Career
Ordered:
Laid down:	28 October 1934
Launched:	25 July 1937
Commissioned:	28 April 1940
Decommissioned:
Fate:	Scrapped
Struck:	1 February 1948
General Characteristics
Displacement:	43,624 tons standard, 45,752 tons full load
Length:	224.5 - 237.8 m
Beam:	32.9 m
Draught:	10.5 m
Propulsion:	8 boilers, 4 shafts, 140,000 hp
Speed:	31,45 knots (56 km/h)
Range:	3,920 miles at 20 knots
Complement:	1,830 (1,910 as flagship)
Armament:	3x3 381/50 mm, 4x3 155/55 mm, 12 90/50 mm (anti-aircraft), 20 37/50 mm, 30 20/65 mm
Aircraft:	3
Protection:	max 350 mm (vertical) 220 mm (horizontal)

Vittorio Veneto was an Italian Vittorio Veneto class battleship, that served in the Regia Marina during the World War II. Her keel was laid down 1934 at Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Trieste; she was launched on 25 July 1937, and her construction was completed in 1940, after Italy entered in war against France and United Kingdom. After the war she was taken by the United Kingdom as war compensation, but was scrapped in 1948.

Vittorio Veneto was designed by general Umberto Pugliese, and was the first battleship which overran the limits of the Washington Treaty (35,000 tons of displacement). She was the best unit in the world in 1939, because of her equilibrium of firepower, protection and speed. In 1942, Vittorio Veneto was the first battleship to be equipped with a radar device, a "Gufo" E.C. 4.

Actions

Vittorio Veneto during the battle of Cape Teulada

Vittorio Veneto took part to the battle of Cape Teulada (27 November 1940), where her firepower (19 shells in 7 salvos from long range) caused the 7 cruiser British squad to disengage and withdraw.

During the 26-29 March 1941 mission, Vittorio Veneto participated to the dramatic events of the battle of Cape Matapan, fought off the Peloponnesus coast of Greece, where she was hit and obliged to return Italy; the Italian fleet adopted an exceptional formation on five lines to protect the Vittorio Veneto, but an aircraft attack, and a subsequent night battle, caused the sunk of 3 heavy cruisers and 2 destroyers.

Vittorio Veneto participated also to battle of Mid-June in 1942.

During the war in the Mediterranean sea, Vittorio Veneto took part to 56 war missions, among which 11 were to hunt enemy ships.

1940

• 1 September: operation Hats;
• 29 September: operation MB 5;
• 11 November: Night of Taranto;
• 27 November: battle of Cape Teulada;

1941

• 8 February: bombardment of Genoa;
• 27 March: battle of Cape Matapan;
• 28 March: battle off Cape Gaudo;
• 27 September: convoy Albert to Malta;
• 14 December: cancelled Italian convoys in the Mediterranean Sea;

1942

• 15 June: Vigorous convoy to Malta;

1943

• 9 September: surrender of the Italian fleet.

After the armistice of 8 September 1943, Vittorio Veneto reached Egypt, and was blocked in Laghi Amari (Bitter Lakes); there was a proposal to allow the battleship to fight side-by-side with the Allies in southern France and in Pacific Ocean, but the proposal was dismissed because of political and operational considerations.

External links

Naval Encyclopedia of World War 2 (http://users.swing.be/naveditoen/edito/9855.html#220766)

Vittorio Veneto statistics (http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/italy/battleships/vittorioveneto/vittorioveneto.html)