There was an interesting habit, in the 1940s, of antique destroyers embarrassing more modern fleets. USS Edsall is probably the most well known example there, for good reason.

On the other hand, you have the Italian destroyer Espero. Which took five light cruisers, and 5,000 shells to put down. This was the first major engagement between British and Italian fleets, and it did...not paint the Royal Navy in a good light.

It's a shame this isn't better known, really.

Further Reading:
https://www.amazon.com/StruggleMiddl...
https://www.amazon.com/NavalWarMedi...
https://www.amazon.com/MussolinisNav...
https://www.trentoincina.it/mostrapos... (in Italian)
https://comandosupremo.com/battleof...
https://codenames.info/operation/batt...