View source for Italian destroyer Borea (1927)

{{short description|Destroyer of the Regia Marina}}
{{other ships|Italian destroyer Borea}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Launch of destroyer Borea.jpg
|Ship caption=''Borea'' being launched
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=[[Kingdom of Italy]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Kingdom of Italy}}
|Ship name= ''Borea''
|Ship namesake= Northerly wind
|Ship ordered=
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Gio. Ansaldo & C.|Ansaldo]], [[Genoa]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=29 April 1925
|Ship launched= 28 January 1927
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=14 November 1927
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship identification=BR
|Ship motto=''Romanamente''
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Sunk, 17 September 1940
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Header caption=(as built)
|Ship class={{sclass|Turbine|destroyer}}
|Ship displacement=*{{cvt|1090|t|LT|lk=on}}  ([[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard]])
*{{cvt|1700|t|LT|-1}} ([[full load]])
|Ship length= {{convert|93.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|9.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= {{convert|3|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=*3 [[Thornycroft boiler]]s
*{{Cvt|40000|shp|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 shafts; 2 geared [[steam turbine]]s
|Ship speed={{convert|33|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range= {{convert|3200|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|14|kn}}
|Ship complement=179
|Ship armament=* 2 × twin [[120 mm Italian naval gun#45-calibre OTO 1926|{{convert|120|mm|in|abbr=on}} guns]]
* 2 × single [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|{{cvt|40|mm|in|1}}]] [[AA gun]]s
* 1 × twin [[Breda Model 1931 Machine Gun|{{cvt|13.2|mm}} machine guns]]
* 2 × triple {{convert|533|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s
* 52 [[naval mine|mines]]
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''''Borea''''' was one of eight {{sclass|Turbine|destroyer|2}}s built for the {{lang|it|[[Regia Marina]]}} (Royal Italian Navy) during the late 1920s. She was named after a northerly wind, Borea, bringing frigid, dry air to the Italian peninsula. The ship played a minor role in the [[Spanish Civil War]] of 1936–1937, supporting the [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Nationalists]].
==Design and description==
The ''Turbine''-class destroyers were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding  {{sclass|Sauro|destroyer|4}}. They had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|93.2|m|ft|0|sp=us}}, a beam of {{convert|9.2|m|ftin|sp=us}} and a mean [[draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|3|m|ftin|sp=us}}.<ref name=w9>Whitley, p. 161</ref> They displaced {{convert|1090|t|LT|sp=us|lk=on}} at [[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard]] load, and {{convert|1700|t|LT|sp=us|-1}} at [[deep load]]. Their complement was 12 officers and 167 enlisted men.<ref name=f8/>
The ''Turbine''s were powered by two [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] geared [[steam turbine]]s, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three [[Thornycroft boiler]]s. The turbines were rated at {{convert|40000|shp|lk=on}} for a speed of {{convert|33|kn|lk=in}} in service,<ref name=g0>Roberts, p. 299</ref> although ''Borea'' reached a speed of {{convert|36.5|kn}} during her [[sea trial]]s while lightly loaded.<ref>McMurtrie, p. 280</ref> They carried enough [[fuel oil]] to give them a range of {{convert|3200|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|14|kn}}.<ref name=w9/>
