Impero was laid down as the fourth Littorio-class battleship of the Italian Navy. Although launched at the end of 1939, her fitting out was not completed by the time Italy surrendered to the Allies. German troops captured her as Italy switched sides, and she was sunk by Allied aircraft in early 1945. Her wreck was raised in 1947 and she was scrapped in Venice, Italy between 1948 and 1950.
The laying down of the Impero, Ansaldo-Sestri Ponente (Genoa), 14 May 1938Impero on the ways at Ansaldo in Genova, ItalyLaunching of Impero, Genoa, Italy, 15 Nov 1939Impero being preparing for launching, Genoa, Italy, 15 Nov 1939Close-up view of the bow of Impero, 1938-1940 381 mm Modello 1934 gun built for Impero in the Ansaldo factoryThe raised hull of Impero in the Bacino San Marco at Venice, being towed to be scrapped, 1949The recovered hull of Impero moored off Venice, Italy, awaiting scrapping, summer 1948hulk Impero after being raised from Trieste harbor, circa 1947
