View source for Regia Marina

{{short description|Naval branch of Italian military; predecessor of the Marina Militare}}
{{distinguish|Regina Maria (disambiguation){{!}}Regina Maria}}
{{Italic title}}
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{{more citations needed|date=March 2019}}
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{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} (RM)
|image= Emblem of the Regia Marina.svg
|image_size =240px
|caption= Emblem of the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}}
|end_date=1946
|country= {{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
|branch=
|type=[[Navy]]
|role=
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|garrison=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
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|battles={{plainlist|
* [[Austro-Prussian War]]
* [[Italo-Turkish War]]
* [[World War I]]
* [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War]]
* [[Spanish Civil War]]
* [[Italian invasion of Albania]]
* [[World War II]]}}
|anniversaries=
<!-- Commanders -->
| commander1 = [[Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy|Chief of Staff of the Navy]]
| commander1_label = Commander
|notable_commanders={{plainlist|
* [[Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi|The Duke of the Abruzzi]]
* [[Paolo Thaon di Revel]]
* [[Inigo Campioni]]
* [[Angelo Iachino]]
* {{ill|Angelo Ugo Conz|it}} }}
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|identification_symbol=[[File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg|200px]]
|identification_symbol_label=Naval Ensign
|identification_symbol_2=[[File:Naval jack of Italy (ca. 1900-1946).svg|100px]]
|identification_symbol_2_label=Naval Jack
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The {{langnf|it|'''Regia Marina'''|Royal Navy|paren=left}}, {{IPA|it|ˈrɛːdʒa maˈriːna|pron}}) ('''RM''') or '''Royal Italian Navy''' was the [[navy]] of the [[Kingdom of Italy]] ({{lang|it|Regno d'Italia}}) from 1861 to 1946. In 1946, with the [[1946 Italian institutional referendum|birth of the Italian Republic]] (''Repubblica Italiana''), the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} changed its name to ''[[Italian Navy|Marina Militare]]'' ("Military Navy").<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=he5KL_tWQvMC|title=Navies and Shipbuilding Industries: The Strained Symbiosis|first1=Daniel|last1=Todd|first2=Michael|last2=Lindberg|year=1996|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780275953102|access-date=May 14, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Till|first1=Geoffrey|title=Seapower: A Guide for the Twenty-First Century|date=2004|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=9781135756789|pages=113–120|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CNgIbiDghI4C&q=Seapower%3A%20A%20Guide%20for%20the%20Twenty-First%20Century%202004|access-date=15 December 2015}}</ref><ref name=Coffey>{{cite book|last1=Coffey|first1=Joseph I.|title=The Atlantic Alliance and the Middle East|date=1989|publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press|location=United States|isbn=9780822911548|page=89|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RmttAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Atlantic+Alliance+and+the+Middle+East|access-date=30 November 2015}}</ref>

==Origins==
[[File:Naval jack of Italy (1879-ca. 1900).svg|thumb|left|100px|Regia Marina naval jack until 1900]]
The {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} was established on 17 March 1861 following the proclamation of the formation of the [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Kingdom of Italy]]. Just as the Kingdom was a unification of various states in the [[Italian Peninsula|Italian peninsula]], so the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} was formed from the navies of those states, though the main constituents were the [[Real Marina (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)|navies]] of the former kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Sardinia|Sardinia]] and [[Kingdom of Naples|Naples]]. The new Navy inherited a substantial number of ships, both sail- and steam-powered, and the long naval traditions of its constituents, especially those of Sardinia and Naples, but also suffered from some major handicaps.

Firstly, it suffered from a lack of uniformity and cohesion; the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} was a heterogeneous mix of equipment, standards and practice, and even saw hostility between the officers from the various former navies. These problems were compounded by the continuation of separate officer schools at [[Genoa]] and [[Naples]], and were not fully addressed until the opening of a unified [[Accademia Navale di Livorno|Naval Academy]] at [[Livorno]] in 1881.

