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Italian Heavy Cruiser Pola

Pola

Italian Heavy Cruiser Pola

Pola was the forth and last of the Zara-class cruisers built for the Italian Regia Marina. Unlike her three sisters (Zara, Gorizia and Fiume), she was completed as a flag ship, with a larger conning tower for the admiral and his staff. Launched on 5 December 1931, she was commissioned into the Italian Navy on 31 December 1932.

During The Second World War, she participated in the battles of Calabria (July 1940) and Cape Spartivento (November 1940). During the Battle of Cape Matapan (27-29 March 1941), Pola was disabled by an aerial torpedo. Zara and Fiume were sent to help and escort her to port. During the night, the cruisers were surprised by the British Royal Navy fleet, centred on the battleships HMS Warspite, Valiant and Barham. The battleships overwhelmed Zara, Fiume and two destroyers. The British considered towing Pola to Alexandria, but the proximity to Italian airfields and the approaching dawn prevented this. Instead, she was sunk by torpedoes from the destroyers HMS Jervis and Nubian.

Italian Heavy Cruiser Zara

Zara

Italian Heavy Cruiser Zara

The lead ship of her class of four heavy cruisers for the Italian navy, Zara was launched on 27 April 1930. Commissioned into the Regia Marina on 20 October 1931, she took an active part in naval operations in the Mediterranean along with her sisters Fiume, Pola and Gorizia.

During the Battle of Cape Matapan, Zara and Fiume were sent to protect Pola which had been hit by an aerial torpedo. During the night, the three cruisers were surprized by a force of three British battleships (HMS Warspite, Valiant and Barham). All three heavy cruisers were lost.

Italian Battleship Vittorio Veneto

Vittorio Veneto and Littorio. La Spezia, March 1943

Italian Battleship Vittorio Veneto

Launched on 25 July 1937, Vittorio Veneto was the second of the Littorio-class battleships built for the Italian Regia Marina. Commissioned on 28 April 1940 she had three sister ships, Littorio, Roma and never completed Impero.

During World War Two, Vittorio Veneto saw extensive service. She was undamaged during the Battle of Taranto when the Italian Fleet was attacked by 21 Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers. Three other battleships were damaged; Conte di Cavour, Littorio and Duilio.

On 17 November 1940 during the Battle of Cape Spartivento, Vittorio Veneto engaged British cruisers at long range but without effect.

During the Battle of Cape Matapan on 22 March 1941, she again engaged British cruisers, inflicting minor splinter damage on HMS Orion. That afternoon, HMS Formidable launched Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers, one of which scored a hit on her port side shearing off the port side propeller, damaging the shaft, jamming the port rudder, and disabling the aft port pumps. It also caused flooding and a list of 4 to 4.5 degrees. While she was immobilized, a Bristol Blenheim bomber dropped a bomb that landed near her stern; the blast caused further, minor damage to the stern. I took until August 1941 for her to be operational again.

The rest of the war consisted of convoy escorts and attempts to intercept British convoys. During on of these escort missions on 13 December 1941, she was torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Urge. Repairs lasted until early 1942.

On 5 June 1943, Vittorio Veneto was badly damaged by an American air raid on La Spezia; she was hit by two large bombs toward the bow, though only one detonated. That bomb passed through the ship and exploded under the hull, causing serious structural damage.

Following the Italian armistice, Vittorio Veneto moved to Malta. In transit she was attacked by Luftwaffe Dornier Do 217 bombers armed with Ftitz X guided bombs. Although she escaped unharmed, her sister Roma was sunk and Italia (previously Littorio) was badly damaged.

Post war Vittorio Veneto was allocated as a war prize to Britain. She was subsequently sold off for scrapping in 1948.

Under Construction

Battle of Cape Spartivento

Vittorio Veneto engages British cruisers with her 381mm battery at the Battle of Cape Spartivento (Capo Teulada), 27 November 1940
Vittorio Veneto engages British cruisers with her 381mm battery at the Battle of Cape Spartivento (Capo Teulada), 27 November 1940

Battle of Cape Matapan

General Photos

Armament

Vittorio Veneto’s Aircraft

Reggiane Re.2000 Catapultabile fighter
Reggiane Re.2000 Catapultabile fighter

At Malta

Scrapping