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.
Zara, likely in the mid 1930’sZara In port in 1935, possibly at NaplesZara on May 5, 1938Zara. Photographed in 1938 while conducting gunnery firing to portZara. Photographed in 1938 while conducting gunnery firing to portIMAM Ro.43 reconnaissance seaplane in the catapult of the heavy cruiser Zara, January 1940Zara in Battle of Punta Stilo, July 9, 1940Zara during the Battle of Point StriloHeavy cruisers Fiume, Gorizia, Zara and Pola in the battle near Punta Stilo, July 9, 1940Zara at Messina, March 23, 1942 after the 2nd Battle of SirteZara and FiumeZaraZara37mm AA on a Zara class cruiserZaraZaraZaraZara firing her 8 gunsThe bow 203 mm (8 inch) turrets of the Italian heavy cruiser Zara with the guns at maximum elevationTwin 100mm AA on a Zara class cruiserThe crew of a twin 100 mm DP mount at work, aboard the heavy cruiser Zara, January 1941The muzzle of a 203 mm (8 inch) Modello 1927 of the Italian heavy cruiser Zara
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.
Vittorio Veneto before launchingThe hull of Vittorio Veneto at the C.D.R.A. yard in Trieste in July 1937, nearly ready for launchingVittorio Veneto before launchingVittorio Veneto fitting out
Battle of Cape Spartivento
Vittorio Veneto engages British cruisers with her 381mm battery at the Battle of Cape Spartivento (Capo Teulada), 27 November 1940
Battle of Cape Matapan
Vittorio Veneto firing her 15in guns on British cruisers during a brief engagement near Gaudo Island, the afternoon before the battle of MatapanVittorio Veneto after being torpedoed by British aircraft during the Battle of MatapanVittorio Veneto in the morning of 29 March 1941, sailing for Taranto after the Battle of Cape Matapan, visibly down by her sternVittorio Veneto in Taranto, June 1941, undergoing repairs following the Battle of Cape MatapanThe underwater damage to Vittorio Veneto resulting from a torpedo hit on 28 March 1941
General Photos
Vittorio Veneto sailing at high speed during sea trialsVittorio Veneto on trials, 1940Vittorio Veneto soon after completion in 1940Vittorio Veneto soon after completion in 1940 possibly at Naples, Italy.Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto, May 1940, off the Ligurian CoastVittorio Veneto, December 1941Littorio and Vittorio Veneto in the Mediterranean during World War TwoEither Littorio or Vittorio Veneto during 1941 taken toward the stern looking forward at the no. 3 triple 15-inch turretVittorio Veneto underway in 1942Stern view of Vittorio Veneto, somewhere in 1942-43Vittorio Veneto in 1943La Spezia Naval Base, 30 March 1943. Vittorio Veneto fires her forward turret guns during in-port artillery practice.Trial shot Vittorio Veneto. Spezia, 1943Vittorio Veneto and Littorio. La Spezia, March 1943Vittorio Veneto at seaVittorio VenetoVittorio VenetoVittorio VenetoVittorio VenetoVittorio VenetoVittorio VenetoVittorio VenetoItalian Royal Navy officers in dress uniform standing on the poop deck of the battleship Vittorio Veneto
Armament
The forward 15″ guns of Vittorio Veneto with Littorio in the background. Sailing in the Ionian Sea, September 1940The aft 15″ guns of Vittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto’s Aircraft
Reggiane Re.2000 Catapultabile fighter
At Malta
Vittorio Veneto at La Valleta, Malta, 11 September 1943Littorio and Vittorio Veneto at Malta following the Italian surrender in September 1943Vittorio Veneto at Malta following the Italian surrender 13 September 1943
Scrapping
Italia (ex-Littorio) and Vittorio Veneto awaiting scrappingThe 15 inch barrels of Vittorio Veneto seen being cut during the scrapping of the ship at La Spezia, 1948
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 constructionConstruction of the Littorio March 31, 1936, shows elements of the Pugliese torpedo defense systemOne of the rudders of the Italian battleship Littorio about to be fitted, GenoaTurbines for the Italian battleship Littorio,1936Elements of a 381 mm triple turret being fitted onto the Italian battleship Littorio being fitted out, 1938Incomplete Italian battleship Littorio, Genoa, December 1938
Littorio at Sea
Littorio on first trial 1937Littorio seen on or about May 6, 1940 at the time of commissioningLittorio in the summer of1940 while on gunnery exercises.Littorio photographed on a gunnery exercise in the summer of 1940.Littorio firing her main guns during the Battle of Punta Stilo, 9 July 1940Littorio in 1941Littorio and Vittorio Veneto at sea in 1942Littorio at sea, 1942Littorio undergoing gunnery practice in the Ligurian Sea, in the spring of 1943Littorio in La Spezia, spring 19431943 during their transfer to La Spezia. From the closest Roma, Littorio and Vittorio VenetoAll three Littorio class battleships as photographed by a RAF reconnaissance aircraft on 18 April 1943 in La Spezia base of the Regia MarinaItalia (formerly the Littorio) steaming past Cape Corso on Sept. 9th, 1945LittorioLittorioLittorioLittorio-class battleshipLittorioLittorioLittorio
Taranto Raid and Repairs
LIttorio on November 12, 1940, after Taranto attackSalvage operations on Italian battleship Littorio, hit by 3 torpedoes in the Battle on TarantoLittorio in the Bacino Ferrati of Taranto, under repair after being torpedoed during the Taranto AttackLittorio following repairs from the 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 1941The secondary armament of Italian battleship Littorio
Littorio’s Aircraft
IMAM Ro.43 seaplane aboard the battleship Littorio, August-September 1940
Scrapping
Italia (ex-Littorio) and Vittorio Veneto awaiting scrappingItalia (ex-Littorio) during her scrapping in the early 1950s at La Spezia
