They formed the backbone of the Italian fleet, and conducted several sorties into the Mediterranean to intercept British convoys, though without any notable success. The Battleship Littorio-class-page contains all related products, articles, books, walkarounds and plastic scale modeling projects dedicated to this ship. Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Italian_battleship_Littorio?oldid=4086050, Pages using duplicate arguments in template calls, 34.252 ft (10.440 m) @ 45,029 long tons (45,752 t; 50,432 short tons), 8 × Yarrow boilers, 4 × steam turbines, 4 × shafts, 3,920 mi (6,310 km; 3,410 nmi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph), 4,580 mi (7,370 km; 3,980 nmi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph), 1,770 mi (2,850 km; 1,540 nmi) at 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph), 4,870 mi (7,840 km; 4,230 nmi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph), 4,050 mi (6,520 km; 3,520 nmi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph). $44.52 USD $49.46 USD. The bomb detonated the magazines, causing a massive explosion that destroyed the ship with heavy casualties. Join us … back to all. In late 1932, Italian constructors responded with a design similar to the Deutschland class, but armed with six 343 mm (13.5 in) guns in triple turrets on a 18,000 long tons (18,000 t) displacement. [49], Italia and Vittorio Veneto reached Malta, where they remained until 14 September, when they were transferred to Alexandria. [15], The ships' main battery consisted of nine 381 mm L/50 Ansaldo 1934 guns in three triple turrets, two in a superfiring pair forward and one aft. Able to elevate to 32 degrees, they fired a 29.3 kg (65 lb) semi-fixed round out to an effective range of 5,000 m (16,400 ft). The Italian Navy wanted to protect the Littorio class battleships from 380mm (15″) shells , the most common calibre they would likely face in the Mediterranean. [2] They opted for this design because this allowed three ships under the 70,000-ton limit. [36] In September 1943, following the withdrawal of Italy from the war, all three ships and a significant portion of the Italian fleet left port to be interned in Malta. [21] Italia was then stationed in the Great Bitter Lake in Egypt until the end of the war, she was dismantled at La Spezia 1951-54.. Littorio participated in 46 war missions, nine of which were enemy hunting and three were as an escort. [7] During full speed trials, she reached an average speed of 31.293 kn (36.011 mph; 57.955 km/h) on a displacement of 41,782 t (41,122 long tons). She was in Taranto harbor during the Battle of Taranto on 11 November, during which she received three torpedo hits, which caused extensive damage requiring five months repairs. An evolution of the original larger design proposals for the Littorio class armed with 16 inch guns (M1936/39), which were still being updated after the Littorios' launch as a potential follow-up with improved AA, torpedo protection and machinery as response to future British and French battleship plans. Regia Marina - Italian Battleships Littorio Class - Tribute Littorio and her sister Vittorio Veneto were built in response to the French battleships … Vittorio Veneto shot down one aircraft, but the battleship was flooded with some 4,000 t (3,900 long tons; 4,400 short tons) of water, though she got underway after ten minutes and eventually reached Taranto on 29 March. She briefly engaged British cruisers with her rear main battery turret, without scoring any hits. She was named after the Lictor ("Littorio" in Italian), in ancient times the bearer of the Roman fasces, which was adopted as the symbol of Italian Fascism. She was named after the Lictor ("Littorio" in Italian), in ancient times the bearer of the Roman fasces, which was adopted as the symbol of Italian Fascism. The bow was protected by a 130 mm (5.1 in) belt that extends 35 m (115 ft) ahead of the main belt before terminating in a 60 mm (2.4 in) transverse bulkhead. The class's design was considered by the Spanish Navy, but the outbreak of World War II interrupted construction plans. The Italian fleet - including Vittorio Veneto - despite the recent attack by the British on Taranto had interrupted a British convoy to Malta earlier in the month. The Italians promised to provide all necessary technical and material support for the construction of the ships. Garzke, William H.; Dulin, Robert O. An internal 200 mm (7.9 in) armored tube protected important electrical cables and pipes for hydraulic systems. The convoy was transporting supplies to the island of Malta. Littorio displaced 40,724 metric tons (40,081 long tons; 44,891 short tons) as designed and 45,236 t (44,522 long tons; 49,864 short tons) at full load. May 12, 2018 - Italian Navy ships, Vittorio Veneto, Caio Duilio and Giulio Cesare search for the British fleet in Operation Hats, August - September 1940. [35] On the night of 8–9 January 1941, the Royal Air Force attacked Naples with heavy bombers, but failed to hit the ship. After completion on 15 May 1940, she went to Taranto to join the fleet. Littorio-Class battleship Lake on 5 June, a British convoy, which led to the island of Malta by Skua... Turrets, causing a massive explosion that destroyed the ship to settle by the early months of Italy participation... A week after her sister Vittorio Veneto reached Malta, where they remained until 14 September when!, articles, books, walkarounds and plastic scale modeling projects dedicated to italian battleship littorio ship on Taranto on 12 1940. 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