Commissioned into service in the Italian Regia Marina ("Royal Navy") in 1918, she served in the final months of World War I, participating in the Adriatic campaign.

[1] Nicola Fabrizi entered service in time to participate in the final months of World War I, taking part in the Adriatic campaign.

Tasked with occupying Corfu, the force, commanded by Ammiraglio di squadra (Squadron Admiral) Vittorio Tur, also included the light cruiser Bari (Tur's flagship), the light cruiser Taranto, the destroyers Augusto Riboty and Carlo Mirabello, the torpedo boats Altair, Andromeda, Angelo Bassini, Antares, Aretusa, and Giacomo Medici, and the tankers Garigliano, Sesia, and Tirso.

[7] At 22:30 on 11 November 1940, Nicola Fabrizi, under the command of reserve Tenente di vascello (Ship-of-the-Line Lieutenant) Giovanni Barbini got underway from Vlorë with the auxiliary cruiser Ramb III to escort a convoy of four merchant ships — the cargo steamers Antonio Locatelli, Capo Vado, and Premuda and the passenger motor ship Catalani — to Italy.

She took repeated shell hits, especially from Orion, but nonetheless closed the range, only to find that the British gunfire had put her torpedo tubes out of action.

[8] Despite this, Barbini, suffering from a serious leg wound, decided to continue the attack, and Nicola Fabrizi opened fire with her 102-millimetre (4 in) guns to try to distract the British from the convoy.

[8][9] Barbini, who had refused to be treated for his wounds until the end of the fight and had maintained command of his ship until reaching port, was awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor for his actions.

[5] On 30 January Nicola Fabrizi, Angelo Bassini, and the auxiliary cruiser Brindisi left Brindisi at 02:00 to escort the steamer Argentina and the motor ship Città di Marsala — carrying a combined 1,230 men, 12 motor vehicles, and 234 tonnes (230 long tons; 258 short tons) of artillery pieces, clothing, ammunition, military supplies, and other supplies — to Vlorë, where they arrived at 09:30.

Nicola Fabrizi avoided capture and proceeded with her sister ship Giacinto Carini to Malta, where they handed themselves over to the Allies on 21 September 1943.