Italian cruiser Raimondo Montecuccoli

"Raimondo Montecuccoli" was a Condottieri class light cruiser serving with the "Regia Marina" during World War II. She survived the war and served in the post-war "Marina Militare" until 1964.

Design

"Montecuccoli", which gives the name to its own sub-class, was part of the third group of Condottieri class light cruisers. They were larger and better protected than their predecessors. She was built by Ansaldo, Genoa, and was named after Raimondo Montecuccoli, a 17th century Italian general in Austrian service.

Career

"Montecuccoli" entered service in 1935 and was sent out to the Far-East in 1937 to protect Italian interests during the Sino-Japanese War, and returned home in November 1938 after being relieved by the "Bartolomeo Colleoni". During the war she participated in the Battle of Punta Stilo and in the successful Battle of Pantellaria, where her guns disabled the British destroyer HMS "Bedouin" and set the large tanker SS "Kentucky" on fire.

She was badly damaged by USAAF bombers in Naples on 4 December 1942, but having been repaired and just weeks before the armistice, she shelled without consequences a small Allied convoy off Palermo during the Allied invasion of Sicily. After the Armistice she was interned by the Allies and returned to Italy after the war to serve as a training cruiser until 1964.

Remains of Montecuccoli today

Some remains of the ship, along with several artillery pieces and armoured vehicles, are located at the "Sunday City" holiday park near Perugia, Italy. There is the forward tree and a dual artillery mount, just placed near to the tree.

References

* M.J. Whitley, "Cruisers of World War Two", 1995, Arms and armour Press ISBN 1-86019-874-0
* [http://www.steelnavy.com/DelphisMontecuccoli.htm Steelnavy]