The two “ class cruisersDuke of Aosta" were an evolution of the previous two "Montecuccoli”. Externally identical to their predecessors, they had a hull that was four meters longer and one meter wider, and in protection, which was entrusted to two nickel-chrome bulkheads. The armament was identical to that of the two previous cruisers, except for the number of 13,2 mm machine guns which increased from 8 to 12 and the torpedo launchers from 4 to 6. The catapult was always between the two funnels and there was no hangar.
These units proved to be excellent ships and were used extensively under the command of the VII Naval Division, certainly the most used division during the entire war.
Emanuele Filiberto Duke of Aosta, was laid down in 1932 at the OTO shipyards in Livorno, launched in 1934 and entered service in 1935. In 1938 it began with its twin Eugene of Savoy a circumnavigation of the globe that was interrupted by the threat of the outbreak of the Second World War. The departure scheduled for September 1938, 5, took place on November 25 of the same year from Naples, while the return that was scheduled for July 1939, 1939, was brought forward to the end of January 3, with the ships returning to La Spezia on March 1939, XNUMX.
During the Second World War, she took part in the battles of Punta Stilo (9 July 1940), Mid-June (12-16 June 1942) and the First Battle of Sirte (17 December 1941). During the conflict, she mainly performed convoy escort and minefield laying tasks.
After the armistice of 8 September 1943, it was surrendered to Malta together with other Italian naval units and was sent on patrol missions in the central Atlantic. After the end of the war, it was sold, on 2 March 1949, as reparations for war damages to the Soviet Union in compliance with the clauses of the peace treaty.
In the Soviet Navy, renamed first Stalingrad and then from 1957 Kerch, served in the Black Sea Fleet and was decommissioned in 1961.
Eugene of Savoy, was laid down in 1933, in the Ansaldo shipyards of Genoa Sestri, launched in 1935 and entered service in 1936. It took part in actions in the Spanish civil war. In 1938 it began with its twin Duke of Aosta a circumnavigation of the globe that was interrupted by the threat of the outbreak of the Second World War.
At the outbreak of the Second World War he was enrolled together with his twin Duke of Aosta, Montecuccoli e Waiting for him in the VII Cruiser Division as part of the 2nd Squadron based in La Spezia, as Admiral Luigi Sansonetti's flagship.
During the conflict it was mainly used for convoy escort and minefield laying, taking part in the battles of Punta Stilo (9 July 1940) and Mid-June (12-16 June 1942) where it was slightly damaged. While it was in Naples on 4 December 1942, the day of Saint Barbara, it was hit during a bombing raid by a Liberator, suffering damage to the rear part of the hull that was repairable in 40 days, while the crew suffered 17 dead and 46 wounded. Returned to service, in January 1943 he shot down two enemy bombers.
After the armistice of September 8, 1943, it was surrendered to Malta along with other naval units. On February 29, 1944, it was seriously damaged by a mine. After the end of the war, in accordance with the clauses of the peace treaty, after being restored to efficiency, on June 26, 1951, it was handed over as reparations for war damages to Greece.
Having joined the Hellenic Navy, it was renamed Elli in memory of the Greek light cruiser sunk by the Italian submarine Dolphin on 15 August 1940, near the Greek island of Tinos. In her new navy, she served as the flagship of the fleet and was used by King Paul I of Greece on state visits. In 1959, she was assigned to Souda on the island of Crete, as the command ship of the Ionian fleet. Decommissioned in 1965, during the dictatorship of the colonels, she was used as a prison ship for members of the Navy who opposed the regime until 1973, when she was sent for scrapping.
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