Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto
| Company type | Battleship |
|---|---|
| Industry | Naval warfare |
| Founded | 28 October 1934 |
| Headquarters | Trieste , Italy |
| Products | Battleship |
Overview
Vittorio Veneto was the second battleship constructed in the Littorio-class battleship series, serving within the Italian Regia Marina during the Second World War. Her construction began with the keel laid in October 1934, followed by her launch in July 1937, and she was officially commissioned into service by August 1940. The vessel's name commemorates Italy's triumph at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto in World War I. She belonged to a class that included three sister ships: Littorio, Roma, and Impero, though only Littorio and Roma reached completion during the conflict. The ship’s primary armament consisted of nine 381-millimeter (15.0 in) guns arranged in three triple turrets, and she was capable of achieving speeds up to 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph).
Service History
Throughout World War II, Vittorio Veneto was actively engaged in naval operations. She survived the British air raid on Taranto in November 1940 without sustaining damage. Early wartime actions included her involvement in the Battle of Cape Spartivento (November 1940) and the Battle of Cape Matapan (March 1941), during which she suffered damage from a torpedo bomber attack. Later, in December 1941, she was struck by a torpedo launched from the British submarine HMS Urge. Throughout 1941 and into early 1942, Vittorio Veneto took part in efforts to intercept British convoys bound for Malta, although severe fuel shortages within the Italian Navy significantly limited further operations afterward. Following Italy’s armistice with the Allies of World War II, Vittorio Veneto was among the fleet surrendered to Allied forces in September 1943. Subsequently, she was interned along with other Italian vessels under British supervision in Egypt for approximately three years. After the war concluded, she was awarded to Britain as a war prize and ultimately dismantled for scrap.
Description
Measuring 237.76 meters (780 ft 1 in) in overall length, Vittorio Veneto featured a beam of 32.82 m (107 ft 8 in) and a draft of 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in). The vessel was engineered with a standard displacement of 40,724 long tons (41,377 t), exceeding the Washington Naval Treaty’s 35,000-long-ton (36,000 t) limit; when fully loaded for combat, her displacement reached 45,236 long tons (45,962 t). Propulsion was provided by four Belluzo geared steam turbines generating 128,000 shaft horsepower (95,000 kW), powered by eight oil-fired Yarrow boilers. This configuration enabled a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and an operational range of 3,920 mi (6,310 km; 3,410 nmi) at a cruising speed of 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph). Throughout her service, Vittorio Veneto was manned by a crew numbering between 1,830 and 1,950.[1][2]
The battleship’s primary firepower consisted of nine 381 mm (15 in) 50-caliber Model 1934 guns arranged in three triple turrets; two turrets were positioned forward in a superfiring layout, with the third turret located aft. For secondary surface combat, she carried twelve 152 mm (6 in) /55 Model 1934/35 guns mounted in four triple turrets situated at the superstructure's corners. Additionally, four single-mounted 120 mm (4.7 in) /40 Model 1891/92 guns were installed, primarily serving to fire star shells due to their outdated design. The anti-aircraft defense included twelve single mounts of 90 mm (3.5 in) /53 Model 1939 guns, twenty 37 mm (1.5 in) /54 guns distributed in eight twin and four single mounts from Breda, and sixteen 20 mm (0.79 in) /65 guns installed in eight twin mounts from the Breda Model 35.[3] In July 1943, the ship was fitted with an EC 3 ter Gufo radar system capable of detecting surface targets up to 30 kilometres (19 mi) away and aircraft at ranges reaching 80 kilometres (50 mi).[4]
Protection was provided by an armor scheme featuring a main belt thickness of 280 millimetres (11 in), backed by an additional steel layer measuring 70 millimetres (2.8 in). The main deck armor was up to 162 millimetres (6.4 in) thick amidships but tapered to 45 millimetres (1.8 in) in less vital sections. The main battery turrets were shielded by armor plates 350 millimetres (14 in) thick, with their barbettes matching this thickness. Secondary turret faces were protected by 280 millimetres (11 in) armor, while the conning tower boasted side plating of 260 millimetres (10 in).[2] For reconnaissance purposes, Vittorio Veneto carried three IMAM Ro.43 floatplanes or Reggiane Re.2000 fighter aircraft launched via a stern-mounted aircraft catapult.[5]
Construction
The battleship Vittorio Veneto was commissioned as part of the 1934 naval construction plan and was named to honor the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, a pivotal Italian triumph over the Austro-Hungarian Empire in late 1918 during World War I. Her keel was laid on 28 October 1934 at the Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico shipyard in Trieste, coinciding with the keel laying of her sister ship, Littorio. She was launched on 25 July 1937, and by October 1939, the primary construction phase was finished. However, the fitting-out period experienced significant delays caused by numerous design modifications and shortages of heavy armor plating. Prior to commencing sea trials, on 4 October, Vittorio Veneto was transferred to Venice for hull cleaning to remove marine growth accumulated during the extended fitting-out, as only the drydock at the Venice Arsenal could accommodate a vessel of her size within the Littorio class.