Their [[main battery]] consisted of four [[120 mm Italian naval gun#50-calibre Ansaldo 1926|{{convert|120|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}}]] guns in two twin-[[gun turret]]s, one each fore and aft of the [[superstructure]].<ref name=f8>Fraccaroli, p. 47</ref> [[Anti-aircraft warfare|Anti-aircraft (AA) defense]] for the ''Turbine''-class ships was provided by a pair of [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|{{convert|40|mm|in|1|adj=on|sp=us}}]] [[AA gun]]s in single mounts [[amidships]] and a twin-gun mount for [[Breda Model 1931 Machine Gun|{{convert|13.2|mm|adj=on|sp=us}} machine guns]]. They were equipped with six {{convert|533|mm|in|adj=on|sp=us|0}} [[torpedo tube]]s in two triple mounts amidships.<ref name=g0/> The ''Turbine''s could carry 52 [[naval mine|mines]].<ref name=f8/>
==Construction and career==
[[File:Borea (BR).jpg|thumb|''Borea'' at high speed]]
''Borea'' was [[laid down]] by [[Gio. Ansaldo & C.]] at their [[Genoa]] [[shipyard]] on 29 April 1925, [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 28 January 1927 and completed on 14 November.<ref name=w9/> The ship was initially assigned to the 5th Destroyer Squadron for a short time. In March 1928 she participated in a training cruise in the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]].<ref name=bor>{{cite web | title = Destroyer Borea |url = http://digilander.libero.it/carandin/borea.htm | accessdate = 2018-01-15 }}</ref> ''Borea'' was then assigned together with {{ship|Italian destroyer|Espero|1927|2}}, {{ship|Italian destroyer|Ostro|1928|2}} and {{ship|Italian destroyer|Zeffiro|1927|2}}  to the 1st Squadron of the I Destroyer Flotilla based at [[La Spezia]].<ref name=rm1>{{cite web | title = La Regia Marina Tra le due Guerre Mondiali | author = Pier Paolo Ramoino | page=74 |url = http://www.marina.difesa.it/conosciamoci/editoria/marivista/Documents/2011/09_settembre/La_Regia_Marina.pdf | accessdate = 2017-12-18 }}</ref> In 1928 the destroyer also visited [[Ibiza]], followed up by another cruise to [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] in 1929. In the summer of 1930 ''Borea'' together with the ships of her squadron participated in the training cruise in the [[Aegean Sea]] visiting [[Nafplion]], [[Thessaloniki]], [[Rhodes]] and other Dodecanese islands.<ref name=bor/> In 1931 ''Borea'' together with {{ship|Italian destroyer|Turbine|1927|2}}, ''Ostro'' and  {{ship|Italian destroyer|Aquilone|1927|2}} as well as older {{ship|Italian destroyer|Daniele Manin||2}}, {{ship|Italian destroyer|Giovanni Nicotera||2}} and {{ship|Italian destroyer|Pantera||2}} formed 1st Destroyer Flotilla, part of II Naval Division.<ref name=rm2>{{cite web | title = La Regia Marina Tra le due Guerre Mondiali | author = Pier Paolo Ramoino | page=75 |url = http://www.marina.difesa.it/conosciamoci/editoria/marivista/Documents/2011/09_settembre/La_Regia_Marina.pdf | accessdate = 2017-12-18 }}</ref> In 1934 after another reorganization ''Borea'' as well as {{ship|Italian destroyer|Espero|1927|2}}, {{ship|Italian destroyer|Zeffiro|1927|2}} and ''Ostro'' were again reunited, now forming the 4th Destroyer Squadron, part of II Naval Division.<ref name=rm3>{{cite web | title = La Regia Marina Tra le due Guerre Mondiali | author = Pier Paolo Ramoino | page=84 |url = http://www.marina.difesa.it/conosciamoci/editoria/marivista/Documents/2011/09_settembre/La_Regia_Marina.pdf | accessdate = 2017-12-18 }}</ref>
During the Spanish Civil War ''Borea'' conducted 4 reconnaissance missions in autumn 1936 on behalf of the Nationalists. In August–September 1937 she participated in the Italian blockade of [[Republican faction (Spanish Civil War)|Republican Spain]] and performed three missions enforcing the blockade. In summer 1938 she conducted several patrol and escort missions from her temporary base at the [[Balearic Islands]].<ref name=bor/>
At the end of 1938 she was relocated to [[Tobruk]], then briefly recalled in the spring of 1939 to participate in the invasion of Albania before returning to Tobruk in the autumn of the same year.<ref name=bor/>
At the time of [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]] entrance into [[World War II]] on 10 June 1940, ''Borea'' together with {{ship|Italian destroyer|Espero|1927|2}}, ''Ostro'' and ''Zeffiro'' was part of 2nd Destroyer Squadron based in [[Taranto]]. ''Borea'' was assigned escort duties, accompanying convoys from Sicily to Libya.<ref>Brescia, p. 44</ref>
