Italian cruiser Giovanni dalle Bande Nere

"Giovanni delle Bande Nere" was an Italian "Condottieri" class light cruiser, named after the homonymous 16th century "condottiero" and member of the Medici family, that served in the Regia Marina during World War II. Her keel was laid down 1928 at "Cantieri Navali di Castellammare di Stabia", Castellammare di Stabia; she was launched on 27 April 1930, and her construction was completed in 1931. She was sunk on 1 April 1942.

Actions

"Bande Nere" took part to the battle of Cape Spada (19 July 1940); in this occasion, the light protection of the "Condottieri" class was clearly exposed, since in the fight between the two Italian light cruisers ("Bande Nere" and "Bartolomeo Colleoni") and the Australian cruiser HMAS "Sydney" with five British destroyers, the Allies sank "Colleoni" and damaged "Bande Nere", while the Italian ships lightly damaged "Sydney" and a destroyer.

During the Second Battle of Sirte, 22 March 1942, "Bande Nere" was part of the "Littorio" flotilla, which intercepted and blocked a British convoy bound for Malta.

During the war, "Bande Nere" participated to fifteen missions: four interceptions, eight convoy escorts, three mine layings, for an overall total of 35,000 miles.

1940

* 7 July: Battle of Calabria
* 19 July: Battle of Cape Spada

1941

* 8 May: attack against "Tiger" convoy

1942

* 21 February: operation "K 7"
* 22 March: Second Battle of Sirte
* On the morning of 1 April 1942, "Bande Nere" left Messina for La Spezia, escorted by the destroyer "Aviere" and patrol boat "Libra". Eleven miles from Stromboli, at 0900, the group was intercepted by the British submarine HMS|Urge|N17|2, a torpedo broke the "Bande Nere" into two sections, and she sank quickly.

External links

* [http://www.regiamarina.net/index.htm Italian light cruisers]