The Italian battleship Littorio, launched in 1937, was a prominent vessel of Italy’s Regia Marina during World War II.
It featured innovative design elements, including a novel armor system known as “Pugliese” which was intended to reduce damage from torpedo attacks.
The Littorio saw action in several key naval engagements, including the Battle of Taranto and the Battles of Sirte, playing a crucial role in the Mediterranean theater.
Contents
- Design of the Littorio
- The Battle of Taranto
- The Littorio at The First Battle of Sirte
- The Second Battle of Sirte
- Fate of the Littorio
Design of the Littorio
The Littorio class was designed in response to the naval rearmament that was occurring globally in the early 20th century. The signing of the Washington Naval Treaty and later the London Naval Treaty imposed limitations on naval constructions, but by the mid-1930s, nations began to seek ways around these restrictions. Italy, under the Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini, was keen to project its power and saw the construction of new and powerful battleships as a key element of this strategy.
Read More The USS Minneapolis Had a Bow Made From Coconut Trees
The design of the Littorio featured a 237.76 meter long hull with a beam of 32.82 meters, allowing for a balanced distribution of armor and armament while maintaining a relatively high speed. The hull’s form was optimized for hydrodynamic efficiency at high speeds, a critical factor given the importance of speed in naval engagements of the era.
One of the most innovative aspects of the Littorio’s design was its armor system, particularly the “Pugliese” torpedo defense system. This system featured an elaborate design intended to absorb and dissipate the energy of a torpedo hit through a series of liquid-filled and void compartments surrounding a central protective cylinder. This innovation was intended to protect the ship’s vital areas from catastrophic damage, though its effectiveness in combat was mixed.
The main belt armor was up to 280 mm thick, composed of steel treated with the latest hardening techniques to offer maximum resistance against shellfire. This was supplemented by a horizontal armor deck and significant protection to the turret faces and barbettes, designed to withstand fire from contemporary naval guns.
Read More HMS Dreadnought was the Only Battleship to Ever Sink a Submarine
The propulsion of the Littorio was a marvel of engineering, featuring four Belluzzo geared steam turbines driven by eight oil-fired Yarrow boilers. This setup was capable of generating 128,000 horsepower, propelling the ship to speeds exceeding 30 knots. Such speed allowed the Littorio to outrun heavier ships and maneuver effectively in battle. The layout of the machinery and the distribution of the boilers and turbines were designed with redundancy in mind, ensuring that the ship could operate even with significant damage.
The primary armament of the Littorio consisted of nine 381 mm / 50 caliber Model 1934 guns, arranged in three triple turrets. These guns were capable of firing a 885 kg projectile over a range exceeding 42,000 meters, making them formidable tools against enemy battleships and fortifications. Secondary armament included twelve 152 mm / 55 caliber Model 1934 guns for defense against cruisers and destroyers, and an extensive suite of anti-aircraft defenses including twelve 90 mm guns, twenty 37 mm guns, and numerous smaller caliber weapons to fend off aerial threats.
The Littorio’s armament was controlled by advanced fire-control systems, incorporating radar guidance post-1940, which was somewhat revolutionary for the time. The radar systems enhanced the accuracy of the guns, allowing them to engage targets effectively at greater distances and under less favorable conditions.
The Battle of Taranto
The Italian battleship Littorio, after being commissioned into service in 1940. The Littorio, as part of Italy’s fleet modernization and expansion, was brought into active service amidst escalating tensions in the Mediterranean. The strategic importance of the Mediterranean Sea as a vital shipping route for both Axis and Allied powers meant that control over this area was crucial. As tensions escalated into outright warfare, the Littorio and its sister ships were thrust into a challenging operational environment dominated by the need for naval superiority and constant readiness.
Read More Fort Funston had 16-inch Battleship Guns
The Battle of Taranto, which took place on the night of November 11-12, 1940, was a pivotal moment not just for the Littorio but for naval warfare globally. The British Royal Navy, recognizing the threat posed by the Italian battleships anchored at Taranto, planned a daring night-time air raid.
The attack was planned by the Royal Navy under the command of Admiral Andrew Cunningham. The operation was carried out by aircraft from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. The British planned to use Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers, which were considered somewhat obsolete but were chosen for their ability to carry torpedoes, fly at low altitudes, and execute night operations effectively.
On the night of the attack, a total of 21 Swordfish aircraft were launched in two waves. These planes were armed with torpedoes and bombs.
Read More The Longest-Range Naval Hit – The Record Belongs to Two Ships
The attack targeted the Italian battleships at anchor, capitalizing on the element of surprise and the limited maneuverability of the ships in a confined harbor. The Littorio was among the battleships hit during this raid. It suffered significant damage from at least two torpedoes, which caused flooding in several of its compartments. The damage was severe enough that the Littorio settled onto the shallow seabed, although it remained afloat due to the relatively shallow water in the harbor.
The damage inflicted required several months of repairs, during which the Littorio was out of action.
The Littorio at The First Battle of Sirte
The First Battle of Sirte, occurring on December 17, 1941, was essentially a long-distance artillery duel fought in the Mediterranean Sea near the Gulf of Sirte, off the coast of Libya. This naval engagement was part of the broader strategic effort during World War II to control supply routes to North Africa, where both Allied and Axis forces were entrenched in prolonged desert warfare.
