View source for Italian destroyer Simone Schiaffino

{{short description|Italian Rosolino Pilo-class destroyer}}
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|Ship country=[[Kingdom of Italy]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Kingdom of Italy|naval}}
|Ship name=''Simone Schiaffino''
|Ship namesake=[[Simone Schiaffino]] (1835–1860), Italian patriot
|Ship owner=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=''[[Cantieri navali Odero]]'', {{nowrap|[[Sestri Ponente]], [[Kingdom of Italy]]}}
|Ship laid down=12 September 1913
|Ship launched=11 September 1915
|Ship completed=7 November 1915
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=7 November 1915
|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]] SF, SH
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship reclassified=[[Torpedo boat]] 1&nbsp;October&nbsp;1929
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|Ship fate=Sunk 24 April 1941
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class = {{sclass|Rosolino Pilo|destroyer}}
|Ship displacement =*912 tons (max)
*770 tons (standard)
|Ship length = {{convert|73|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam = {{convert|7.3|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught = {{convert|2.3|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship power ={{convert|16000|bhp|0|lk=in}}
|Ship propulsion =*1 × Tosi steam turbines
*4 × [[Thornycroft]] boilers
|Ship speed = {{convert|30|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range = {{convert|1200|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|14|kn}}
|Ship complement = 69–79
|Ship crew =
|Ship sensors =
|Ship EW =
|Ship armament =
*'''As built:'''
*4 × 1 [[Cannon 76/40 Model 1916]]
*2 × 1 [[Cannon 76/40 Model 1916|76mm/30]] AA
*4 × 1 {{cvt|450|mm|1}} [[torpedo tube]]s
*10 [[Naval mine|mine]]s
*'''Post-World War I:'''
*5 × 1 [[Cannon 102/35 Model 1914|{{Convert|102|mm|in|abbr=on}}/35]] guns
*2 × 1 – [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|40 mm/39]] AA
*2&nbsp;×&nbsp;1 {{convert|65|mm|adj=on}} machine guns
*4 × 1 {{cvt|450|mm|1}} torpedo tubes
|Ship armour =
|Ship notes =
}}
|}
'''''Simone Schiaffino''''' was an Italian {{sclass|Rosolino Pilo|destroyer|0}} [[destroyer]]. [[Ship commissioning|Commissioned]] into service in the Italian {{lang|it|[[Regia Marina]]}} ("Royal Navy") in 1915, she served in [[World War I]], participating in the [[Adriatic Campaign of World War I|Adriatic campaign]], including the [[Battle of the Strait of Otranto (1917)|Battle of the Strait of Otranto]]. Reclassified as a [[torpedo boat]] in 1929, she took part in the [[Battle of the Mediterranean|Mediterranean campaign]] of [[World War II]] until she was sunk in 1941.

==Construction and commissioning==
''Simone Schiaffino'' was [[Keel-laying|laid down]] at the {{lang|it|[[Cantieri navali Odero]]}} ({{langx|en|Odero [[Shipyard]]}}) in [[Sestri Ponente]], [[Italy]], on 12&nbsp;September&nbsp;1913. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 11&nbsp;September&nbsp;1915 and completed and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 7&nbsp;November&nbsp;1915.{{sfn|Fraccaroli|1970|p=72}}

==Service history==
===World War I===
[[World War I]] was raging when ''Simone Schiaffino'' entered service in November 1915. During the night of {{nowrap|11–12 December 1915}} she and the destroyer {{ship|Italian destroyer|Ardito|1912|2}} escorted the [[steamship]]s {{SS|Epiro||2}} and {{SS|Molfetta||2}} from [[Brindisi]], Italy, to [[Durrës]] (known to the Italians as Durazzo) in the [[Principality of Albania]], where the two steamers delivered supplies for the [[History of the Serbian Army|Serbian Army]]. After monitoring the unloading of the supplies, the destroyers escorted the steamers back to Brindisi.<ref>[http://www.iantdexpeditions.com/spedizioni/in2007/stor22.htm Gallery INTREPIDO 2007<!-- Title generated automatically -->]</ref>

In December&nbsp;1916, ''Simone Schiaffino'' underwent repairs at Brindisi.{{sfn|Favre|pp=174, 197, 201, 255}}