Following completion of hull cleaning on 17 October, stability assessments were performed by flooding the drydock. The battleship returned to Trieste on 19 October, with sea trials beginning four days later on 23 October. These trials, which included evaluations of her armament systems, continued through March 1940. Subsequent minor fitting-out tasks were completed thereafter. The ship was officially delivered on 28 April, although she remained incomplete. On 1 May, escorted by the destroyers Leone Pancaldo and Emanuele Pessagno, she proceeded to La Spezia for final outfitting. Main battery ammunition loading commenced on 6 May and continued until 20 May for both primary and secondary artillery. Later that day, escorted by destroyers Ascari and Carabiniere, she relocated to Taranto to join the Italian fleet's 9th Division. Italy entered hostilities against Britain and France in June; however, Vittorio Veneto and Littorio were not officially declared operational until 2 August.
World War II
Between 31 August and 2 September 1940, Vittorio Veneto' participated in a sortie involving five battleships, ten cruisers, and thirty-four destroyers aimed at intercepting British forces engaged in Operation Hats and Convoy MB.3. Despite efforts, no contact occurred due to ineffective aerial reconnaissance, resulting in no combat engagement. British reconnaissance detected the Italian fleet's approach and successfully evaded interception. On 6 September, another sortie targeted a reported British squadron departing from Gibraltar, but these ships instead sailed south into the Atlantic Ocean. A similar scenario unfolded during operations against British Operation "MB.5" from late September to early October; an Italian task force including Vittorio Veneto, four additional battleships, eleven cruisers, and twenty-three destroyers attempted to intercept a troop convoy bound for Malta. Although the Italian Regia Aeronautica managed to locate the convoy, British vessels eluded capture.
On the night spanning 10–11 November, the British Mediterranean Fleet conducted an air assault on Taranto harbor. Twenty-one Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers launched from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious attacked in two waves. The Italian defenses comprised twenty-one 90 mm anti-aircraft guns supplemented by numerous smaller-caliber weapons (37 mm and 20 mm) and twenty-seven barrage balloons; however, lacking radar capabilities left them unprepared for the surprise attack. The initial wave struck at 20:35 hours, with a second attack approximately an hour later. Vittorio Veneto emerged unscathed from this raid, while three other Italian battleships sustained hits—two suffering severe damage. Following this event, Vittorio Veneto led the fleet to Naples where she assumed flagship duties under Admiral Inigo Campioni.
