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 being launchedTrento sailing through the Suez Canal on its way to the Far East, 9 February 1932Trento with destroyer Espero tied up next her, Shanghai, China. 1932Trento in the mid-1930’sTrento in Chinese portTrento in 1942Trento Gulf of Sirte March 22 1942TrentoTrentoSavoia-Marchetti S.55 landing on water near the Italian heavy cruiser TrentoTrentoTrentoTrentoTrentoTrentoTrento on Feb 21, 1942TrentoFront turrets of the Italian heavy cruiser Trento. In Genoa, May 1938Bridge and main batteries of Italian heavy cruiser RN Trento
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.
Trieste under constructionTrieste after commissioningTrieste Stern soon after commissioningTrieste soon after commissioning in 1929Trieste soon after commissioningTrieste in 1931Trieste, in 1933Trieste leaving Taranto, circa mid 1930sTrieste after reconstruction of bridge and foremastTrento and Trieste alongside Genoa, May 1938Trieste from the cruiser Fiume, sometimes before WWIITrieste May 11 1939Trento and Trieste in Livorno, 1939Trieste looking forward starboard side. Photograph taken circa 1937-1939. An IMAM RO.43 Floatplane appears on the ship’s bow.Trieste in 1942Trieste in Messina during the trials of that harbour’s newly installed smoke-producing equipment, early 1941Trieste in VeniceHeavy cruisers of Italian Regia Marina (led by Trieste), presumably in 1940TriesteThe fore 203 mm turrets of the Italian heavy cruiser TriesteTriesteTriesteTriesteTriesteTriesteTrieste
Post-war, France examined two Dornier Do 335 fighters, M14 Wk-Nr 230014 (a prototype for the B-2 series) and M17 Wk-Nr 230017, (a prototype for the B-6 nightfighter). M14 was flown to Bretigny and was then restored by the SNCASO factory in Surennes, before transferring to the Centre d’Essai en Vol (CEV) on 3 June 1946. The aircraft flew a number of times from 1947 until 4 March 1948. The M17 arrived at the CEV some months later and also flew during 1947 but was later damaged due to an undercarriage failure and not repaired.
Dornier Do 335 A-12 being evaluated by FranceDornier Do 335 V14 in French markingsDornier Do 335 V14 in French markingsDornier Do 335 V14 in French markingsDornier Do 335 V14 in French markingsDornier Do 335 V14 in French markingsDornier Do 335 M14 Wk-Nr 230014 undergoes extensive repair and restoration at the SNCASODornier Do 335 M17, believed to be Wk-Nr 230017, taxis at the CEV Bretigny in French markingsDornier Do 335 V17 in French markingsDornier Do 335 V17 in French markings
