Italian Ships
Italian Ships
On June 10, 1940, the Kingdom of Italy, led by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, declared war on France and the United Kingdom following the German invasion of France and the lowlands. To expand the Italian Kingdom, there was a focus on increased naval warship construction. Following the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the subsequent Declaration of War on Japan, Italy joined with Germany on December 11, to declare war on the United States. During World War II, the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) engaged Allied ships not only the Atlantic and Mediterranean, but also in seas off China, where the Italians had a base at Tiensin (now Tianjin), China. In July 1943, Mussolini was deposed and an armsitice was signed with the Allies on September 9. The new government joined the Allies. This section houses some Italian warships that served in the Regia Marina and the Italian Campaign.
Image: NH 111469: Italian battleship Littorio entering drydock for repairs following the Taranto attack, December 11, 1940. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