On the night of {{nowrap|14–15 May 1917}}, the [[Battle of the Strait of Otranto (1917)|Battle of the Strait of Otranto]], the largest naval action of the [[Adriatic Campaign of World War I]], began when the [[Austro-Hungarian Navy]] staged a two-pronged attack against the [[Otranto Barrage]] in the [[Strait of Otranto]] aimed both at destroying [[naval drifter]]s — armed [[fishing boat]]s that patrolled the [[Antisubmarine warfare|anti-submarine]] barrier the [[Barrage (military science)|barrage]] formed — and, as a diversionary action, at destroying an Italian [[convoy]] bound from [[Kingdom of Greece|Greece]] to Albania. At 04:50 on 15&nbsp;May, following news of these attacks, ''Simone Schiaffino'', the Italian destroyer {{ship|Italian destroyer|Rosolino Pilo||2}}, and the British [[light cruiser]] {{HMS|Dartmouth|1911|6}} made ready for sea to intervene in the clash. After getting underway, they headed northeast to intercept the Austro-Hungarian ships. Around 08:10, combat began between the Austro-Hungarians and various Allied naval formations sent out to engage them. The Italian [[scout cruiser]] {{ship|Italian cruiser|Aquila||2}} suffered a hit that immobilized her at around 09:05, and the Austro-Hungarian scout cruisers {{SMS|Helgoland|1912|2}}, {{SMS|Novara|1913|2}}, and {{SMS|Saida||2}} closed with her. ''Dartmouth'', the British light cruiser {{HMS|Bristol|1910|6}} and the Italian destroyers {{ship|Italian destroyer|Antonio Mosto||2}} and {{ship|Italian destroyer|Giovanni Acerbi||2}} placed themselves between ''Aquila'' and the Austro-Hungarian ships and opened fire on them at 09:30 at a range of {{convert|8,500|m|yd|sigfig=2}}. The three Austro-Hungarian ships retreated toward the northwest and the British and Italian ships pursued them at distances of between 4,500 and 10,000 metres (4,900 and 10,900 yd), continuing to fire. All the major [[warship]]s suffered damage during the battle, but ''Simone Schiaffino''′s formation had to discontinue the action and withdraw at 12:05 when it neared the major Austro-Hungarian naval base at [[Kotor|Cattaro]], from which the Austro-Hungarian [[armored cruiser]] {{SMS|Sankt Georg||2}} and destroyers {{SMS|Tátra||2}} and {{SMS|Warasdiner||2}} had [[sortie]]d to intervene in the engagement.{{sfn|Favre|pp=174, 197, 201, 255}}

An Austro-Hungarian Navy force consisting of ''Helgoland'' and the destroyers {{SMS|Balaton||2}}, {{SMS|Csepel||2}}, {{SMS|Lika|1917|2}}, {{SMS|Orjen||2}}, {{SMS|Tátra||2}}, and {{SMS|Triglav|1917|2}} left Cattaro on 18&nbsp;October&nbsp;1917 to attack Italian convoys. The Austro-Hungarians found no convoys, so ''Helgoland'' and ''Lika'' moved within sight of Brindisi to entice Italian ships into chasing them and lure the Italians into an ambush by the Austro-Hungarian submarines {{ship|SM|U-32|Austria-Hungary|2}} and {{ship|SM|U-40|Austria-Hungary|2}}. At 06:30 on 19&nbsp;October&nbsp;1917, ''Simone Schiaffino'', the scout cruisers {{ship|Italian cruiser|Alessandro Poerio||2}} and {{ship|Italian cruiser|Guglielmo Pepe||2}}, and the destroyers {{ship|Italian destroyer|Insidioso||2}} and {{ship|Italian destroyer|Pilade Bronzetti||2}} got underway from Brindisi to pursue the Austro-Hungarians, and ''Rosolino Pilo'', the destroyer {{ship|Italian destroyer|Ippolito Nievo||2}}, and the British light cruiser {{HMS|Weymouth|1910|2}} diverted from a voyage from [[Vlorë]] (known to the Italians as Valona) to Brindisi to join the pursuit. After a long chase which also saw some Italian air attacks on the Austro-Hungarian ships, the Austro-Hungarians escaped and all the Italian ships returned to port without damage.{{sfn|Favre|pp=174, 197, 201, 255}}

On 2&nbsp;October&nbsp;1918 ''Simone Schiaffino'' and ''Ippolito Nievo'' were at sea with the [[battleship]] {{ship|Italian battleship|Dante Alighieri||2}}, and the scout cruisers ''Alessandro Poerio'', {{ship|Italian cruiser|Carlo Alberto Racchia||2}}, {{ship|Italian cruiser|Cesare Rossarol||2}}, and ''Gulglielmo Pepe'' to provide distant cover for a British and Italian naval bombardment of Durrës. ''Simone Schiaffino''′s force's main mission was to counter any counterattack against the bombardment force by Austro-Hungarian ships based at Cattaro.{{sfn|Favre|pp=174, 197, 201, 255}}

By late October&nbsp;1918, [[Austria-Hungary]] had effectively disintegrated, and the [[Armistice of Villa Giusti]], signed on 3&nbsp;November&nbsp;1918, went into effect on 4&nbsp;November&nbsp;1918 and brought hostilities between Austria-Hungary and the [[Allies of World War I|Allies]] to an end. World War I ended a week later with the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|armistice]] between the Allies and the [[German Empire]] on 11&nbsp;November&nbsp;1918. In November&nbsp;1918, ''Simone Schiaffino'' landed an occupying force on the island of [[Žirje, Croatia|Žirje]] (known to the Italians as Zuri) off the coast of [[Dalmatia]].{{sfn|Favre|pp=174, 197, 201, 255}}

