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Sella-Class Destroyers

Page Created
January 17th, 2025
Last Updated
January 17th, 2025
Italy
Italian Flag
Length
84.9 metres
Wide
8.6 metres
Draught
2.7 metres
Tonnage
970
Propulsion
two Parsons geared steam turbines
Armour
=
Armament
  • three 120-millimetre guns
  • two 40-millimetre guns in single mounts and two 13.2-millimetre machine guns
  • two twin mounts 533-millimetre torpedo tubes
  • 32 naval mines
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Sella-Class Destroyers
Sella-Class Destroyers

The Sella-class destroyers are a group of four ships constructed for the Regia Marina during the 1920’s. These vessels serve as the foundation for most of the Italian destroyers built in the following years but are considered underwhelming in operational performance due to persistent issues with unreliable machinery.

The Sella-class represents an enlarged and improved version of the preceding Palestro and Curtatone classes. These destroyers have an overall length of 84.9 metres, a beam of 8.6 metres, and a draught of 2.7 metres. They displace 970 metric tons at standard load and 1,480 metric tons at deep load. Each ship carries a complement of 8–9 officers and 144 enlisted personnel.

Power is provided by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving a single propeller shaft and supplied with steam by three Yarrow boilers. The turbines produce 36,000 shaft horsepower, enabling a service speed of 33 knots. During sea trials, the ships achieve speeds exceeding 37 knots when lightly loaded. The fuel capacity allows a range of 3,600 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 14 knots.

Armament includes a main battery of three 120-millimetre guns, arranged in a single-gun turret forward and a twin-gun turret aft of the superstructure. For anti-aircraft defence, each ship is equipped with two 40-millimetre guns in single mounts and two 13.2-millimetre machine guns. Torpedo armament comprises four 533-millimetre torpedo tubes in two twin mounts amidships. Additionally, the ships are capable of carrying up to 32 naval mines, enhancing their versatility in coastal operations.

Of the four ships in the class, two are retained by the Regia Marina and participate in the Second World War. Both are sunk following Italy’s capitulation to the Allies in 1943. The other two ships are sold to the Swedish Navy in 1940, where they remain in service until being scrapped in the late 1940’s.

The destroyers Quintino Sella and Francesco Crispi, of the Sella-class destroyers are modified to transport and launch six Motoscafi da Turismo light explosive motorboats in early 1941. This involves fitting davits and crutches amidships, three on each side, to secure the motorboats. However, this adaptation renders the destroyers’ two torpedo launchers unusable, significantly altering their operational configuration.

Following these modifications, Sella and Crispi depart from Astypalea in the Dodecanese in March 1941, tasked with transporting six Motoscafi da Turismo explosive motorboats to Suda Bay, Crete. The mission marks the first deployment of Italian surface assault craft in combat. On the night of March 25th, 1941 and March 26th, 1941, the Motoscafi da Turismo boats launch a successful attack on the British heavy cruiser York, demonstrating the potential of Italy’s surface assault craft in naval warfare. This operation represents a significant milestone in the use of small, high-risk offensive naval tactics by the Regia Marina.

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