Rosolino Pilo-class destroyer explained

The Rosolino Pilo class was a class of eight destroyers of the Italian Regia Marina (Royal Navy) constructed before and during the First World War. Like other obsolete Italian destroyers, they were reclassified as torpedo boats in 1929, and seven ships served throughout the Second World War. Two ships were sunk by mines while under Italian service during the Second World War, with two more being seized by Nazi Germany following the Italian Armistice in 1943. The remaining three ships survived the war and continued in use with the post-war Italian Navy, with the last two of the class being decommissioned in 1958.

German capture

Following Italy's surrender on 8 September 1943, Germany captured two of the Pilo-class vessels. Giuseppe Missori was renamed TA22, and Giuseppe Dezza was renamed TA35. These vessels were re-designated as torpedo boats and put into service with the Kriegsmarine. TA22 was attacked by the all-African American fighter group, the Tuskegee Airmen, who put her out of action. TA35 was sunk on 17 August 1944.

Ships

NamePennant[1] BuilderLaid down LaunchedCompletedOperational History
PNOdero, Sestri Ponente19 August 191324 March 191525 May 1915Stricken October 1954
ABOdero, Sestri Ponente19 August 191325 May 19156 July 1915Stricken September 1958
BROdero, Sestri Ponente12 September 191326 October 19151 January 1916Renamed Giuseppe Dezza 16 January 1921.
Scuttled 16 September 1943, but refloated by German Navy asTA35, re-commissioning 9 June 1944.
Sunk by mine 17 August 1944 but again refloated. Scuttled 3 May 1945.[2]
MSOdero, Sestri Ponente19 January 191420 December 19157 March 1916Captured by Germany 10 September 1943, renamed TA22. Scuttled 3 May 1945.
MO, MTPattison, Naples9 October 191320 May 19157 July 1915Minesweeper 1953.
Stricken 15 December 1958.
NVOdero, Sestri Ponente19 August 191324 July 19151 October 1915Stricken 24 April 1938.
CLPattison, Naples24 September 191312 November 19141 May 1915Renamed Fratelli Cairoli 16 January 1921.
Sunk by mine off Libya 23 September 1940.
SF, SHOdero, Sestri Ponente12 September 191311 September 19157 November 1915She seized the Greek steamer Athinai off Messina on 20 October 1940[3] [4] Sunk by an Italian mine off Cap Bon 24 April 1941.

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Fraccaroli 1970, p. 72.
  2. Fraccaroli 1985, p. 269.
  3. Web site: Con la pelle appesa a un chiodo: Simone Schiaffino. Con la pelle appesa a un chiodo. 2015-12-21. Lorenzo. Colombo.
  4. Web site: SS Athinai. 20 December 2015. Wrecksite.