An esploratore (meaning "scout") was a type of Italian warship intermediate between
destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort
larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
s and
light cruisers. Before
World War II, existing ''esploratori'' were reclassified as destroyers (Italian: ''cacciatorpediniere'').
There was a further group of warships (), larger than ''esploratori'', classed as ''esploratori oceanici'', that were effectively unarmoured light cruisers.
''Esploratori'' classes
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See also
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Italian World War II destroyers The Italian destroyers of World War II comprised a mix of old warship designs dating from World War I and some of the most modern of their type in the world. These destroyers (Italian: ''cacciatorpediniere'') also varied in size from enlar ...
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Destroyer leader
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Flotilla leader
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Scout cruiser
Ships of the Regia Marina
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