Italian torpedo boat Lupo
The Italian torpedo boat Lupo was a Spica-class torpedo boat built for the Regia Marina in the late 1930s.
During the Second World War, Lupo was involved in several naval actions, including that of the eponymous "Lupo convoy", for which she was awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valour. Lupo was sunk in action on 2 December 1942.
Torpedo boat Lupo
Lupo in 1941
The Spica class were a class of torpedo boats of the Regia Marina during World War II. These ships were built as a result of a clause in the Washington Naval Treaty, which stated that ships with a tonnage of less than 600 could be built in unlimited numbers. Thirty-two ships were built between 1934 and 1937, thirty of which entered service with Italy and two of which were sold to the Swedish Navy in 1940. The two units in Swedish service were classified as destroyers until 1953, then re-classified as corvettes. Although commonly referred to as torpedo boats due to their smaller displacement, the Spica class armaments were similar in design to destroyers and were intended for anti-submarine duties, although they often had to fight aircraft and surface forces as well. Twenty-three vessels were lost during World War II.
Torpedo boat Cassiopea
Aretusa (F 556) in service with the Marina Militare in the 1950s
Torpedo boat Cigno