Italian cruiser Pola
Encyclopedia
The Pola was a Zara class heavy cruiser
of the Italian Regia Marina
. She was built in the OTO shipyard at Livorno
and entered service in 1932. She was sunk in the battle of Cape Matapan
(29 March 1941) during World War II
.
and .
She also participated in the cruise across the western Mediterranean which culminated in the battle of Cape Matapan. At Matapan she was detected by the radar of a Royal Navy
ship, then badly damaged by a hit from a torpedo fired from an aeroplane and immobilised near the Matapan peninsula, though the rest of the Italian fleet continued its return journey. This immobilisation indirectly led to the later phase of the battle, when admiral Angelo Iachino
ordered Carlo Cattaneo to take the remaining Zara class cruisers and four Oriani class destroyers to rescue the Pola. The rescue group's route there brought them directly within range of admiral Cunningham. All the rescuing ships were sunk and then the Pola herself was sunk, with most of her crew rescued by Gaetano Tavoni (the great effort of the rescue caused him a fatal heart attack and his body was never found).
Heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range, high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 203mm calibre . The heavy cruiser can be seen as a lineage of ship design from 1915 until 1945, although the term 'heavy cruiser' only came into formal use in 1930...
of the Italian Regia Marina
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
. She was built in the OTO shipyard at Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
and entered service in 1932. She was sunk in the battle of Cape Matapan
Battle of Cape Matapan
The Battle of Cape Matapan was a Second World War naval battle fought from 27–29 March 1941. The cape is on the southwest coast of Greece's Peloponnesian peninsula...
(29 March 1941) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
After intensive peacetime activity, at the start of the Second World War the Pola was made the flagship of Admiral Riccardo Paladini, commander of 2nd Squadron, and took part in 12 actions between then and her sinking, including the battles of CalabriaBattle of Calabria
The Battle of Calabria, was a naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean in World War II. It was fought between the Italian Royal Navy and the British Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. The battle occurred 30 miles to the east of Punta Stilo, the "toe" of Italy , on 9 July 1940...
and .
She also participated in the cruise across the western Mediterranean which culminated in the battle of Cape Matapan. At Matapan she was detected by the radar of a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
ship, then badly damaged by a hit from a torpedo fired from an aeroplane and immobilised near the Matapan peninsula, though the rest of the Italian fleet continued its return journey. This immobilisation indirectly led to the later phase of the battle, when admiral Angelo Iachino
Angelo Iachino
Angelo Iachino was an Italian admiral during World War II.-Early life and career:Born at Sanremo, Liguria, Iachino entered the Italian Naval Academy at Livorno in 1904, and graduated in 1907....
ordered Carlo Cattaneo to take the remaining Zara class cruisers and four Oriani class destroyers to rescue the Pola. The rescue group's route there brought them directly within range of admiral Cunningham. All the rescuing ships were sunk and then the Pola herself was sunk, with most of her crew rescued by Gaetano Tavoni (the great effort of the rescue caused him a fatal heart attack and his body was never found).