Italian destroyer Francesco Nullo (1925)

For other ships with the same name, see Italian destroyer Francesco Nullo.

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.

Francesco Nullo
History
Kingdom of Italy
Name	Francesco Nullo
Namesake	Francesco Nullo
Builder	Cantieri navali del Quarnaro, Fiume
Laid down	9 October 1924
Launched	14 November 1925
Completed	15 April 1927
Fate	Destroyed by aircraft, 21 October 1940
General characteristics (as built)
Class & type	Sauro-class destroyer
Displacement	1,058 t (1,041 long tons) (standard) 1,600 t (1,570 long tons) (full load)
Length	90.16 m (295 ft 10 in)
Beam	9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Draught	2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Installed power	3 Yarrow boilers 36,000 shp (27,000 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed	31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)
Range	2,600 nmi (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	154–156
Armament	2 × twin 120 mm (4.7 in) guns 2 × single 40 mm (1.6 in) AA guns 2 × single 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns 2 × triple 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 52 mines

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]