Concept/Program: A small merchant ship purchased in 1915 and converted as a transport for seaplanes, but with the ability to operate aircraft as well. Also fitted as s submarine depot ship.
Design/Conversion: Large hangars built up fore and aft.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Disposed of postwar.
Stricken 1920. Fate unknown.
Concept/Program: A merchant ship taken over and extensively converted for the seaplane carrier role, becoming Italy's first truly effective naval aviation ship. She was used mostly as an experimental catapult vessel.
Design/Conversion: Taken over prior to completion. Completely reworked from the deck up. She had large hangars with a seaplane deck above, a catapults forward and aft. The original bridge and funnels were retained, with the hangar and seaplane deck built around them. Repair facilities were fitted.
Modifications: 11 14 pound AA were added by the mid-1930's.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Designated as an aircraft transport by 1940.
Used mainly as a catapult trials/experimental ship. Designated as an aircraft transport by 1940, then served as a training ship and a seaplane depot ship. Served as a submarine depot ship following Italian surrender 1943. Fate unknown.
Concept/Program: A passenger liner taken over and converted to a carrier. She was initially intended for an austere conversion, but plans were changed and she was totally rebuilt for her new role. She was designed with extensive German assistance. Her completion was prevented by the events of WWII.
Design/Conversion: Very extensive conversion. Hull totally gutted out and rebuilt. Cruiser machinery replaced the original machinery, the hull was strengthened and fitted with concrete-filled bulges, and all other necessary internal changes were made. A single hangar and full-length flight deck were fitted, with a conventional island. Her aircraft would have been non-folding-wing modifications of land-based types.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Never completed; taken over by Germany upon the Italian surrender. Completion postwar was considered but not proceeded with.
Bombed 16 June 1944, damaged by limpet mines 19 April 1945. Scuttled by the Germans 4/1945. Raised in 1946 and laid up pending decision on possible rebuilding. Scrapped in 1951-52.
Concept/Program: A liner initially proposed for conversion in 1936 but rejected; plan revived in 1942. The ship was to be converted as an auxiliary carrier, much like the original concept for Aquila. War prevented completion of the conversion.
Design/Conversion: This was to be a minimal conversion; the only modification to the hull would have been fitting of large bulges. The superstructure was to be removed and replaced by a single hangar and flight deck; there would not have been an island. The flight deck would have been very narrow forward, only wide enough for a single aircraft. Conversion work stopped after the superstructure had been removed.
Hulk scuttled by the Germans as a blockship 5 Oct 1944. Hulk salvaged in 1946 and sold for scrapping in 1947.
Concept/Program: A former heavy cruiser, extensively damaged by submarine torpedoes and proposed for reconstruction to a hybrid carrier/transport design. The vessel was intended to serve as a fast military transport for ferry runs to Africa, and to provide minimal air cover for the fleet and convoys. The aircraft would have been catapulted off to land ashore; she had no landing deck. In the event litte or no work was undertaken.
Design/Conversion: Torpedoes caused massive fires which totally gutted the forward half of the ship; the forward funnel melted and the bridge superstruture was destroyed. The conversion would have removed two boilers and rearranged the remaining eight to make space for cargo holds; all superstructure from the aft funnels to the bow would have been removed. An aircraft platform, wide enough for a single aircraft, would run from the aft funnel to the bow, with two catapults angled out at the bow. Aircraft would be stored on deck, rolled forward to the catapults for launch, and would land ashore. The forward funnel would have been replaced by a pair of smaller funnels to either side of the aircraft platform. The original armament was to be removed and replaced with intermediate and light AA batteries.
Taken to La Spezia for repairs, but little work was done; captured by the Germans 9 September 1943 upon the Italian surrender. Sunk by the Italians 21 June 1944 to prevent use. Hulk salvaged and scrapped postwar.
Concept/Program: The first major Italian warships of postwar design and construction, these were combined AAW/ASW ships featuring a large helicopter facility. A third ship was planned, but deferred in favor of a larger ship.
Design: Hull based on an enlarged destroyer design. Helicopter deck and above-decks hangar aft, cruiser weapons forward. Intended to operate 3 heavy ASW helicopters but were too small; operated 4 light ASW helos instead.
Modifications: Recieved SM-1ER missiles in place of Terrier during late 1970's refits.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Both discarded late 1980's/early 1990's.
Major refit and modernization 1976-78. Stricken for disposal 19 July 1991, presumably scrapped.
Austere refit and conversion to training cruiser 1979-80. Decommissioned to reserve 15 Nov 1989, stricken for disposal 19 July 1991, sold 31 December 1992, but had not been scrapped as of April 1998.
Concept/Program: A greatly enlarged and improved version of the previous class. A second unit was cancelled. In addition to the AAW & ASW roles, this ship served as fleet flagship until replaced by Garibaldi.
Design: Similar to Andrea Doria but with a larger and deeper hull; the hangar was fitted below the flight deck, within the hull. The missile magazine had a third drum, increasing missile capacity by one third.
Modifications: Modernized 1981-84 with 4 Otomat SSM and 3 twin 40 mm AA added, SM-1ER replaced Terrier.
Operational: Served mostly as a training ship post-1985, when her fleet flagship role was taken over by Garibaldi.
Modernized 1981-84; served mostly as a training ship post-1985.
Concept/Program: A large missile cruiser/carrier project. Cancelled before any ships were ordered.
Concept/Program: The first Italian carrier to become operational, this is a typical small VSTOL ship. She originally carried only helicopters due to political problems, but now has Harriers. She serves as fleet flagship and provides an communications interface between Italian Air Force and Naval units. A second ship remains a long-term goal, but is very unlikely to be realized in the near future.
Design: Typical VSTOL design, with a large island, axial deck, 2 elevators, full hangar.
Modifications: Circa 1990 the 4 Otomat SSMs were replaced by 8 Otomat II SSMs, but only 4 missiles are normally carried.
Concept/Program: Small multirole amphibious ships with full-length flight decks. Similar to LPH in appearance, but design is derived from LSD practice. The first two ships are scheduled to be modified with rearranged superstructures and improved flight decks to allow operation of four helicopters at the same time; work will be completed in 2000 and 2002 respectively.
Design: LPH-type configuration with docking well and large island. Landing craft are stored on the flight deck opposite the island. Air wing is typical; more could be accomodated if needed.
Variations: The third unit has her landing craft stored on a sponson, rather than on deck, enlarging the usable flight deck area considerably. There are numerous differences in outfit.
Concept/Program: A new VSTOL carrier to replace Vittorio Veneto. Planned to enter service 2007 or later.