RN Vittorio Veneto served in the Italian Royal Navy during World War II. She was laid down in October 1934, launched in July 1937, and readied for service with the Italian fleet by August 1940. She was armed with a main battery of nine 15” guns in three triple turrets and maxed out at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). Vittorio Veneto saw extensive service during the war. Early on she participated in the Battle of Cape Spartivento in November 1940 and the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941. While damaged by torpedoes several times, including in the engagement off Cape Matapan and by the British submarine HMS Urge in December 1941, the ship escaped undamaged during the British raid on Taranto in November 1940. She spent 1941 and early 1942 attempting to attack British convoys in Malta, but crippling fuel shortages in the Italian fleet curtailed activity thereafter. Vittorio Veneto was among the Italian ships that were surrendered to the Allies in September 1943 after Italy withdrew from the war, and she spent the following three years under British control in Egypt. After the war she was allocated to Britain and subsequently broken up for scrap.
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