Italian destroyer Francesco Nullo (1925)

Francesco Nullo was one of four Sauro-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) in the 1920s. Completed in 1927, she served in World War II.

For other ships with the same name, see Italian destroyer Francesco Nullo.
Francesco Nullo
History
Kingdom of Italy
NameFrancesco Nullo
NamesakeFrancesco Nullo
BuilderCantieri navali del Quarnaro, Fiume
Laid down9 October 1924
Launched14 November 1925
Completed15 April 1927
FateDestroyed by aircraft, 21 October 1940
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeSauro-class destroyer
Displacement
Length90.16 m (295 ft 10 in)
Beam9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Draught2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)
Range2,600 nmi (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement154–156
Armament

Design and description

The Sauro-class destroyers were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding Sella class.[1] They had an overall length of 90.16 meters (296 ft), a beam of 9.2 meters (30 ft 2 in) and a mean draft of 2.9 meters (9 ft 6 in). They displaced 1,058 metric tons (1,041 long tons) at standard load, and 1,600 metric tons (1,570 long tons) at deep load. Their complement was 8–10 officers and 146 enlisted men.[2]

The Sauros were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Yarrow boilers.[1] The turbines were rated at 36,000 shaft horsepower (27,000 kW) for a speed of 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph) in service,[3] although Francesco Nullo reached a speed of 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph) from 45,000 shp (34,000 kW) during her sea trials while lightly loaded.[4] The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[1]

Their main battery consisted of 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.[3] The Sauros could also carry 52 mines.[2]

Construction and career

Francesco Nullo was laid down by Cantieri navali del Quarnaro at their Fiume shipyard on 9 October 1924, launched on 14 November 1925 and commissioned on 15 April 1927.[1]

Citations
  1. Whitley, p. 160
  2. Fraccaroli, p. 47
  3. Roberts, p. 298
  4. McMurtrie, p. 281

Bibliography
  • Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-544-8.
  • Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
  • McMurtrie, Francis E., ed. (1937). Jane's Fighting Ships 1937. London: Sampson Low. OCLC 927896922.
  • O'Hara, Vincent P. (2009). Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-648-3.
  • Roberts, John (1980). "Italy". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 280–317. ISBN 0-8317-0303-2.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.
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