Secondly, [[Italian unification|unification]] occurred during a period of rapid advances in naval technology and tactics, as typified by the launch of {{ship|French ironclad|Gloire||2}} by [[Second French Empire|France]] in 1858, and later by the appearance of, and battle between, {{USS|Monitor}} and {{ship|CSS|Virginia||6}} in 1862. These innovations quickly made older warships obsolete. Italy did not possess the shipyards or infrastructure to build the modern ships required, but the then Minister for the Navy, Admiral [[Carlo di Persano]], launched a substantial programme to purchase warships from foreign yards.

===Seven Weeks War===
[[File:Soerensen Seeschlacht bei Lissa 1866 Rammstoss.jpg|thumb|right|''The Sea Battle of Lissa'', by [[Carl Frederik Sørensen]], 1868]]
The new navy's baptism of fire came on 20 July 1866 at the [[Battle of Lissa (1866)|Battle of Lissa]] during the [[Third Italian War of Independence]] (parallel to the [[Seven Weeks War]]). The battle was fought against the [[Austrian Empire]] and occurred near the island of [[Vis (island)|Vis]] in the [[Adriatic Sea]]. That was one of the few fleet actions of the 19th century and as a major sea battle that involved [[ram (ship)|ramming]], it is often considered to have had a profound effect on subsequent warship design and tactics.

The Italian fleet, commanded by Admiral Persano, mustered 12 [[ironclad]] and 17 wooden-hulled ships, though only one, {{ship|Italian battleship|Affondatore||2}}, was of the most modern [[turret ship]] design. Despite a marked disadvantage in numbers and equipment, superior handling by the Austrians under Admiral [[Wilhelm von Tegetthoff]] resulted in a severe defeat for Italy, which lost two armoured ships and 640 men.

===Decline and resurgence===
After the war, the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} passed through some difficult years as the naval budget was substantially reduced, thus impairing the fleet's efficiency and the pace of new construction; only in the 1870s, under [[Simone Antonio Saint-Bon|Simone Pacoret de Saint Bon]]'s ministry, did the situation begin to improve. In 1881, the battleship {{ship|Italian ironclad|Duilio||2}} was commissioned, followed in 1882 by the battleship {{ship|Italian ironclad|Enrico Dandolo||2}}; at the time these were the most powerful warships in the world, and signalled the Italian fleet's renewed power. In 1896 the corvette ''Magenta'' completed a circumnavigation of the world. The following year the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} conducted experiments with [[Guglielmo Marconi]] in the use of radio communications. 1909 saw the first use of aircraft with the fleet. An Italian naval officer, [[Vittorio Cuniberti]], was the first in 1903 to envision in a published article the all-big gun battleship design, which would be later come to be known as [[dreadnought]].

===Italo-Turkish War===
In 1911 and 1912, the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} was involved in the [[Italo-Turkish War]] against forces of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. As the majority of the [[Ottoman Navy]] stayed behind the relative safety of the [[Dardanelles]], the Italians dominated the Mediterranean during the conflict winning victories against Ottoman light units at the battles of [[Battle of Preveza (1911)|Preveza]] and [[Battle of Beirut (1912)|Beirut]]. In the Red Sea the Italian forces were vastly superior to those of the Ottomans who possessed only a squadron of gunboats there. These were destroyed while attempting to withdraw into the Mediterranean at the [[Battle of Kunfuda Bay]].

==World War I==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 134-C2280, Szent István, Sinkendes Linienschiff.jpg|thumb|right|{{SMS|Szent István||2}} low in the water, after being torpedoed by Italian [[MAS (boat)|MAS boats]]]]

Before 1914, the Kingdom of Italy built six [[Battleship|dreadnought]] battleships: ({{ship|Italian battleship|Dante Alighieri||2}} as a prototype; {{ship|Italian battleship|Giulio Cesare||2}}, {{ship|Italian battleship|Conte di Cavour||2}} and {{ship|Italian battleship|Leonardo da Vinci||2}} of the {{sclass|Conte di Cavour|battleship|4}}; and {{ship|Italian battleship|Andrea Doria||2}} and {{ship|Italian battleship|Duilio||2}} of the {{sclass|Andrea Doria|battleship|4}}), but they did not participate in any major naval actions in [[World War I]].

