Regia Marina fleet box

Regia Marina fleet box

At the time of Italy's entry into the Second World War, she possessed a modern and – on paper at least – highly efficient fleet. Four battleships and eight heavy cruisers were available, with three more battleships fitting out. However, there were (initially) no aircraft carriers, not least because the Regia Marina was intended to operate near friendly air bases in Italy and Africa.

As might be expected of a force operating amongst the islands of the Mediterranean, light forces were quite numerous, including 14 light cruisers, 128 destroyers, and 62 Motor Torpedo Boats, a weapon much favoured by the Italians and well-suited to local conditions. No fewer than 115 submarines were available. The most important Italian naval base was at Taranto, home of the battleship forces. Lighter groups were based out of ports on the Italian mainland, Sicily, and in the Red Sea.

The Regia Marina's primary role was to disrupt British logistics and trade across the Mediterranean and to keep Axis lines of communication to North Africa open. Major actions with the Royal Navy were neither desirable nor really necessary to achieve this mission.

Box contains:

• Aquila-class Aircraft Carrier – Aquila
• Conte di Cavour-class Battleship – Conte di Cavour 1940
• Etna-class Cruiser – Etna 1942
• Zara-class Cruiser – Pola 1940
• Luigi Cadorna-class Cruiser – Luigi Cadorna 1940
• Navigatori-class Destroyer x3
• Torpedo Bomber Aircraft – Flights Reggiane RE.2001 Falco II x4
• Ship Cards and Damage Sliders
• Assembly instructions

Models supplied unassembled and unpainted.