RN Giulio Cesare was the second ship of the Conte di Cavour-class built for the Regia Marina. She was laid down on June 25, 1910; launched on October 15, 1911; and completed in November 1913. She joined the Royal Italian Navy on June 7, 1914. During World War I, the battleship repeatedly went to sea but did not participate in combat operations. The dreadnoughts were only permitted to risk combat in the event of an encounter with enemy battleships. In all other cases, Italy protected its capital ships. From 1933 to 1937, the battleship underwent comprehensive modernisation, including the installation of 320 mm main-calibre guns, an advanced fire-control system, a new power plant, reinforced armour, and a lengthened hull.
At the beginning of World War II, after Italy entered the war in July 1940, the battleship encountered British ships near Punta Stilo while escorting a convoy. During the battle, Cesare was hit by a 381 mm shell, causing serious damage. However, the battleship was able to return to Taranto, undergo repairs, and return to service. In January 1941, the battleship was damaged in an air raid and was sent for repairs again. Cesare went to sea several more times in the summer of 1941 but did not see any action. By August, due to fuel shortages, the battleship was no longer used in combat operations. It made its last combat voyage from January 3 to 5, 1942, after which it was withdrawn from the fleet. In January 1943, Cesare was transferred to Pola, where it was converted into a floating barracks. After Italy's surrender, it was used for training purposes.
In February 1949, the battleship was transferred to the Soviets and relocated to Sevastopol. On March 5, it was renamed Novorossiysk. The ship was in extremely poor condition when transferred to the USSR – it had been laid up from 1943 to 1948 without undergoing the necessary major repairs. However, for political reasons, the ship was forcibly taken to sea for manoeuvres in the summer of 1949. Over the next six years, the battleship underwent periodic factory repairs. In May 1955, Novorossiysk was finally accepted into the fleet and participated in exercises several times that year. On the night of October 28–29, 1955, two explosions of unknown origin rocked the ship, causing it to capsize and sink in Sevastopol Bay. The disaster claimed 617 lives. Preparatory work to raise the ship began in the summer of 1956, and it was not until May 1957 that the battleship was raised and towed to Kazachya Bay, where it was scrapped.
RN Giulio Cesare was introduced in Update 2.59 "Sky Odyssey" in her 1939 configuration. She is largely identical to her counterpart under Soviet Navy service, except for considerably weaker anti-air armament. She boasts a fairly large crew but suffers from mediocre protection and weak main-calibre damage.
