Italian Heavy Cruiser Trieste
Laid down in June 1925, was launched in October 1926, Trieste was the second of the Trento-class heavy cruisers built for the Regia Marina. Although claimed to comply with the Washington Treaty limit of 10,000 tons for cruisers, she actually displaced significantly more (at over 13,000 tons).
During the Second World War, Triest participated in the Battles of Cape Spartivento (November 1940) and Cape Matapan (March 1941). On 21 November 1941 while escorting a convoy, she was hit by a torpedo from the British submarine HMS Utmost.
While moored in La Maddalena, Sardinia, Trieste came under attack from B-24 Liberator heavy bombers from the United States Army Air Forces on 10 April 1943. She received several hits at 13:45, and at 16:13 she capsized to starboard and sank in the shallow water.
The wreck was salvaged in 1950 and the machinery was found to be well preserved, due to leaking oil. The Spanish Navy purchased the hull, with plans to convert it to an aircraft carrier. However, rising costs caused the project to be cancelled in 1956.