Battle of Cape Spartivento
On 17 November, the only Italian battleships available for action, Vittorio Veneto and Giulio Cesare, took part in an operation aimed at intercepting the British Operation White convoy destined for Malta; however, no engagement occurred.[6] Later, on 26 November, the Italian naval forces launched another attempt to confront a British convoy during Operation Collar, which led to the Battle of Cape Spartivento—referred to by Italians as the Battle of Cape Teulada. The Italian contingent consisted of Vittorio Veneto, Giulio Cesare, six cruisers, and fourteen destroyers, all seeking to intercept a Malta-bound convoy. The British escort included the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, battleship Ramillies, and battlecruiser Renown. Although Italian aerial reconnaissance spotted the British escorts, it overestimated their strength. Consequently, Admiral Campioni, adhering to orders that forbade risking his two operational battleships against equal or superior enemy forces, disengaged shortly after the battle commenced. During the brief skirmish, Vittorio Veneto engaged several British cruisers at an extreme distance of approximately 27,000 metres (17 miles), firing 19 rounds in seven salvos and inflicting minor damage on the light cruiser Manchester. This was sufficient to compel the outgunned British cruisers to withdraw after the fourth salvo.[7][8] Throughout the encounter, Ark Royal launched torpedo bombers targeting Vittorio Veneto, but the battleship successfully evaded all torpedoes.[9]
Following repeated British air raids on Naples—including one that caused damage to the cruiser Pola—the Italian high command decided on 14 December to relocate Vittorio Veneto along with other principal warships to Sardinia. However, after reassessing the strategic situation six days later, they returned the fleet to Naples, recognizing that stationing the fleet in Sardinia would facilitate easier passage for British convoys traveling from Alexandria to Malta.[10] On the night spanning 8–9 January 1941, British Vickers Wellington bombers conducted an air raid against the Italian fleet anchored in Naples; although Giulio Cesare suffered minor damage from near misses, Vittorio Veneto remained unscathed. The following day both battleships were transferred to La Spezia, with Vittorio Veneto providing escort for Giulio Cesare. At this point, Vittorio Veneto stood as the fleet’s sole operational battleship.[9][10][11] By early February, both Giulio Cesare and Andrea Doria had returned to service. On 8 February, these three battleships accompanied by eight destroyers attempted to intercept Force H during its mission to bombard Genoa, but no contact was made and the Italian fleet subsequently returned to La Spezia.[9]
Battle of Cape Matapan
On 22 March, Vittorio Veneto arrived back in Naples, and four days later spearheaded a mission targeting British naval forces near Greece, accompanied by eight cruisers and nine destroyers.[9] This fleet operation received air support from both the Regia Aeronautica and the German Fliegerkorps X (10th Air Corps).[10] The clash that ensued is known as the Battle of Cape Matapan. The conflict commenced when the Italian 3rd Division—consisting of the two Trento-class heavy cruisers and Bolzano, under Vice Admiral Luigi Sansonetti—came into contact with the British 15th Cruiser Squadron. Vice Admiral Iachino attempted to position Vittorio Veneto eastward of the British cruisers while they were engaged with Sansonetti's units, but HMS Orion detected the battleship before it could close the encirclement. Vittorio Veneto promptly opened fire and quickly established range; however, it only caused splinter damage to Orion, which then retreated southward toward the primary British fleet. A malfunction in Vittorio Veneto's foremost turret forced a brief suspension of firing. Nevertheless, Italian gunners rapidly restored functionality and resumed their assault on the British cruisers. Visibility was compromised by smoke screens and poor conditions, limiting accuracy; although no direct hits were achieved, the battleship’s salvos frequently straddled the enemy vessels. During this engagement phase, she discharged 92 rounds from her main guns.[12]
Amidst this action, torpedo bombers launched from the carrier HMS Formidable arrived and their assault compelled Vittorio Veneto to disengage from the British cruisers to evade incoming torpedoes. She successfully avoided these attacks; however, Iachino interpreted this as confirmation that the Mediterranean Fleet was active at sea, prompting him to abort the mission and return to base. The British conducted multiple air raids against the Italian fleet aiming to impede Vittorio Veneto, including strikes by land-based Blenheim bombers operating from Greece and Crete. Later that afternoon, a second sortie from Formidable took place, and at 15:10 one Swordfish torpedo bomber struck Vittorio Veneto on her port side aft.[13] Although Italian anti-aircraft fire downed the aircraft after it launched its torpedo, the impact severed the port propeller shaft, damaged its associated shaft line, jammed the port rudder, and disabled aft portside pumps. This caused significant flooding—approximately 4,000 long tons (4,100 t) of water entered—resulting in a list between 4 and 4.5 degrees to port and forcing a roughly ten-minute halt. While immobilized, a Blenheim bomber dropped a bomb near her stern; although it did not score a direct hit, the explosion inflicted additional minor stern damage.[14][15]
