[7] In 1931 Aquilone together with Turbine, Ostro and Borea as well as older Daniele Manin, Giovanni Nicotera and Pantera formed 1st Destroyer Flotilla, part of II Naval Division.

[8] In 1934 after another reorganization Aquilone as well as Nembo, Euro and Turbine were again reunited, now forming the 8th Destroyer Squadron, part of II Naval Division.

Aquilone conducted many exploratory and training cruises in the eastern Mediterranean throughout 1938 and part of 1939, visiting Albania, Greece and the island of Crete.

At the time of Italy entry into World War II on June 10, 1940, Aquillone together with Turbine, Euro and Nembo formed 1st Destroyer Squadron based in Tobruk.

The raid was carried out both by Regia Aeronautica and Regia Marina, with twelve SM.79 bombers dropping bombs in the early morning of June 14, while destroyers Aquilone, Nembo and Turbine shelled the town from 03:49 to 04:05, firing 220 shells of their main caliber, but dealing negligible damage to the installations due to thick fog present at the time of attack.

The bombs dropped by the aircraft exploded 50–60 meters away from the destroyer's stern, forcing the ship to withdraw at maximum speed, zigzagging and shooting from her anti-aircraft guns.

[18] On July 5, 1940, there were seven Turbine-class destroyers berthed in Tobruk harbor, including Aquilone, together with four torpedo boats, six freighters and several auxiliary vessels.

In the late afternoon a group of nine Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers of 813 Naval Air Squadron took off from the airfield in Sidi Barrani and headed towards Tobruk.

[21] Zeffiro was attacked first by a plane piloted by Nicholas Kennedy, whose torpedo hit the destroyer in the bow, around the ammunition depot, between the bridge and a 120 mm cannon.

[20] On 19 July 1940 British command, believing that the light cruiser Giovanni delle Bande Nere, damaged during the Battle of Cape Spada, had taken refuge in Tobruk, decided to launch a new bomber attack against the base.

Around 22:30 six Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from the 824 Naval Air Squadron RAF appeared in the skies above Tobruk harbor and were met with strong anti-aircraft fire.

This forced the planes to make several passes over the area trying to avoid the fire, and also to acquire the targets, the situation exacerbated by a fairly cloudy night.

[23] At 01:34 Ostro was hit in her stern ammunition depot by a torpedo launched from another plane, causing the ship to go ablaze and sink ten minutes later.

At 19:30 steamers Maria Eugenia and Gloria Stella escorted by Fratelli Cairoli arrived from Tripoli bringing the total number of vessels present in the harbor to 32.

[25] Next morning, the Libyan Naval Command (Comando Marilibia) fearing new attacks by the British aircraft decided to empty Benghazi harbor.

At 11:38 on September 17 the first cargo ship Francesco Barbaro departed Benghazi for Tripoli escorted by an old torpedo boat Generale Antonino Cascino.

At around 20:45 while about a mile outside the dredged area, Aquilone struck two magnetic mines, one in the middle and one by her stern, forcing the destroyer to immediately start veering to the left, towards the coast.

[27] Despite quick sinking, rough weather and darkness, the ship was abandoned in order limiting the number of casualties, with 4 people killed, 9 missing and 20 wounded.

[27] The port of Benghazi was temporarily closed until the arrival from Italy of a minesweeper with electromagnetic sweeping gear to conduct proper demining.