Italian destroyer Euro (1927)

Euro was one of eight Turbine-class destroyers built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during the 1920s. She was named after Euro, weak winter easterly wind bringing rain and storms to the Mediterranean.

For other ships with the same name, see Italian ship Euro.

History
Kingdom of Italy
Name:	Euro
Namesake:	Euro, easterly wind
Builder:	Cantieri del Tirreno, Riva Trigoso
Laid down:	24 January 1925
Launched:	7 July 1927
Completed:	22 December 1927
Identification:	ER
Fate:	Sunk, 3 October 1943
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type:	Turbine-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,090 t (1,070 long tons) (standard) 1,700 t (1,670 long tons) (full load)
Length:	93.2 m (305 ft 9 in)
Beam:	9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Draught:	3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Installed power:	3 Thornycroft boilers 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Propulsion:	2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed:	33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Range:	3,200 nmi (5,900 km; 3,700 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement:	179
Armament:	2 × twin 120 mm (4.7 in) guns 2 × single 40 mm (1.6 in) AA guns 1 × twin 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns 2 × triple 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 52 mines

Design and description

The Turbine-class destroyers were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding Sauro classs. They had an overall length of 93.2 meters (306 ft), a beam of 9.2 meters (30 ft 2 in) and a mean draft of 3 meters (9 ft 10 in).[1] They displaced 1,090 metric tons (1,070 long tons) at standard load, and 1,700 metric tons (1,670 long tons) at deep load. Their complement was 12 officers and 167 enlisted men.[2]

The Turbines were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Thornycroft boilers. The turbines were rated at 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW) for a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) in service,[3] although Euro reached a speed of 38.9 knots (72.0 km/h; 44.8 mph) during her sea trials while lightly loaded.[4] They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 3,200 nautical miles (5,900 km; 3,700 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 Turbine-class ships was provided by a pair of 40-millimeter (1.6 in) AA guns in single mounts amidships and a twin-gun mount for 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 Turbines could carry 52 mines.[2]

Construction and career

Euro was laid down by Cantieri Navali del Tirreno at their Riva Trigoso shipyard on 24 January 1925, launched on 7 July 1927 and completed on 22 December.[1]

Notes

1. Whitley, p. 161
2. Fraccaroli, p. 47
3. Gardiner & Chesneau, p. 299
4. McMurtrie, p. 280

Bibliography

• Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-544-8.
• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
• Greene, Jack & Massignani, Alessandro (1998). The Naval War in the Mediterranean, 1940–1943. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-057-4.
• McMurtrie, Francis E., ed. (1937). Jane's Fighting Ships 1937. London: Sampson Low. OCLC 927896922.
• O'Hara, Vincent P. (2009). Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-648-3.
• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.