Zara-class Heavy Cruiser

Description

The Zara-class were a group of 4 Heavy Cruisers built for the Regia Marina.

Vehicles

Rank III

• RN Zara - 1941
• RN Pola - 1941

History

The Zara-class was a group of four heavy cruisers built for the Italian Royal Navy in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

While the Trento-class heavy cruisers were under construction, the Italian naval command began to doubt their effectiveness. It therefore proposed a new cruiser design, trading the Trento's high speed for greater armor protection. The finished design weighed more than 11,500 standard tons, far above the limits set by the Washington Naval Treaty. However, its rated weight was below the treaty limits.

The armament configuration of the Zara-class was the same for all ships of the Group (RN Zara, RN Fiume , RN Gorizia and RN Pola)

The Zara-classes were armed with eight 203 mm cannons in four twin turrets-these weapons were among the most advanced at the time. It also had sixteen 100 mm cannons in eight twin mounts, as well as discrete anti-aircraft weapons. No torpedo launchers installed; and she was capable of reaching 33 knots (61 km/h).

Ship name	Builder	Setting	Launch	Entry in Service	Final Destiny
RN Zara	OTO La Spezia	4 July 1929	27 April 1930	20 October 1931	29 March 1941	Sunk, during the Battle of Cape Matapan
RN Fiume	STT (Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino)	29 April 1929	27 April 1930	23 November 1931	28 March 1941	Sunk, during the Battle of Cape Matapan
RN Gorizia	OTO Livorno	17 March 1930	28 December 1930	23 December 1931	10 April 1943	Heavily damaged by an air raid, it was abandoned on September 9, 1943 in the harbor, after the war it will be demolished
RN Pola	OTO Livorno	17 March 1931	5 December 1931	21 December 1932	29 March 1941	Sunk, during the Battle of Cape Matapan