The main task of these ships, built in Castellammare di Stabia near Naples, was to lead small naval formations, and especially to defend them against attacks from the air. They were extensively modernized in 1987 and heavily armed. In 2003 they retired from active service, but remained in reserve for some time. They were replaced by two new Horizon class ships in 2008 . The Ardito was scrapped in Aliaga in 2018.
The two destroyers of the class 2009 in La Spezia, in the foreground Ardito (D 550)
Predecessor class
From 1913 to 1923 there was an Audace class, consisting of the two destroyers Audace (sunk in 1916) and Animoso . In 1916 the Regia Marina acquired a single ship Audace as a replacement , which was built for Japan in Great Britain. This was in service until 1943. Captured by the Germans, the Kriegsmarine used them as TA 20 in the Adriatic. In 1944, British destroyers escorted the ship.