On 30 June 1940 a large Italian convoy sailed from Augusta carrying troops, supplies, ammunition and fuel. The convoy consisted of six cargo and passenger ships and was escorted by 6 destroyers, including ''Borea'', and 4 torpedo boats.<ref name=hg>Gustavsson, pp. 95–96</ref> On 5 July 1940 there were seven {{sclass|Turbine|destroyer|2}}s berthed in Tobruk harbor together with four torpedo boats, six freighters and several auxiliary vessels.<ref name=hg/> Between 10:00 to 11:15 a [[Short Sunderland]] reconnaissance plane overflew the harbor at an altitude of 1,500-2,000 meters and despite the anti-aircraft fire opened against it, confirmed the presence of numerous ships in the harbor. In the late afternoon a group of nine [[Fairey Swordfish]] torpedo bombers of [[813 Naval Air Squadron]] took off from the airfield in [[Sidi Barrani]] and headed towards Tobruk.<ref name=db/> The air alarm was sounded at 20:06 but the Italians failed to detect the Allied aircraft until they were already over the harbor at 20:20.<ref name=hg/> Destroyers had most of their personnel on board the steamers ''Liguria'' and ''Sabbia'' with exception of dedicated air-defense crews.<ref name="pm">Franco Prosperini in ''Storia Militare'' No. 208 (January 2011), pp. 4–10.</ref> The attack commenced a few minutes later, and lasted only seven minutes and resulted in five Italian ships being sunk or damaged.<ref name=hg/> Not encountering any aerial opposition, British torpedo bombers attacked from low altitude (around 100 feet), and released their torpedoes from 400–500 meters away, almost point-blank. ''Zeffiro'' was attacked first by a plane piloted by Nicholas Kennedy, whose torpedo hit the ship in the bow, around the ammunition magazine, between the bridge and a 120&nbsp;mm cannon.<ref name="pm"/> The explosion broke the ship into two and sank it half an hour later. Freighter {{SS|Manzoni||2}} was also hit, capsized and sank, while {{ship|Italian destroyer|Euro|1927|2}} and steamer {{SS|Serenitas||2}} were hit, and had to be beached, and the ocean liner {{SS|Liguria||2}} was hit and damaged. Two planes also attacked other destroyers, but failed to launch their torpedoes due to intense anti-aircraft fire.<ref name=db>Brown, pp. 38–39</ref>
On 13 September 1940 the Italian Army invaded Egypt and captured [[Sollum]]. A convoy was sighted travelling east along the Libyan coast on 15 September by a [[Short Sunderland]] flying boat from [[No. 230 Squadron RAF|230 Squadron]].<ref name=rm5/> In attempt to help their ground force, the [[Royal Navy]] designed attacks on Italian bases, in particular, Benghazi. During the day on 16 September British forces, consisting of the [[battleship]] {{HMS|Valiant|1914|2}}, the [[heavy cruiser]] {{HMS|Kent|54|2}}, [[anti-aircraft cruiser]]s {{HMS|Calcutta|D82|2}} and {{HMS|Coventry|D43|2}}, seven destroyers and the [[aircraft carrier]] {{HMS|Illustrious|87|2}}, sortied from [[Alexandria]].<ref name=hg5>Gustavsson, p. 186</ref>
In the evening of 16 September 1940 ''Borea'', together with destroyers {{ship|Italian destroyer|Aquilone|1927|2}} and {{ship|Italian destroyer|Turbine|1927|2}}, was berthed in Benghazi harbor. At 19:30 steamers ''Maria Eugenia'' and ''Gloria Stella'' escorted by {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Fratelli Cairoli||2}} arrived from Tripoli bringing the total number of vessels present in the harbor to 32.<ref name=rm5/> During the night of 16–17 September nine [[Fairey Swordfish|Swordfish]] bombers of [[815 Naval Air Squadron|815 Squadron]] RAF carrying bombs and torpedoes, and six from [[819 Naval Air Squadron|819 Squadron]] RAF armed with mines took off from ''Illustrious'' and approximately at 00:30 arrived undetected over Benghazi harbor.