The condition of the Italian battleships in 1941

Conte di Cavour-class

Andrea Doria-class

Vittorio Veneta. Original postcard Chocolate La Estrella

American naval attaché at Rome, Italy reported in January 1941 that the Italian battleship Cesare (1) was holed below the waterline at Naples, Italy during the air attack on 8 January arriving at Genoa, Italy on 12 January. The Andrea Doria (2) was drydocked at Nice, France, the Duilio (3) under repair at Trieste, Italy, the Cavour (4) sunk at Taranto, Italy, just the Vittorio Veneto (5) was in active service.

Notes

1. Guilio 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 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.

2. Part of Andrea Doria-class preceded Conte di Cavour-class succeeded by planned Francesco Caracciolo-class and realized Littrio-class. Laid down by Arsenale di Spezia on 24 March 1912, launched on 30 March 1913, completed on 13 March 1916, decommissioned on 16 September 1956, stricken on 1 November 1956 and sold to be broken up.

3. 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.

4. Conte di Cavour. Laid down by Arsenale di La Spezia, La Spezia, Italy on 10 August 1910, launched on 10 August 1911, completed on 1 April 1915, refitted between October 1933-June 1937, captured by Gernamy on 10 September 1943, damaged in an Allied Air attack early 1945, capsized a week later and broken up in 1946. 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.

5. Vittorio Veneto. Building ordered on 10 June 1934, laid down by Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Trieste, Italy on 28 October 1934, paid off on 3 January 1948, launched on 25 July 1937, commissioned on 28 April 1940, allocated to the United Kingdom as war prize, decommissioned and stricken on 1 February 1948 and broken up early 1950s. Of the Littorio-class preceded by the Andrea Doria-class and planned Francesco Caracciolo-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.