Built as a wooden hulled naval tank vessel and designed by Attilio Bitio of the SVAN yards and the Italian Navy.
Built by the Venice Naval yard for the Italian Navy.
Launched as the GRILLO, (Grillo means cricket) three sisters.
Displacement 8 tons, dim. 16 x 3.10 x 0.75m.
Powered by two Rognini & Balbo electric engines, 10 hp, one shaft, speed 4 knots.
Range by a speed of 4 knots, 30 mile.
Armament: 2 – 17.7 inch torpedoes.
The design was provided with two lateral caterpillar chains for overcoming harbour barrages.
Crew 4.
March 1918 commissioned.
Under command of Commander Pellegrine she was towed in the night of 13/14 March from Venice for an attack on the Austrian- Hungarian Naval bases at Pola.
After she was released from her tow near Pola harbour the GRILLO proceeded on her on power to the port.
When she was surmounting the fourth defence boom she was discovered and taken under fire and damaged where after she was scuttled.
The crew was taken prisoners of war en spent the rest of the war in captivity.
The GRILLO was later raised by the Austrian Navy, who tried to copy her.
Italy 1968 40li sg1234, scott992.
Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1906-1921. Log Book.