World War Two Archives - Page 24 of 38

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

The hull of Vittorio Veneto at the C.D.R.A. yard in Trieste in July 1937, nearly ready for launching — Vittorio Veneto before launching

Battle of Cape Spartivento

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 Matapan

Vittorio Veneto after being torpedoed by British aircraft during the Battle of Matapan — Vittorio Veneto firing her 15in guns on British cruisers during a brief engagement near Gaudo Island, the afternoon before the battle of Matapan

General Photos

Vittorio Veneto sailing at high speed during sea trials

Vittorio Veneto on trials, 1940 — Vittorio Veneto sailing at high speed during sea trials

Armament

The forward 15" guns of Vittorio Veneto with Littorio in the background. Sailing in the Ionian Sea, September 1940 — The forward 15″ guns of Vittorio Veneto with Littorio in the background. Sailing in the Ionian Sea, September 1940

The aft 15" guns of Vittorio Veneto — The forward 15″ guns of Vittorio Veneto with Littorio in the background. Sailing in the Ionian Sea, September 1940

Vittorio Veneto’s Aircraft

At Malta

Vittorio Veneto at La Valleta, Malta, 11 September 1943

Scrapping

Focke -Wulf Fw 62 Floatplane

Focke -Wulf Fw 62 Floatplane

Intended as a replacement for the Heinkel He 114, the Focke-Wulf Fw 62 was a reconnaissance floatplane designed for Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine.

Two variants were built, to evaluate single and twin main floats. The V1 (D-OFWF) and V2 (D-OKDU) prototypes had conventional twin floats, while the V3 (D-OHGF) and V4 (D-OMCR) had a central float and two smaller outboard stabilizing floats.

Despite meeting requirements, the competing Arado Ar 196 was superior, resulting in only four prototypes being built.

Focke -Wulf Fw 62 V1 D-OFWF — Focke -Wulf Fw 62 Single Float Version

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.