<ref name=rm5>{{cite web | title = 1940:L'estate degli "Swordfish", Part 2 | first=Franco |last=Prosperini | pages=26–30 |url = http://www.avia-it.com/act/rassegna_aeronautica/rassegna/Editoriali_luglio_2011/L%27estate_degli_swordfish.pdf | accessdate = 2017-12-21 }}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=hg5/> The anti-aircraft defenses opened fire but were unable to stop the attack. After passing over the harbor to determine their targets, the Swordfish bombers made their first attack at 00:57 hitting and sinking {{SS|Gloria Stella||2}} and severely damaging torpedo boat {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Cigno|1936|2}}, harbor tug ''Salvatore Primo'' and an auxiliary vessel ''Giuliana''. The bombers then conducted a second assault at 1:00 striking and sinking {{SS|Maria Eugenia||2}}.<ref name=rm5/> ''Borea'' was also targeted during the second sweep, with the first bomb exploding between the destroyer and the steamer {{SS|Città di Livorno||2}} but causing no damage to either ship. A short while later, a second bomb hit ''Borea'' on her port side, around 40/39&nbsp;mm cannon platform. The bomb penetrated all the way down into the hold and exploded breaking the ship in two causing rapid flooding and sinking in shallow waters of the harbor.<ref name=rm5/> Due to rapid sinking most of the crew was able to easily abandon ship either by jumping or simply walking off the bridge and swimming towards the destroyer ''Aquilone''. There was a single casualty, a sailor who at the moment of the attack was sleeping in the engine room, near the area of bomb explosion.<ref name=rm5/>
== Notes ==
{{reflist|30em}}
==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Brescia|first=Maurizio|title=Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45|year=2012|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=978-1-59114-544-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Brown |first=David |title=The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean: Vol. I: September 1939 - October 1940 |year=2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn= 978-1135281540}}
*{{cite book |last1=Fraccaroli |first1=Aldo |title=Italian Warships of World War II |date=1968 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Shepperton, UK |isbn=0-7110-0002-6}}
*{{cite book|last1=Greene|first1=Jack|last2=Massignani|first2=Alessandro|title=The Naval War in the Mediterranean, 1940–1943|publisher=Chatham Publishing|location=London|year=1998| name-list-style=amp|isbn=1-86176-057-4}}
*{{cite book|last=Gustavsson |first=Hakan |title=Desert Prelude 1940-41: Early Clashes |year=2010 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn= 978-8389450524}}
*{{cite book |editor1-last=McMurtrie |editor1-first=Francis E. |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1937 |date=1937 |publisher=Sampson Low |location=London |oclc=927896922}}
*{{cite book|last=O'Hara|first=Vincent P.|year=2009|title=Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945|publisher=Naval Institute Press| location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=978-1-59114-648-3}}
*{{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau |editor1-first=Roger |publisher=Mayflower Books|location=New York|year=1980|isbn=0-8317-0303-2 |chapter=Italy |last1=Roberts |first1=John|pages=280–317}}
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2|authorlink=Jürgen Rohwer}}
* {{cite book|first=M. J.|last=Whitley|title=Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia |year=1988|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=1-85409-521-8 |authorlink=Michael J. Whitley}}
==External links==
* [https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/ABCD/borea02.aspx Borea (1927)] Marina Militare website
{{Portal bar|Italy|Engineering}}
{{Turbine class destroyer}}
{{September 1940 shipwrecks}}
{{coord missing|Libya}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borea}}
[[Category:Turbine-class destroyers]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of Italy]]
[[Category:1927 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built by Gio. Ansaldo & C.]]
[[Category:Ships built in Genoa]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in September 1940]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by British aircraft]]
[[Category:Destroyers sunk by aircraft]]