According to TRAVELATIONARY, the Fascist regime, aware of the fundamental importance of the navy for the power of the nation, also faced this problem in full: Benito Mussolini chose the great admiral Thaon di Revel, Duke of the Sea, as his collaborator. The essential elements for the reconstruction were of three orders: administrative-financial, organic, technical-constructive, and on each of them the fascist government took its action. The budget was subsequently increased, passing up to the figure of 725 million per year for new buildings. At the same time, all expenses were subjected to careful control, so that they became maximally profitable. For this purpose, all the ships that were not completely efficient were canceled, even if the corresponding types were preserved in other marinas; and the ground system was radically reduced, which was borne above all as a cost of labor. Then the five arsenals (La Spezia, Naples, Taranto, Venice and Pola) were reduced to two (La Spezia and Taranto), retaining two work plants (Castellammare di Stabia and Venice). The budget in the decade 1922-1932 went from 1460.4 million to 1633.2 million. In the organic field, the completion of the cadres was provided; fusion of the body of the naval genius and the machinists; creation of the naval arms corps; reform of the naval academy and specialization courses, creation of the maritime warfare institute, the command school, institutes and scientific cabinets for experience. In addition, premium volunteering was initiated, balanced strength increased, schools for specialists of the body R. Crews were reorganized, etc. The solution of administrative-financial and organic problems constituted the indispensable support on which to solidly base the reconstruction of the fleet; carried out in harmony with the provisions of international treaties, which limited the possibilities for renewal of light shipping, constituting a harmonious whole. The majority of the current fleet, apart from large ships, was built in the decade 1922-32.
The navy has proven its renewed efficiency from the Corfu accident (1923) to the action in China (1932). The head of the government, as he oversaw its development, defended its power in the new international discussions (London 1930, Paris-Rome 1931, Geneva 1932), upholding the principle of equality with the other continental European powers, indeed claiming the Italy’s theoretical right to develop its navy even more widely. for obvious geographical, economic and historical reasons.
Today the Italian navy includes the following ship, for a total of tonnes. 397.642:
4 battleships : A. Doria and C. _ Duilio (1913), 21,900 tons, 21 knots, 13/305, 16/152, 6/76 anti-aircraft, 2 torpedo launchers; G. _ Cesare and Cavour (1911), 21,950 tons, 20.5 knots, 13/305, 20/120, 6/776 anti-aircraft, 2 torpedo launchers;
1 armored cruiser : S. Giorgio (1908), 9350 t., 22 knots, 4/254, 8/190, 18/76, 6/76 anti-aircraft, 2 torpedo launchers;
22 light cruisers: Trieste , Trento and Bolzano (1926-32), 10,160 t., 36 knots, 8/203, 16/100 anti-aircraft, 8 533 torpedo launchers; Zara , Fiume , Gorizia and Pola (1930-31), 10,160 t., 32 knots, cs; Giussano , Barbiano , Bande Nere and Colleoni (1930), 5150 t., 37 knots, 8/152, 6/100 anti-aircraft, 4 torpedo launchers of 533; Diaz , Cadorna (1931-32), 5089 t., 37 knots, cs; Montecuccoli and M. _ Awaiting it , under construction, 5950 t 37 knots, eg; E. _ F. _ di Savoia and Principe Eugenio , under construction, 6850 tons, 37 knots, cs; Bari (ex-German, 1914), 3248 tons, 27 knots, 8/152, 6/76, 2 torpedo launchers; Ancona (ex-German, 1913), 3838 t., 27 knots, 7/152, 4/76, 2 torpedo launchers; Taranto (ex-German, 1911), 3184 t., 26 knots, cs; Quarto (1911), 2900 t., 28 knots, 6/120, 7/76, 2 torpedo launchers; Libya (1912), 3700 t., 21 knots, 8/120 and 3/76 antiaircraft;
