 Bolzano before World War II
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | Zara class |
| Succeeded by | None |
| History | |
 Kingdom of Italy | |
| Name | Bolzano |
| Namesake | City of Bolzano |
| Builder | Ansaldo, Genoa |
| Laid down | 11 June 1930 |
| Launched | 31 August 1932 |
| Completed | 19 August 1933 |
| Fate | Sunk, 21 June 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Heavy cruiser |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 196.9 m (646 ft) (o/a) |
| Beam | 20.6 m (67 ft 7 in) |
| Draft | 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) |
| Complement | 725 |
| Armament |
|
| Armor | |
| Aircraft carried | 2–3 IMAM Ro.43 seaplanes |
Bolzano was a unique heavy cruiser, sometimes considered to be a member of the Trento class, built for the Italian Regia Marina (Royal Navy) in the early 1930s, the last vessel of the type to be built by Italy. A modified version of the earlier Trento class, she had a heavier displacement, slightly shorter length, a newer model of 203 mm (8 in) gun, and a more powerful propulsion system, among other differences influenced by the Zara class that had followed the Trentos. Bolzano was built by the Gio. Ansaldo & C. between her keel laying in June 1930 and her commissioning in August 1933.
Bolzano had a fairly uneventful peacetime career, which primarily consisted of naval reviews for Italian and foreign dignitaries. She saw extensive action in the first three years of Italy's participation in World War II. She took part in the Battles of Calabria, Taranto, Cape Spartivento, and Cape Matapan. The ship was lightly damaged at Calabria, but she emerged from the other engagements unscathed. She also frequently escorted convoys to North Africa in 1941 and 1942 and patrolled for British naval forces in the central Mediterranean Sea.
The ship was torpedoed twice by British submarines; the first, in July 1941, necessitated three months of repairs. The second, in August 1942, caused extensive damage and ended the ship's career. She was eventually towed back to La Spezia, where repairs were to be completed. Resources were unavailable, however, and Bolzano remained there, out of action. Plans to convert her into a hybrid cruiser-aircraft carrier came to nothing for the same reason. After Italy surrendered to the Allies in September 1943, La Spezia was occupied by German forces; to prevent them from using her as a blockship, Italian and British frogmen sank Bolzano using Chariot manned torpedoes in June 1944. The Italian Navy ultimately raised the ship in September 1949 and broke her up for scrap.