In the thirties of the agreement, prisoners leading maritime power and regulate the area of large-scale military shipbuilding, began to crumble. Some States have built ships near the upper limit restrictions, others simply ignored the existing limits. When France began developing a new heavy cruisers, Fascist Italy felt entitled to proceed with its own naval "renaissance", laying battleships type "Littorio".
These ships would become the first in the full sense of the word battleships, Straw in Europe 1922 city, and the first major warships, established in Italy at the time of the First World War.
The type of "Littorio" were two batches of ships on two ships in each. The first pair was included in the 1934 city, and the second - in 1938 g. On the same day, "Littorio" shipbuilders laid and his "twin brother", battleship "Vittorio Veneto" (to refer to their type of use names of both ships). According to the plan expected, that the displacement of "Littorio" will range
35 Ltd t, but by the time of descent of the stocks of the ship is much heavier,. The main armament "Littorio" were 15-inch. (381-mm) guns with high muzzle velocity of flight - the most powerful, who only produced in Italy at the time. On the sides of the nose the towers of the main fire towers were installed with b-inch. (152-mm) guns - just two towers front and rear, three in each of the barrel. Separate 3.5 inch. (89-mm) anti-aircraft guns and a 4.7-inch. (119-mm) gun placed to the sides. Aft of the main fire artillery tower was set up, than bow, to the blast did not harm carrier-based aircraft (usually Fighter "Redzhianne» Re 2000), hangar is not provided. "Festooned with weapons" "Littorio" did not have as powerful book - the main priority designers gave speedster.
However, anti-torpedo defense they have thought through thoroughly. "Littorio" was laid 28 October 1934 city, launched 22 August 1937 g. (a month later, "Vittorio Veneto") and came into operation in May b 1940 g. Almost immediately, he had to accept the baptism of fire, when KVMF made a real defeat of the Italian fleet in Taranto harbor.
11 November 1940 g. aircraft "Suordfish" from the British naval aviation struck "Littorio" three torpedoes, but, Despite this, battleship remained afloat. In April 1941 g. Renovated "Littorio" back in operation, and almost a year later, in March 1942 city, during the battle at the African coasts was again damaged. In June 1942 g. and April 1943 g. Battleship managed to survive after a heavy air attack. 30 July 1943 city, five days after the overthrow of Mussolini, "Littorio" was renamed to "Italy". 9 September, on the way to Malta, where "Italy" and similar "Rome" had to surrender to the Allies, battleships were hit by German bombs cruise. "Rome" went down, and "Italy" was severely damaged. Ostatok stood War on Fun, at 1946 g. "Italy" returned home.
According to the terms of payment of reparations, battleship went to the United States and was sent to be melted down between 1948 g. and 1950 g.
The performance characteristics of the battleship "Littorio"
| Displacement | standard 40 724 t; full 45 236 t |
| main dimensions | length (overall) 237,74 m; width (at the waterline) 32,18 m; draft 9,57 m |
| Power plant | Eight Yarrow boilers, four turbines with a total capacity Belutstso 128 200 hp, four rotating propellers |
| full speed | 30 with. |
| booking | the thickness of the belt from bead 280 mm 70 mm; deck of 162 mm 45 mm; nadstroek of 210 mm 70 mm; the towers of the main fire from guns 350 mm 200 mm; towers universal instruments on 280 mm 70 mm |
| weaponry | nine 15-inch. (381-mm) guns of the main caliber, 12 – 6-inch. (152-mm) and four 4.7-inch. (119-mm) universal tools, 12-3,5-inch. (89-mm), 20 – 37-mm 16 – 20-mm automatic anti-aircraft guns, one aircraft |
| Command | from 1830 to 1950 human |
Photo battleship "Littorio"
