Zara

Zara-Class Cruisers were built for the  built for the Regia Marina during the years of 1929 to 1932. They were improvements over the preceding Trento-class cruisers, incorporating significantly heavier armor protection. There are 4 of these ships built.

Zara-Class Cruisers served between the years of 1931 to 1944.

Preceded by:  Trento class

Succeeded by: Bolzano

Zara-Class Cruisers RM Zara,  Fiume, Gorizia & Pola all supported the Italian invasion of Albania in April 1939, shortly before the outbreak of World War II. After Italy joined the wider conflict in 1940, the four ships saw extensive action in the Mediterranean Sea against British forces. The ships took part in the battles of Calabria and Cape Matapan, and in the latter engagement, Zara, Pola, and Fiume were all sunk in a one-sided night action with three British battleships. Gorizia continued in service, seeing further action at the First and Second Battles of Sirte. She was seriously damaged by American heavy bombers in April 1943 and towed to La Spezia, where she was still under repair when Italy surrendered in September.