Second World War Archives - Page 27 of 40

Italian Battleship Littorio

Littorio was the lead ship of her class of battleships (along with Vittorio Veneto and Roma and in incomplete Impero). Launched on 22 August 1937, she was commissioned into the Italian Regia Marina on 6 May 1940.

Littorio was badly damaged when struck by three torpedoes dropped by Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bombers during the Battle of Taranto on the night of 1 November 1940. Repairs lasted until 11 March 1941.

For the remainder of the Second World War, Littorio undertook convoy escort duties, while also attempting to intercept British convoys. She participated in the First and Second Battles of Sirte (17 December 1941 and 22 March 1942 respectively), causing severe damage to the Royal Navy destroyers HMS Havock and Kingston and minor damage to the light cruiser Euryalus during the later battle.

During the attempted interception of convoy Operation Vigorous, Littorio was hit on Number 1 Turret by a bomb dropped by a Consolidated B-24 Liberator on 15 June 1942. This caused only minor damage and the turret remained in operation. Shortly before midnight that evening, Littorio was struck by a torpedo dropped by a British Wellington bomber, causing some 1,500 long tons (1,500 t) of water to flood the ship’s bow. Her crew counter-flooded to correct the list. The ship was able to return to port for repairs that lasted until 27 August 1942.

Along with her two sisters, Littorio was moved to La Spezia in December 1942. On 19 June 1943 she was struck by three bombs during an American raid.

With the overthrow of the Mussolini Fascist Government, she was renamed Italia and moved to Malta to be interned for the remainder of the war. During transit to Malta, the fleet was attacked by Luftwaffe Dornier Do 271 bombers armed with Fritz X radio-controlled bombs. One Fritz X hit Italia just forward of turret no. 1; it passed through the ship and exited the hull, exploding in the water beneath and causing serious damage. Roma was meanwhile sunk in the attack.

Post war, Italia was allocated to the United States. Having no use for the battleship, she was sold for scrap and broken up at La Spezia.

Littorio Under Construction

Construction of the Littorio March 31, 1936, shows elements of the Pugliese torpedo defense system — Littorio under construction

Littorio at Sea

Littorio seen on or about May 6, 1940 at the time of commissioning — Littorio on first trial 1937

Taranto Raid and Repairs

LIttorio on November 12, 1940, after Taranto attack

Salvage operations on Italian battleship Littorio, hit by 3 torpedoes in the Battle on Taranto — LIttorio on November 12, 1940, after Taranto attack

Damage From Operation Vigorous

Damage suffered by the battleship Littorio on 15 June 1942, during Operation Vigorous

Armament

Littorio, after completing repairs in drydock for torpedo damage, Taranto, 19 March 1941

Littorio’s Aircraft

IMAM Ro.43 seaplane aboard the battleship Littorio, August-September 1940

Scrapping

Italian Heavy Cruiser Trento

The lead-ship of her class of two heavy cruisers, Trento was launched on 8 October 1927. She was commissioned into the Regia Marina on 3 April 1929.

During the Second World War, she took part in the Battles of Calabria (July 1940), Cape Spartivento (November 1940), and Cape Matapan (March 1941).

She was also present during the First and Second Battles of Sirte (December 1941 and March 1942), and at the latter she severely damaged the British destroyer HMS Kingston. Trento was also frequently tasked with escorting convoys to supply Italian forces in North Africa as well as interdicting British convoys to Malta. During one of the latter missions to attack the British Operation Harpoon convoy in June 1942, Trento was torpedoed twice, first by a Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber and then sunk by the submarine HMS Umbra with very heavy loss of life on 15 June 1942.

Trento sailing through the Suez Canal on its way to the Far East, 9 February 1932 — Trento being launched

Italian Heavy Cruiser Trieste

Trieste leaving Taranto, circa mid 1930s

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.