Italian Gabbiano-class Corvette 1020 The large flat rear deck

The large flat rear deck made her suitable to test the concept of a helicopter carrier – the world’s first – using a Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri (Hummingbird) as a spotter aircraft

) and transport motorized infantry

On the night of 26 February

This was the only occasion the mighty battleship fired her main battery in anger

Its introduction in 1944 caused significant problems for the Allies but ultimately it saw action too late and in too fewer numbers to have a game-changing impact on the war

Italian Gabbiano-class Corvette 1020 The large flat rear deckThe Italian Navy was a professional force that had high hopes for its performance in WWII. Italian light forces were to gain a reputation for skill, daring and great bravery under Mussolini and his cohorts, and even after. By the start of the war, as well as capital ships, it fielded 59 destroyers and 67 torpedo boats, a fast class of small destroyers. The navy, modern in other ways, was short of fuel, hampering many operations despite the bravery and