During the war, the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} spent its minor efforts in the [[Adriatic Sea]], opposing the [[Austro-Hungarian Navy]]. The resulting [[Adriatic Campaign of World War I]] consisted mainly of Austro-Hungarian coastal bombardments of Italy's Adriatic coast, and wider-ranging German/Austro-Hungarian submarine warfare into the Mediterranean. Allied forces mainly limited themselves to blockading the Austro-Hungarian navy inside the Adriatic, which was successful with regards to surface units, but failed for the submarines, which found safe harbours and easy passage into and out of the area for the whole of the war. Considered a relatively minor part of the [[naval warfare of World War I]], it nonetheless tied down significant forces.

In December 1915, and January 1916, when the Serbian army was driven by the German forces under General von Mackensen toward the Albanian coast, 138,000 Serbian infantry and 11,000 refugees were ferried across the Adriatic and landed in Italy in 87 trips by the {{ship|Italian battleship|Conte di Cavour||2}} and other ships of the Italian Navy under the command of Admiral Conz. These ships also carried 13,000 cavalrymen and 10,000 horses of the Serbian army to Corfu in 13 crossings from the Albanian port of Vallons.<ref>{{cite news |work=The New York Times | date=September 15, 1919 | title=Admiral Conz in New York--Italian Officer Arrives on Battleship Conte di Cavour |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1919/09/15/118159107.html?pageNumber=8
}}</ref> 

For most of the war the Italian navy avoided wherever possible the Austro-Hungarian navy. The Italian fleet lost the destroyer ''Turbine'' in 1915 to an Austro-Hungarian fleet sortie; the armoured cruiser ''Amalfi'' was sunk by Austrian submarine U-26 on 7 July 1915; the armoured cruiser ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'', sunk by Austrian submarine U-4 on 18 July 1915, the pre-dreadnought battleship {{ship|Italian battleship|Benedetto Brin||2}} at [[Brindisi]] (27 September 1915) and the dreadnought {{ship|Italian battleship|Leonardo da Vinci||2}} at [[Taranto]] (2 August 1916) due to a magazine explosion (although there were rumours of Austrian sabotage). The Austrians also sank the Italian armed merchant cruiser SS Principe Umberto on 8 June 1916. While transporting troops in the Adriatic, the ship was sunk by Austro-Hungarian U-boat U-5 with the loss of 1,926 men. It was the worst naval disaster of World War I in terms of human lives lost.

In the last part of the war, the Regia Marina developed the [[MAS (boat)|MAS boats]], that, by chance, managed to sink the Austro-Hungarian battleship {{SMS|Szent István}} in the [[Adriatic Sea]] on 10 June 1918; and an early type of [[human torpedo]] (codenamed ''[[Mignatta]]'', or "leech") carrying two men, which entered the harbour of [[Pola (Istria)|Pola]] and planted  two magnetic mines during the early hours of the morning which exploded sinking the [[Austro-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian]] [[flagship]] {{SMS|Viribus Unitis}}, with considerable loss of life, on 1 November 1918, shortly after the entire navy had been turned over to the newly founded neutral [[State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs]]. The battleship {{SMS|Tegetthoff|1912|6}} (sister of the former two) was handed over to Italy as a [[war prize]] in [[1919 in Italy|1919]].

==Interwar years==
During the [[interwar years]] the Italian government set about modernizing the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} in a way that could enable it to reach dominance over the Mediterranean Sea. Italian naval planners also wanted a force capable of taking on the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Royal Navy]], especially after the [[National Fascist Party|Fascist]] takeover. The British response to the [[Corfu incident]] left [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]] and his military advisors convinced that Italy was "imprisoned in the Mediterranean" through British bases in [[Gibraltar]], the [[Suez Canal]], [[Crown Colony of Malta|Malta]], and [[British Cyprus|Cyprus]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Steiner|first=Zara|title=The lights that failed: European international history, 1919–1933|date=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-151881-2|location=Oxford|oclc=86068902}}</ref> Italian naval construction was limited by the [[Washington Naval Conference]]. The 1922 treaty required a parity in naval forces between the Italian and French navies, with equality in total displacement in battleships and carriers. The treaty influenced the development of the Italian fleet over the years between the two world wars. Between the late twenties and early thirties a construction program began, focusing first on cruisers up to 10,000 tons, followed by the building of destroyers and submarines, and lastly the construction of the new {{sclass|Littorio|battleship|2}}<nowiki/>s; plans were also put in place to modernize the {{sclass|Conte di Cavour|battleship|0}} and {{sclass|Andrea Doria|battleship|2}}<nowiki/>s. Much of these new naval units were responses to French naval constructions, as the [[Marine nationale]] was seen until the mid-1930s as the most likely enemy in a hypothetical conflict.

