Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano

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Brian James
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Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano

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Italian Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano pictured fitting out at Gio Ansaldo & Co Shipyards at Genoa in 1933.
Bolzano was a unique Heavy Cruiser, sometimes considered to be a member of the Trento Class, built for the Italian Regia Marina in the early 1930s, the last vessel of the type to be built by Italy. A modified version of the earlier Trento Class, she had a heavier displacement, slightly shorter length, a newer model of 8.0 in gun, and a more powerful propulsion system, among other differences influenced by the Zara Class that had followed the Trentos. Bolzano was built by the Gio. Ansaldo & C. between her keel laying in June 1930 and her commissioning in August 1933.
Bolzano had a fairly uneventful peacetime career, which primarily consisted of naval reviews for Italian and foreign dignitaries. She saw extensive action in the first three years of Italy's participation in World War II. She took part in the Battles of Calabria, Taranto, Cape Spartivento, and Cape Matapan. She was lightly damaged at Calabria, but she emerged from the other engagements unscathed. She also frequently escorted convoys to North Africa in 1941 and 1942 and patrolled for British naval forces in the central Mediterranean Sea.
She was torpedoed twice by British Submarines; the first, in July 1941, necessitated three months of repairs. The second, in August 1942, caused extensive damage and ended her career. She was eventually towed back to La Spezia, where repairs were to be completed. Resources were unavailable, however, and Bolzano remained there, out of action. Plans to convert her into a hybrid Cruiser-Aircraft Carrier came to nothing for the same reason. After Italy surrendered to the Allies in September 1943, La Spezia was occupied by German forces; to prevent them from using her as a Blockship, Italian and British frogmen sank Bolzano using Chariot manned torpedoes in June 1944. The Italian Navy ultimately raised her in September 1949 and broke her up for scrap.
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designeraccd
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Re: Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano

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She was the 7th and last Italian heavy cruiser. Reportedly designed to work with the first pair: TRIESTE and TRENTO. DFO
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designeraccd
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Re: Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano

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Detail views of BOLZANO........... :) DFO
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designeraccd
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Re: Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano

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Here BOLZANO is in 1942............. ;) DFO
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designeraccd
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Re: Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano

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Two early photos of Italy's last CA, the BOLZANO........... :) Like their first two she sacrificed armor for speed. DFO
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designeraccd
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Re: Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano

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Two views of the badly damaged BOLZANO, August 1942...........DFO
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Brian James
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Re: Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano

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Modified Trento Class Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano pictured c1939.
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Brian James
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Re: Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano

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Modified Trento Class Heavy Cruiser RM Bolzano pictured fitting out at Gio. Ansaldo & Co Shipyards at Genoa in 1933. On September 3rd 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allies, and on 8th–9th September, German troops occupied La Spezia. As the ship was still in an unusable condition, her crew did not scuttle Bolzano, instead leaving her partially afloat. During the German occupation, they cannibalized Bolzano and the also-damaged Zara Class Heavy Cruiser Gorizia for useful parts but otherwise did not make use of her. On the night of 21th–22st June 1944, a team of British and Italian frogmen—Italy having re-entered the war on the side of the Allies—entered La Spezia using Chariot manned torpedoes to sink Bolzano and Gorizia to prevent the Germans from sinking them as blockships.
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