Damage control teams faced substantial challenges managing flooding due to reliance on emergency hand pumps. To counteract the list, some forward and starboard compartments were intentionally flooded. Meanwhile, engine room crews managed to restart starboard shafts and steering was maintained via auxiliary manual controls.[16] Once underway again, she gradually increased speed to approximately 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) using only her starboard propulsion shafts. As the Italian fleet withdrew, Formidable launched another attack with nine Swordfish aircraft attempting to further hinder Vittorio Veneto. Instead of striking the battleship, these torpedoes hit the cruiser Pola, leaving her immobilized. Consequently, two cruisers and several destroyers detached to escort Pola. In a fierce nighttime engagement at very close quarters with battleships Valiant, Warspite, and Barham, all three cruisers and two destroyers were sunk.[16] Meanwhile, Vittorio Veneto returned safely to Taranto on 29 March where repairs continued until July.[17] She did not regain full operational status until August.[18]
Subsequent engagements
Vittorio Veneto and Littorio took part in a failed mission to intercept British naval forces between 22 and 25 August. The British plan involved mining Livorno and conducting an air assault on northern Sardinia, but Italian intelligence operatives in Spain alerted the Regia Marina as the British fleet left Gibraltar. Despite this, the Italian fleet was positioned too far south, and aerial reconnaissance was unable to detect the British vessels.[19] Approximately one month later, on 27 September 1941, Vittorio Veneto spearheaded an attack on an Allied convoy during Operation Halberd, accompanied by Littorio, five cruisers, and fourteen destroyers. The British aimed to draw out the Italian fleet and engage it with a strong convoy escort centered around the battleships Rodney, Nelson, and Prince of Wales. However, no engagement occurred as neither side sighted the other; nonetheless, Italian torpedo bombers managed to strike Nelson. At 14:00, Admiral Iachino terminated the operation and ordered a return to base.[20]
On 13 December, Vittorio Veneto joined another convoy escort mission to North Africa, which was aborted after British radio deception led the Italians to believe that the British fleet was nearby. While heading back to port the next day, the battleship was torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Urge in the Straits of Messina. Of three torpedoes launched by Urge, only one struck her port side, creating a 13-meter-long breach and flooding over 2,000 metric tons of water into the ship. Thanks to her Pugliese torpedo defense system, the explosion's damage was contained. The vessel developed a 3.5-degree list to port and settled 2.2 meters lower at the stern. Counter-flooding a compartment on the starboard side near the foremost turret reduced the list by one degree, enabling her to proceed under her own power back to port.[21] Repairs were carried out at Taranto until early 1942.[22]
On 14 June, Vittorio Veneto took part in efforts to intercept the Operation Vigorous convoy traveling from Alexandria to Malta. The force included Vittorio Veneto, Littorio, four cruisers, and twelve destroyers dispatched to engage the convoy.[23] The British detected the advancing Italian fleet promptly and launched multiple air attacks early on 15 June using Wellington and Bristol Beaufort bombers aiming to prevent their arrival at the convoy's location. Although no battleships were hit, these strikes disabled the cruiser Trento, which was subsequently sunk by a British submarine. Later that morning, another aerial assault by B-24 Liberator bombers of the USAAF took place; these high-altitude bombers scored one hit on Littorio and several near misses around both battleships, but neither sustained serious damage. A subsequent attack employing Beauforts faced resistance from newly arrived Italian and German fighters that shot down two bombers and damaged five more. By afternoon, Admiral Iachino decided not to continue as he would not reach the convoy before nightfall; however, due to the presence of Italian battleships, the British aborted their operation and ordered the convoy back to Alexandria without reaching Malta. During their return journey, another British air raid successfully torpedoed Littorio.[24]
Fate
On 12 November, Vittorio Veneto was relocated from Taranto to Naples in reaction to the Allied invasion of North Africa. During this transit, the British submarine HMS Umbra launched an unsuccessful attack against her. Following an American air strike on the harbor on 4 December, the Italian fleet was ordered to retreat to La Spezia, where it stayed for the remainder of Italy’s active involvement in the conflict. On 5 June 1943, Vittorio Veneto sustained severe damage during an American bombing raid on La Spezia; two large bombs struck near the bow, but only one exploded. This bomb penetrated through the ship and detonated beneath the hull, inflicting significant structural harm. Due to this damage and the compromised state of La Spezia’s dockyard from the same attack, she was transferred to Genoa for repairs.
