British Royal Navy bombarded Genoa, Italy in February 1941

Andrea Doria-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Faà di Bruno. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Conte di Cavour-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

American naval attaché at Rome, Italy reported in February 1941 that on 9 February Genoa was bombarded by the British Royal Navy without air or naval disposition. The defence was limited to anti aircraft fire of the battleship Duilio (1) and the aged monitor Faà di Bruno (2) and from the shore. The drydocked Duilio was slightly damaged and the troop transport Garibaldi hit. After het depature several days ago was the battleship Cesare (3) still not returned.

Notes

1. Caio Duilio. Andrea Doria-class battleships, preceded by Conte di Cavour-class, succeeded by Littorio-class (realized) and Francesco Caraccioli-class (planned), laid down by Regio Cantiere di Castellammare di Stabia on 24 February 1912, launched on 24 April 1913, completed on 10 May 1915, stricken on 15 September 1956 and broken up in 1957.

2. GA43. Laid down by Arsenale di Venezia on 10 October 1915, launched on 30 January 1916, commissioned on 23 July 1917, decommissioned on 13 November 1924, recommissioned as GM194 for the defence of the harbour of Genoa, end September 1943 in German hands, in the war diary of the commanding officer of the defence of the Italian Riviera dated 27 June 1944 was reported that the disguise of the floating battery Biber as merchant ship (60x45 metres) was completed.The fore and aft ships extended with 4 respectively 5 prams. Grey-black painted. Just one 38cm gun visible on a photo. Displacement 2,854 tons and as dimensions 55.56 x 27.0 x .24 metres. Armament 1x2-38cm/15” cal 40 guns of the never completed battleship Cristoforo Colombo-class, 4-7.6cm/3” cal 40 anti aircraft guns and 2-4cm anti aircraft machine guns. Built by general engineer Giuseppe Rota (18 November 1860 Naples-24 December 1953 Rome).

3. Giulio Cesare. Laid down at the shipyard of Gio. Ansaldo&C., Genoa, Italy on 24 June 1910, launched on 15 October a year later, completed on 14 May 1914, commissioned on 7 June was she decommissioned on 18 May 1928. Between 1933 and 1937 modernized/rebuilt was she again commissioned on 3 June 1937, since early 1942 training ship, decommissioned on 15 December 1948 and handed over to the Soviet navy on 4 February 1949. Renamed Novorossiysk and used as a training ship until she sunk on 29 October 1955 due to a (German) mine explosion. Stricken on 24 February 1956, salvaged on 4 May 1957 and broken up. Part of Conte di Cavour-class preceded by Dante Alighieri succeeded by Andrea Doria-class. Designed by rear admiral Edoardo Masdea as an answer on the French Courbet-class.

Source

National Archives USA. Record Group 38: Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Series: Secret Naval Attaches Reports. Estimate of potential military strength (pt.). Summaries. Reports from London, Paris, Brussels, Rome and Berlin. Roll M975-001.