Carlo Alberto Racchia was one of three Mirabello-class scout cruisers built for the Italian Regia Marina (Royal Navy) during World War I.

In 1938, eighteen years after Carlo Alberto Racchia sank, the Regia Marina reclssified the Mirabello-class ships as destroyers.

[2] The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 2,300 nautical miles (4,300 km; 2,600 mi) at a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).

[3] Carlo Alberto Racchia's main battery consisted of a single Cannone da 152 mm (6 in)/40 A Modello 1891 gun forward of the superstructure.

During World War I, she operated in the Adriatic Sea, participating in the Adriatic campaign against Austria-Hungary and the German Empire, taking part primarily in small naval actions involving clashes between torpedo boats and support operations for Allied motor torpedo boat and air attacks on Central Powers forces.

Dartmouth, the British light cruiser HMS Bristol, and the Italian destroyers Antonio Mosto and Giovanni Acerbi placed themselves between Aquila and the Austro-Hungarian ships and opened fire on them at 09:30 at a range of 8,500 metres (9,300 yd).

The three Austro-Hungarian scout cruisers retreated toward the northwest and the British and Italian ships pursued them at distances of between 4,500 and 10,000 metres (4,900 and 10,900 yards), continuing to fire.

[11][12] On 19 July 1920, Carlo Alberto Racchia got underway from Constantinople to escort a convoy made up of the steamers Calvi, Melpomene, and Thalia, which had embarked the Russians, for a voyage to Odessa.

After her crew abandoned ship in an orderly fashion, Carlo Alberto Racchia sank by the bow in 11 metres (36 feet) of water about 40 minutes after the explosion.

[11] In 1938, eighteen years after Carlo Alberto Racchia sank, the Regia Marina reclassified the Mirabello-class ships as destroyers.