Rosolino Pilo-class destroyer

Pilo Class

Class overview
Name:	Pilo class
Builders:	Odero
Operators:	Regia Marina (1916–1943) Kriegsmarine (1943–1944)
Succeeded by:	Generali class destroyer
Planned:	8
Completed:	8
Lost:	4
Retired:	4
General characteristics
Class & type:	Pilo class torpedo boat
Displacement:	912 tons (max) 770 tons (standard)
Length:	73 m (240 ft)
Beam:	7.3 m (24 ft)
Draught:	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Installed power:	16,000 brake horsepower (12,000 kW)
Propulsion:	1 × Tosi steam turbines 4 × Thornycroft boilers
Speed:	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range:	1,200 nmi (2,200 km; 1,400 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement:	69-79
Armament:	1915–1918: 4 × 1 76mm/40 autocannon 2 × 1 76mm/40 AA 4 × 1 450TT 10 mines 1919–1921: 6 × 1 76mm/40 autocannon 5 × 1 102mm/35 gun 2 × 1 - 40mm/39 AA

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. They were reclassified as torpedo-boats in 1929, with seven ships surviving until Italy entered the Second World War. It was a class of eight vessels that were used throughout both World Wars. The class was re-classified as a destroyer in 1929. 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.

Early service

The Pilo class was a class of torpedo boat constructed during World War I. It was a class of eight vessels that were used throughout both World Wars. The class was re-classified as destroyers in 1929.

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 it out of action. TA35 was sunk on 17 August 1944.

Operators

• Kingdom of Italy
• Nazi Germany

Ships

Name	Pennant	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
Rosolino Pilo	PN	Odero, Sestri Ponente	19 August 1913	24 March 1915	25 May 1915	Stricken October 1954
Giuseppe Cesare Abba	AB	Odero, Sestri Ponente	19 August 1913	25 May 1915	6 July 1915	Stricken September 1958
Pilade Bronzetti	BR	Odero, Sestri Ponente	12 September 1913	26 October 1915	1 January 1916	Renamed 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.
Giuseppe Missori	MS	Odero, Sestri Ponente	19 January 1914	20 December 1915	7 March 1916	Captured by Germany 10 September 1943, renamed TA22. Scuttled 3 May 1945.
Antonio Mosto	MO, MT	Pattison, Naples	9 October 1913	20 May 1915	7 July 1915	Minesweeper 1953. Stricken 15 December 1958.
Ippolito Nievo	NV	Odero, Sestri Ponente	19 August 1913	24 July 1915	1 October 1915	Stricken 24 April 1938.
Francesco Nullo		Pattison, Napoli	24 September 1913	12 November 1914	1 May 1915	Renamed Fratelli Cairoli 16 January 1921. Sunk by mine off Libya 23 September 1940.
Simone Schiaffino	SF, SH	Odero, Sestri Ponente	12 September 1913	11 September 1915	7 November 1915	She seized the Greek steamer Athinai off Messina on 20 October 1940 Sunk by an Italian mine off Cap Bon 24 April 1941.