Littorio-class battleship
The Littorio class, also known as the Vittorio Veneto class, was a class of battleship of the Regia Marina, the Italian navy. The class was composed of four ships—Littorio, Vittorio Veneto, Roma, and Impero—but only the first three ships of the class were completed. Built between 1934 and 1942, they were the most modern battleships used by Italy during World War II. They were developed in response to the French Dunkerque-class battleships, and were armed with 381-millimeter (15.0 in) guns and had a top speed of 30 knots. The class's design was considered by the Spanish Navy, but the outbreak of World War II interrupted construction plans.
Roma
Roma's forward triple 15-inch (381 mm) 50-caliber gun turrets.
Note the extent of the armored belt at the waterline, amidships
Littorio before completion; note the secondary battery and other equipment have not been installed
The Regia Marina (RM) or Royal Italian Navy was the navy of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1946. In 1946, with the birth of the Italian Republic, the Regia Marina changed its name to Marina Militare.
The Sea Battle of Lissa, by Carl Frederik Sørensen, 1868
Szent István low in the water, after being torpedoed by Italian MAS boats
Duilio after refitting
Amerigo Vespucci, launched in 1931; here in the harbor of New York, 1976