The availability of Italian battleships in February 1941

Andrea Doria-class

Conte di Cavour-class

Original postcard Chocolate La Estrella

 American naval attaché at Rome, Italy reported in February 1941 that the Italian battleship Duilio (1) was no longer at Taranto as earlier reported but arrived on 30 January at  Genoa to be drydocked for extensive repairs. The battleship Littorio (2) was at Tarante. The Cesare (3) departed from Genoa last week with an unknown destination.

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.  Part of Littorio of Vittorio Veneto-class fast battleships, preceded by planned Francesco Caracciolo-class and realized Andrea Doria-class, building ordered on 10 June 1934, laid down by Ansaldo, Genoa Sestri Ponente, Italy on 28 October 1934, launched on 22 August 1937, commissioned on 6 May 1940, rewarded as war prize to the USA in 1947, decommissioned and stricken on 1 June 1948 and broken up at La Spezia, Italy between 1952-1954. She was damaged in the night of 10-11 November 1940 by British Swordfish torpedo bombers on Taranto.

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.