20 explorers: 12 Vivaldi type (1929-30), 1564 t., 38 knots, 6/120 and 6 torpedo launchers of 533; 3 Leone type (1923-24), 1550 tons, 33.5 knots, 8/120, 2/76 anti-aircraft, 4 torpedo launchers of 450; 2 type Aquila (1914-16), 1306-1430 t., 33.5 knots, 4/120, 2/76, 4 torpedo launchers of 450; Premuda (ex-German, 1918), 1550 t., 33 knots, 4/149, 4 torpedo launchers of 500; 2 type Mirabello (1915-16), 1405 t., 33.5 knots, 8/102, 4 torpedo launchers of 450;
40 destroyers: 4 Mistral type , under construction, 1472 tons, 38 knots, 4/120 and 6 533 torpedo launchers; 4 type Folgore (1931), 1240 t., 38 knots, cs armed; 4 type Freccia (1930), 1225 t., 38 knots, cs armed; 4 type Zeffiro (1926-27), 1090 tons, 36 knots, cs armed; 4 type Nembo (1926-27), 1100 t., 36 knots, reinforced concrete; 4 type Sauro (1926-27), 1075 t., 36 knots, cs armed; 4 type Sella (1925), 950 tons, 35 knots, cs armed; 4 Monzambano type (1923-24), 982 t., 33 knots, 4/102, 2/76 anti-aircraft, 4 450 torpedo launchers; 4 type S. Martino (1920-22), 875 tons, 32 knots, cs armed; Rossarol (ex-German, 1916), 756 t., 36 knots, 3/120, 2/76 antiaircraft, 4 torpedo launchers of 500; Ardimentoso (ex-German, 1915), 816 t., 25 knots, 3/102, 4 500 torpedo launchers; 2 type Poerio (1915), 858 t., 32 knots, 5/102, 4 torpedo launchers of 450;
38 torpedo boats: 2 under construction of 625 tons; 6 type Generali (1921-22), 645 t., 32 knots, 3/102, 2/76 antiaircraft, 4 torpedo launchers of 450; 7 type La Masa (1917-19), 645 t., 32 knots, 4/102, 2/76 antiaircraft, 4 torpedo launchers of 450; 4 Sirtori type (1916-17), 680 tons, 32 knots, 6/102, 4 450 torpedo launchers; Audace (1915), 638 t., 34 knots, 7/102, 4 450 torpedo launchers; 8 type Pilo (1915-16), 625 t., 32 knots, 5/102, 4 torpedo launchers of 450; 6 Ardente and Indomito type , antiquated, 600 t., 5/102, 4 torpedo launchers of 450; 4 ex-Austro-Hungarians, Grado type , antiquated, 800 t., 2/100, 4/66, 4 torpedo launchers of 550.
Submarines: a ) large cruising: 3 Balilla type , under construction, 1354/1997 tons, 17 knots, 1/120, 8 533 torpedo launchers; 4 type Balilla (1927-1928), 1390/1904 tons, 18 knots, 1/120, 6 torpedo launchers of 533; Fieramosca (1929), 1361/1788 tons, 19 knots, 1/120, 1/100, 8 torpedo launchers of 533; b ) minelayer: 1 Pietro Micca , under construction, 1393/1913 tons, 16 knots, 1/120, 6 of 533; 2 type Bragadino (1929-30), 815/1608 tons, 14 knots, 1/102, 4 torpedo launchers of 533; 2 type X , antiquated, 394/460 tons, 10 knots, 1/76 anti-aircraft, 2 torpedo launchers; c ) average cruise: 4 Settembrini type, under construction, 894/1251 t., 17 knots, 1/100, 8 torpedo launchers of 533; 2 Shark type , under construction, 876/1186 t., 17 knots, cs; 2 type Settembrini (1929-30), 810/1152 t., 17 knots, 1/102, 8 torpedo launchers of 533, 4 type Shark (1929-30), 823/1094 t., 16.5 knots, cs; 4 type Manara (1929-30), 828/1096 t., 16.5 knots, cs; 4 Column type (1927), 804/1057 t., 17 knots, 1/102, 6 torpedo launchers of 533; 4 type Mameli (1926-27), 782/1010 t., 17 knots, cs armed; 4 Galvani type , antiquated; d ) small cruise: 12 type Ruby and Siren, under construction, 600/800 t., 14 knots, 1/100, 8 torpedo launchers; 7 type Argonauta (1930-31), 609-791 t., 14 knots, 1/102 and 6 launch tubes; 3 type N , 7 type H, 5 type F , antiquated.
In addition: 6 Azio type minelayers (1925-27), 700 tons, 15 knots, 1/102 and 200 mines; 4 minelayers type Buccari (1925-26), 600 tons, 10 knots, 1/76 and 200 mines; about thirty minesweepers of various types; 16 gunboats including Carlotto and Caboto for river services in China; 18 MAS of various types; 1 royal ship, Savoy (1925), 4980 tons, 21 knots; 1 yacht of the head of government, Aurora (1904-1928), 1430 ton. and 13 knots; 2 training ships , A. Vespucci , C. _ Colombo (1930-31), 4000 tons; 1 factory ship, Kvarner (1926), 8200 tons and 14 knots; 2 submarine support vessels, Volta and Pacinotti (1921-22), 2400 tons. and 19 knots; finally tankers, water and fuel oil; various transports; tugs, hydrographic vessels (see also organic).
