The Artigliere-class destroyers consisted of two former United States Navy destroyers, purchased by the Italian Navy in 1951 as part of its post-war reconstruction phase.

These were the Benson class USS Woodworth, which became Artigliere,[1] and the Gleaves class USS Nicholson, which became Aviere.

The two ships of the class entered service together with the Aldebaran-class frigates as part of a naval upgrade program started in 1950, and although they dated back to the early 1940s, their four 127/38mm guns enhanced the artillery component of the Italian Navy.

Surface naval vessels of the Italian Navy, at the same time were increasing their anti-aircraft capabilities.

Along with weapons, the new electronic equipment for firing direction and air-naval surveillance also represented the starting point for personnel training on new generation systems that would later be adopted in a more widespread and generalized way.