Zara Class Cruiser (Italy) - Service History

Service History

Zara was laid down at OTO Muggiano 4 July 1929, launched 27 April 1930, and commissioned 21 October 1931. She was joined by Fiume, laid down at Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino on 29 April 1929, launched 27 April 1930, and completed 23 November 1931; Pola at OTO Livorno, laid 17 March 1931, launched 5 December 1931, and completed 21 December 1931; and Gorizia, launched 28 December 1930 at OTO Livorno.

France immediately responded with a new heavy cruiser of her own, Algérie, which was a close match for the Zaras when she launched in 1934.

When the Second World War broke out, Gorizia, Zara, and Fiume were organized into 1st Cruiser division, Pola serving as flagship for 2nd Cruiser Division. During this part of the war, the Zaras were a serious problem for the Royal Navy, which had nothing comparable in the Mediterranean Sea, and were seriously outgunned by them during the inconclusive Battle of Calabria and Battle of Cape Spartivento.

However, Zaras were eventually taken to task during the Battle of Cape Matapan. After Pola (in company with Fiume and Zara, serving as escort to the battleship Vittorio Veneto) was hit by a torpedo from a TSR Swordfish from Formidable, which stopped her, the rest of the 1st Division (at this time Gorizia was in reserve) ran in to protect her. Three Royal Navy battleships (the Queen Elizabeth-class sisters Barham, Valiant, and Warspite), plus many supporting units, were able to approach them closely at night — the lack of radar on Zaras making them unaware of their approach. Valiant, astonishingly, scored with her first salvo. The British battleships quickly sank all three Italian cruisers and two of their escorting destroyers in a one-sided gunfight, the only reaction being the aimless fire of a 40mm AA cannon from the already wrecked Zara.

Gorizia survived until she was taken over by the Germans after Italy left the war in 1943. In that year, her armour had the only opportunity to display its effectiveness, when this ship was hit by three bombs, launched by American bombers, but the main deck resisted them all and the ship continued to fire against the high-flying bombers. Later she was able to reach La Spezia, but the damage to the mid-ship was heavy, with almost all the structures over the armor belt devastated and a 100 mm (3.9 in) turret thrown into the sea. Ironically, at beginning of 1941, a modest British attack, at night, over Naples hit Zara. There were only two 113 kg (250 lb) bombs, launched at low altitude, but they pierced the hull and almost sank the ship. Gorizia was sunk 26 June 1944 at her moorings in La Spezia, in yet another twist of fate by Italian manned torpedoes, after the Italians joined the Allies.