and Romulus-classes. On 14 April 1940 they all left La Spezia. On 10 July they arrived at Gothenburg and she was renamed after Admiral Johan af Puke.
After arriving in Sweden, she entered the Gothenburg Squadron. However the Swedish admiralty found her too weakly built. She rolled heavily and so reinforcements had to be made, bilge keels installed. Her low freeboard at the stern also caused her aft deck to be flooded in bad weather. In 1941–1942 her armament were modified. She gained two 40 mm anti-aircraft automatic guns m/36 and twin 8 mm anti-aircraft machine guns m/36. The initial 45 cm torpedoes were changed to 53 cm torpedoes, depth charge throwers installed, as well as new racks. After a very short service they ended in reserve between 1943 and 1944. Puke was decommissioned on 13 June 1947, used as target and scrapped in Karlskrona in 1949.

Giovanni Nicotera was laid down at Pattison 8 January 1927, launched on 24 June 1926, commissioned on 8 January 1927. The same Swedish commission to Italy led to her acquisition and she departed to the north on 14 April 1940 from La Spezia, and on 10 July arrived in Gothenburg. She was renamed after Admiral Gustaf von Psilander. The journey was interrupted as she was captured briefly by United Kingdom (the Psilander affair).
After arriving in Sweden, she entered the Gothenburg Squadron but her constuction was criticized and she underwent the same modifications as her sister: Bilge keel, and later new armament. Like her sister she had very short neutrality service, and was placed in reserve between 1943 and 1944. Decommissioned on 13 June 1947, she was used as a target ship and scrapped in Karlskrona in 1949.

Read More/Src

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Smigielski, Adam (1995). “Italy”. In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 195–218.
Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
Fraccaroli, Aldo (1985). “Italy”. In Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1906–1921. NIP
La Racine, R. B. (March 2011). “In Adriatico subito dopo la vittoria”. Storia Militare (in Italian). No. 210.
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Links

marina.difesa.it/
on it.wikipedia.org/
navypedia.org/
army1914-1945.org.pl
culturanavale.it/documentazione.php
trentoincina.it/ Salla
en.wikipedia.org/ Sella-class_destroyer
it.wikipedia.org/ Sella
navweaps.com 13.2 mm m1931 HMG
navweaps.com 2 pounder m2