===Interwar period===

After World War I, ''Simone Schiaffino'' underwent the revision of her armament, which became five {{convert|102|mm|0|adj=on}}/35-[[caliber]] guns, two {{convert|40|mm|adj=on}}/35-caliber guns, and four {{convert|450|mm|1|adj=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s,<ref name="Marina Militare">[http://www.marina.difesa.it/storiacultura/storia/almanacco/Pagine/PQRS/schiaffino.aspx Marina Militare<!-- Title generated automatically -->] (in Italian).</ref> and, according to some sources, two {{convert|65|mm|adj=on}} machine guns.<ref name=navypedia>[http://www.navypedia.org/ships/italy/it_dd_pilo.htm Da Navypedia.]</ref> Her full-load displacement rose to {{convert|900|t|lt|0|abbr=off}}.<ref name="Marina Militare"/> She was reclassified as a torpedo boat on 1&nbsp;October&nbsp;1929.<ref name="Marina Militare"/>

===World War II===

[[World War II]] broke out in September 1939 with [[Nazi Germany]]'s [[invasion of Poland]]. Italy joined the war on the side of the [[Axis powers]] with its [[Italian invasion of France|invasion of France]] on 10&nbsp;June&nbsp;1940. At the time, ''Simone Schiaffino'' was part of the 5th Torpedo Boat [[Squadron (naval)|Squadron]], along with the torpedo boats {{ship|Italian submarine chaser|Albatros||2}}, {{ship|Italian destroyer|Giuseppe Cesare Abba||2}}, ''[[Italian destroyer Pilade Bronzetti|Giuseppe Dezza]]'', and {{ship|Italian destroyer|Giuseppe La Farina||2}}. During the war, she served on escort, coastal surveillance, transport, and [[Search and rescue|search-and-rescue]] duties.<ref name="trentoincina">[http://www.trentoincina.it/dbunita2.php?short_name=Schiaffino Trentoincina Schiaffino Trentoincina<!-- Title generated automaticamentall -->] (in Italian).</ref>

On 24&nbsp;April&nbsp;1941, ''Simone Schiaffino'' was laying signal [[buoy]]s in the waters of the [[Mediterranean Sea]] off [[Cape Bon]], [[French Tunisia|Tunisia]], when her [[stern]] struck a [[Naval mine|mine]] that other Italian ships had just [[Minelaying|laid]].<ref name="trentoincina"/><ref name="betasom">[http://www.betasom.it/forum/index.php?showtopic=29461 Guglielmo Concato E La Tp Schiaffino - Betasom - XI Gruppo Sommergibili Atlantici<!-- Title generated automatically --> (in Italian)]</ref> She blew up, sinking by the stern within three minutes.<ref name="trentoincina"/><ref name="betasom"/> Her 36 survivors were all men who had been in the forward part of the ship at the time of the explosion.<ref name="betasom"/> Her [[commanding officer]], ''Capitano di corvetta'' ([[Corvette captain|Corvette Captain]]) Riccardo Argentino, was among the missing.<ref>[http://forum.panorama.it/f36/la-festa-della-marina-militare-italiana-t13113/ No title provided]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}(in Italian).</ref>

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}
=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book
  |first=Franco
  |last=Favre
  |title=La Marina nella Grande Guerra. Le operazioni navali, aeree, subacquee e terrestri in Adriatico
  |trans-title=
  |language=it
    }}
* {{cite book|last=Fraccaroli|first=Aldo|title=Italian Warships of World War 1|year=1970|publisher=Ian Allan|location=London|isbn=0-7110-0105-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Fraccaroli|first=Aldo|chapter=Italy|pages=252–290|editor1-last=Gray|editor1-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|location=Annapolis |publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-0-87021-907-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M.J.|title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia |year=2000|publisher=Cassell & Co|location=London|isbn=1-85409-521-8}}

==External links==
*[[:it:File:RN Simone Schiaffino.jpg|Photo of ''Simone Schiaffino'']] at [[Italian Wikipedia]]

{{Rosolino Pilo class destroyer}}
{{April 1941 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simone Schiaffino}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Italian destroyer ''Simone Schiaffino''}}
[[Category:Rosolino Pilo-class destroyers| ]]
[[Category:1915 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built by Cantieri navali Odero]]
[[Category:World War I destroyers of Italy]]
[[Category:World War II torpedo boats of Italy]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in April 1941]]
[[Category:Friendly fire incidents of World War II]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by mines]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea]]