The battle emerged as the British sought to reinforce and resupply their positions, particularly the besieged city of Tobruk, with a convoy operation named MF.1. This convoy included four merchant ships tasked with delivering critical supplies. To protect these vessels, the Royal Navy assembled a robust escort comprising cruisers and destroyers, a typical composition intended to ward off surface and aerial threats.
The Italian Navy, determined to intercept and disrupt these crucial resupply efforts, deployed a formidable force that included several battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. Their strategy was to engage and sink the British convoy before it could deliver its cargo, thus tightening the siege of Tobruk and weakening the Allied position in North Africa.
Read More S-130 – The Last Remaining German E-Boat
As the two fleets converged, the battle unfolded under challenging conditions, with poor visibility playing a significant role. The British utilized smoke screens effectively, obscuring their ships and confusing the Italian gunners. This tactical use of smoke, combined with the considerable distance between the opposing vessels, resulted in a scenario where direct hits were few and decisive engagement was largely avoided.
Despite the significant potential for a large-scale naval battle, the First Battle of Sirte resulted mainly in a long-range artillery duel. The Littorio is claimed to have fired at the British at ranges of up to 35,000 yards!
The engagement largely consisted of sporadic gunfire exchanges without either side gaining a clear advantage or inflicting substantial damage on the other. After several hours of these inconclusive exchanges, both fleets eventually disengaged. The British convoy continued its journey and, despite subsequent attacks by Axis aircraft, managed to reach its destination of Malta, albeit with some damage to the ships.
The Second Battle of Sirte
The Second Battle of Sirte, fought on March 22, 1942, marked a more dramatic and intense confrontation than its predecessor. This battle was also centered around a critical Allied convoy, designated as MW10, tasked with delivering supplies to Malta, an island under severe Axis siege and critical for controlling central Mediterranean routes.
Read More That Time the Prinz Eugen Collided With the Light Cruiser Leipzig
The British convoy involved in this battle was relatively small, consisting primarily of the merchant vessel SS Clan Campbell, escorted by a group of cruisers and destroyers. Given Malta’s desperate need for supplies and reinforcements, the convoy’s success was crucial. The British were well aware of the risks involved in running such a vital convoy through waters heavily patrolled by Axis naval forces.
The Italian navy, recognizing an opportunity to inflict a severe blow to British logistical efforts, dispatched a powerful squadron to intercept the convoy. This Italian force was significantly stronger than the escorting British group, featuring several battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, and intended to overpower the British through sheer firepower and tactical superiority.
As the two forces met near the Gulf of Sirte, the smaller British group engaged in a fierce and strategic defense of the convoy. Despite being outgunned, the British commanders employed aggressive tactics, including close-range torpedo attacks, robust artillery exchanges, and the deployment of smoke screens. These tactics were aimed not only at damaging the Italian ships but also at disrupting their formations and delaying their progress, thereby buying crucial time for the convoy to move closer to Malta.
The British forces, particularly the cruisers and destroyers, managed to hold off the Italian onslaught through a combination of bravery, tactical cunning, and sheer determination. The intense battle saw the British using their limited resources to maximum effect, maintaining a protective stance around SS Clan Campbell and the rest of the convoy.
Read More HMS Rodney Helped to Sink the Bismarck
Despite the valiant defensive efforts, the battle took its toll on the British forces. SS Clan Campbell was eventually sunk, and significant damage was inflicted on other ships, including the loss of a destroyer. However, the remaining ships in the convoy managed to escape and delivered the much-needed supplies to Malta, thanks to the delay caused by the British naval action.
Fate of the Littorio
In 1943, Littorio, one of Italy’s most modern and powerful battleships, was primarily stationed at La Spezia and Taranto. By this time, Italy was facing increasing pressure both militarily and politically. The tide of the war was turning against the Axis powers, and Italy, in particular, was suffering from continuous Allied bombings and a deteriorating domestic situation.
In July 1943, following the Allied invasion of Sicily and the worsening situation for the Axis, Italian King Victor Emmanuel III and the Fascist Grand Council removed Mussolini from power, and Marshal Pietro Badoglio took over the government. On September 8, 1943, Badoglio announced an armistice with the Allies. At the time of the armistice, Littorio had been renamed Italia, a change that reflected the new non-fascist sentiment.
Read More USS New Jersey is America’s Most Decorated Battleship
Following the armistice, the Italian fleet, including Italia, faced the risk of capture by the Germans or destruction by the Allies. To prevent this, the fleet was ordered to sail to Allied-controlled ports. Italia, along with other ships of the Italian fleet, sailed from La Spezia to Malta under the terms of the armistice. This action was part of Operation Zeta, an Allied plan to neutralize the Italian fleet and prevent its use by the Germans.
After reaching Malta, Italia and other major units of the former Italian navy were interned under British control. They remained largely inactive for the remainder of the war, effectively sidelined from further combat operations. This internment lasted until the war in Europe concluded in May 1945.
Post-war, the fate of Italia, like many Italian battleships, was determined by the peace treaties and naval disarmament agreements. Under the Treaty of Peace with Italy, signed in 1947, the Italian navy was significantly reduced, and many of its larger warships were allocated to the victor nations or scrapped. Italia was eventually assigned to the United States as war reparations. However, due to the size and cost of maintaining such a battleship, along with the shift in naval warfare towards carrier-based operations, Italia was never commissioned into the U.S. Navy. Instead, it was scrapped in La Spezia in the early 1950’s.