Italy signed an armistice with the Allies on 3 September, effectively ending her active role in World War II. Six days later, Vittorio Veneto along with the remainder of the Italian fleet set sail for Malta to be interned for the duration of the war. En route, German Luftwaffe aircraft attacked using Dornier Do 217 bombers armed with Fritz X radio-guided bombs. While Vittorio Veneto escaped unharmed, Littorio, which had been renamed Italia, was struck and damaged, and her sister ship Roma was sunk during this assault.
Vittorio Veneto remained stationed in Malta until 14 September before being moved alongside Italia first to Alexandria, Egypt, and subsequently to the Great Bitter Lake within the Suez Canal by 17 October. Both battleships stayed there until 6 October 1946 when they were authorized to return to Italy. Upon arrival, Vittorio Veneto proceeded to Augusta, Sicily before relocating to La Spezia on 14 October. According to the Treaty of Peace with Italy, 1947, signed on 10 February 1947, she was awarded as a war prize to Britain. The battleship was decommissioned on 3 January 1948, removed from the naval register on 1 February, and subsequently dismantled for scrap.
Throughout the conflict, Vittorio Veneto was Italy’s most actively engaged battleship, having taken part in eleven offensive missions. Twelve of her 90 mm anti-aircraft guns were later repurposed by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) as part of a coastal artillery battery on Žirje Island, Croatia. This battery surrendered without resistance to the Croatian National Guard on 14 September 1991 during the Croatian War of Independence. It played a crucial role in the Battle of Šibenik from 16 to 22 September by defending the city against JNA forces and effectively blockading thirty-four Yugoslav Navy patrol boats and minesweepers—approximately one-quarter of their fleet—which were eventually captured by Croatian troops.
Footnotes
- ↑ Garzke and Dulin, p. 435
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gardiner & Chesneau, p. 289
- ↑ Gardiner & Chesneau, pp. 289–290
- ↑ Bagnasco & De Toro, pp. 100–102
- ↑ Bagnasco & de Toro, p. 48
- ↑ De La Sierra, p. 148
- ↑ Garzke & Dulin, pp. 383–384
- ↑ Rohwer, p. 50
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedW172 - ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Garzke & Dulin, p. 384
- ↑ Rohwer, p. 55
- ↑ O'Hara, pp. 86–90
- ↑ O'Hara, pp. 90–91
- ↑ Whitley, pp. 172–174
- ↑ Garzke & Dulin, pp. 387–388
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Garzke & Dulin, p. 388
- ↑ Whitley, p. 174
- ↑ Garzke & Dulin, p. 399
- ↑ Rohwer, p. 94
- ↑ Garzke & Dulin, pp. 389–390
- ↑ Garzke & Dulin, p. 390
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedW175 - ↑ Stille, p. 40
- ↑ Garzke & Dulin, p. 391
References
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- {{cite book
| last=Rohwer | first=Jürgen | author-link=Jürgen Rohwer | year=2005 | title= Chronology of the War at Sea,1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two | publisher= Naval Institute Press | location= Annapolis | isbn=978-1-59114-119-8 | ref=CITEREFRohwer
}}
- {{cite book
| last=Whitley | first=M.J. | title= Battleships of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia | location= Annapolis | publisher= Naval Institute Press | year=1998 | isbn=978-1-55750-184-4 | ref=CITEREFWhitley
}}
External links
- Vittorio Veneto battleships official Marina Militare site
Lua error in mw.title.lua at line 359: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal'). Template:Littorio-class battleship Template:Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico