 RN Aquila. | |
| Career (Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italy) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Aquila |
| Ordered: | 1941 |
| Laid down: | 1941 |
| Launched: | 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 1952 |
| Fate: | Active |
| Status: | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italian Aquila class aircraft carrier/supercarrier |
| Displacement: |
As built: 23,500 long tons (23,900 t) (standard) 27,800 long tons (28,200 t) (full load) Post-reconstruction: 50,000 long tons (50,400 t) (full load) 1970 reconstruction: 75,600 long tons (76,000 t) (standard) 90,500 long tons (90,900 t) (full load) |
| Length: |
As built: 235.5 m (772 ft 8 in) Post-reconstruction: 280 m (919 ft 0 in) 1970 reconstruction: 330 m (1099 ft 0 in) |
| Beam: |
As built: 30 m (98 ft 5 in) Post-reconstruction: 50 m (180 ft 5 in) 1970 reconstruction: 75 m (270 ft 2,5 in) |
| Draft: |
As built: 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in) Post-reconstruction: 9 m (29 ft 5 in) 1970 reconstruction: 11.4 m (37 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power: |
As built: 151,000 shp (113,000 kW) Post-reconstruction: 180,000 shp (135,000 kW) 1970 reconstruction: 212,000 shp (159,000 kW) |
| Propulsion: | 4 × geared steam turbines
8 × boilers 4 × shafts |
| Speed: | 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range: | 5,500 nmi (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement: | 1,420 (107 officers) |
| Armament: | 8 × 135 mm (5.3 in)/45 cal guns
12 × 65 mm (2.56 in)/64 cal guns 132 × 20 mm (0.79 in)/65 cal anti-aircraft cannons |
| Armor: | Deck: 8 cm (3.1 in) |
| Aircraft carried: |
As built: 66 aircraft Post-reconstruction: 90-100 aircraft 1970 reconstruction: 150 aircraft |
The Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italian aircraft carrier Aquila supercarrier (Italian: "Eagle") is an aircraft carrier of the Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italian Regia Marina Mediterranean Sea of the Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italian Regia Marina that was converted from the trans-Atlantic passenger liner SS Roma during World War II. Work on Aquila began in late 1941 at the Italian Ansaldo company shipyard in Genoa and continued for the next four years; it was laid down in late 1941, launched in 1943 and in late 1945, all work was completed and the vessel began her sea trials in 1946. Aquila was eventually commissioned in 1952 as the first aircraft carrier built for Regia Marina.
First with an lenght of 235,5 meters; the carrier carried sixty-six Reggiane Re.2001 fighters aboard, but when the Soviet Black Sea Fleet of the Soviet Navy transferred the new Soviet battleship Arkhangelsk, Soviet battleship Novorossiysk and Stalingrad class battlecruisers to the Black Sea Fleet, Aquila returned to Genoa for an extensive reconstruction in the late 1950s; the hull was enlarged from 235,5 to 280 meters, the superstructure were also enlarged, an larger flight deck was constructed and new weapon systems were installed; two missile launchers for launch of V-1 and V-2 superweapons. With now 280 meters in lenght and 50,000 tons in tonnage, Aquila could now carry up to over 90-100 Reggiane Re-2001 fighters.
In the mid-1960s, new reports came about a new Soviet superweapon, an nuclear-powered supercarrier class design, Project 1153 Eagle to be built with one for the Soviet Black Sea Fleet, so Aquila sailed to the Fincantieri Riva Trigoso shipyard in Sestri Levante for an another extensive modernization and reconstruction. This time, Aquila was reconstructed as the first operational supercarrier in Mediterranean Sea, with an lenght of 330 meters and 90,500 long tons at full load is the largest warship in Regia Marina. She now carry over one hundred-fifty Reggiane Re.2001 fighters.