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Description: The Vittorio Veneto 550 was an Italian helicopter cruiser of the Cold War. It was based on the Andrea Doria class, but with a bigger hull, different structures, newer systems, and a lot more armaments. It was laid down in 1965, launched in 1967, and delivered to the Italian Navy in 1969, and after a few time it received the role of flagship to replace the old WW2 retrofitted Giuseppe Garibaldi cruiser. Compared to it’s predecessor (Doria class), it had a 50% greater displacement, allowing more helicopters to be carried in the rear deck for a total of six ASH3D or nine AB212 ASW (compared to a maximum of four on the Doria’s). Initially, the armament department was very similar to the Doria, featuring the same number of 76 mm cannons, the same number of torpedo launchers, two triple MK44/46 324 mm launchers (even though Veneto later got better torpedoes, the A244), and a double Terrier Mk10 anty air missile launcher. The real change happened from 1980 to 1983 when the ship was retrofitted with new weapons, such as a total of three Breda Dardo 40 mm CIWS twin turrets, making the ship very capable against any air threat. Additionally, the ship was also provided with an actual anty ship capability, which resulted in a total of four OTOMAT Mk2 anty ship missiles. The MK10 launcher was also upgraded in order to use the Standard ER and ASROC missiles (with a total of 40 missiles located behind the launcher). The ships had a very long operational history; it operated all over the world in many missions with many allied naval forces. In the eighties, there was also a project to make another unit, but this project was cancelled rapidly since the Italian Navy wanted a carrier-like warship with a full group of fixed-wing aircraft (what would have been the Garibaldi, basically). Indeed, when the Garibaldi entered into service in 1985, the Veneto ceased being the flagship of the Italian Navy. The ship was put in reserve in 2003 and was sold and scrapped in 2019 (breaking the dreams of many who wanted to see it being transformed into a museum ship).
Specifications
Sources
Riepilogo
Nave Vittorio Veneto - Ricordi e storia - Corso Em68
PORTAEREI VITTORIO VENETO
SI VIS PACEM, PARA BELLUM: Incrociatore lanciamissili VITTORIO VENETO
https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/TUVZ/vittorio_veneto_550.aspx
Pictures
