The Folgore class were a group of destroyers built for the Italian Navy in the 1930s. All four ships fought in World War II and were sunk. They were a modified version of the Freccia-class destroyers, but had the beam reduced to try to increase speed, creating stability problems and reduced range.
Baleno
Built by CNQ Fiume, completed 15 June 1932.
On 14 June 1940 she sank the submarine HMS
Odin in the Gulf of Taranto.
She was disabled on 16 April 1941 by British destroyers
Jervis,
Nubian,
Mohawk and
Janus during the Battle of the Tarigo Convoy, ran aground and sank on the following morning. Only 37 of her crew survived, among the killed there was the commanding officer, Lt. Cdr. Giuseppe Arnaud.
Folgore
Built by OC Partenopei, Naples, completed 1 July 1932.
She was sunk on 2 December 1942 by British cruisers of Force Q off Skerki Bank, while trying to protect the convoy she was escorting. 124 men, including the commanding officer Lt. Cdr. Ener Bettica, went down with the ship.
Fulmine
Built by CNQ Fiume, completed 14 September 1932.
She was sunk on 9 November 1941 by British surface ships of Force K during the Battle of the Duisburg Convoy. 141 men were lost, among them the CO Lt. Cdr. Mario Milano.
Lampo
Built by OC Partenopei, Naples, completed 13 August 1932.
Disabled by British destroyers on 16 April 1941 during the Battle of the Tarigo Convoy, she ran aground with 141 of her 205 crew killed in action, but she was later salvaged and put back into service. She was sunk by bombers on 30 April 1943 off Cape Bon, while carrying ammunition to Tunisia, with the loss of 60 out of 213 crewmen.
Four similar ships were built in Italy for the Turkish Navy:
The Tinaztepe-class destroyers were similar to the Italian ships but fitted with two funnels. These ships were built by CT Riva Trigoso.
The Adatepe-class destroyers were altered to have four single guns rather than two twin guns and were lengthened to compensate. These ships were built by Ansaldo in Genoa.
