Vittorio Veneto

Type

Battleship

Period

20th Century

Nation

Italy

Overview: Vittorio Veneto was the second Littorio-class battleship of Italy's Regia Marina, one of the most powerful and modern battleships built by any nation in the interwar period, and the first to exceed Washington Naval Treaty tonnage limits. She served as the backbone and frequent flagship of the Italian battle fleet throughout World War II. Specifications: The ship displaced 40,723 long tons standard and up to 45,237 long tons full load, was 237.76 m long overall with a 32.82 m beam and 9.6 m draft. Her main battery was nine 381 mm (15 in) guns in three triple turrets, backed by twelve 152 mm secondary guns, a heavy anti-aircraft suite, and a stern catapult carrying up to three IMAM Ro.43 floatplanes; four geared steam turbines gave a top speed of 30 knots. Service History: Laid down in October 1934 alongside her sister Littorio and launched in July 1937, she was commissioned in spring 1940. She emerged undamaged from the Taranto raid, fought at Cape Spartivento in November 1940, and led the fleet as flagship at Cape Matapan in March 1941, where she was torpedoed and forced into lengthy repairs; she was torpedoed again later that year by the submarine HMS Urge. Notable Facts: Designed under the Regia Marina's chief naval engineer Umberto Pugliese, she incorporated his distinctive cylindrical underwater torpedo-defense system. After Italy's 1943 armistice she was interned by the British in Egypt, later allocated to Britain as a war prize, stricken on 1 February 1948, and scrapped at La Spezia between 1951 and 1954.