The {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} chose to build fast ships armed with longer ranged guns to give the Italian vessels the ability to minimize close contact with vessels of the Royal Navy, whose crews were more experienced. In theory this would allow them to engage or break off at their own choosing, and would allow them to hit the enemy when he could not yet hit back. New guns were developed with longer ranges than their British counterparts of similar caliber. Speed was emphasized in their new construction. Italian cruisers built in the 1920s, such as {{ship|Italian cruiser|Giovanni delle Bande Nere||2}} were built with a newly designed and relatively thin armour. This would have a decisive role in a number of naval battles, including the [[Battle of Cape Spada]]. Later classes, such as the {{sclass|Zara|cruiser|5}} and {{sclass|Raimondo Montecuccoli|cruiser|5}} classes, were built to a more balanced design with thicker armor.

[[File:Duilio 1948.jpg|thumb|right|''Duilio'' after refitting]]
The modernization work on the four Great War era battleships turned into a significant reconstruction project, with only 40% of the original structures being left. The ship's guns were upgraded in main armament, going from 13 guns of 305&nbsp;mm diameter, to 10 guns of 320&nbsp;mm diameter. The middle turret and the vessel's central tower were eliminated. To increase speed the coal-fired boilers were replaced with modern oil-fired boilers and ten meters were added to the ship's length to improve the [[Fineness ratio|coefficient of fineness]]. Though the ships were improved, they still were not an equal match for the {{sclass|Queen Elizabeth|battleship|2}}s and the {{sclass|Renown|battlecruiser|2}}s, both of which carried larger guns and heavier armour.

Though scientific research on tracking devices such as radar and sonar was being conducted in Italian universities and military laboratories by men such as [[Ugo Tiberio]] and [[Guglielmo Marconi]], the conservative Italian leadership had little interest in these new technologies, and did not use them to improve the effectiveness of the Italian vessels. This was mainly due to the influence of Admiral [[Domenico Cavagnari]], whom Mussolini appointed as Chief of Staff of the Navy in 1933, and whom he later promoted to Secretary of the Navy. Likewise technological advancement in radio range finders and gunnery control devices for night combat were not incorporated. Regarding such devices, Cavagnari emphasized "not wanting traps in your way". Writing to Admiral Iachino, he wrote "''procedere con estrema cautela nell'accettare brillanti novità tecniche che non siano ancora collaudate da una esperienza pratica sufficientemente lunga''", which can be translated to "proceed with extreme caution regarding brilliant technical innovations that have not yet been tested or with which there is no practical experience".  Thus, the Italian navy entered the Second World War with a marked technical inferiority to the [[Royal Navy|British Royal Navy]]. [[Albert Kesselring]], overall commander of Axis forces in the Mediterranean, observed that the Italian navy was "a good weather" force, unable to operate effectively at night or in heavy seas.

[[File:Amerigo vespucci 1976 nyc aufgetakelt.jpg|thumb|right|{{ship|Italian training ship|Amerigo Vespucci||2}}, launched in 1931; here in the harbor of [[New York City|New York]], 1976]]
Two training ships were built during this period, in addition to the effort to modernize and re-equip the combat vessels of the navy. These were square rigged school ships the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} ordered in 1925. The sailing ships followed a design by Lieutenant Colonel [[Francesco Rotundi]] of the Italian Navy Engineering Corps, reminiscent of [[ship of the line|ships of the line]] from the [[Napoleonic era]]. The first of these two ships, {{ship|Italian training ship|Cristoforo Colombo||2}}, was put into service in 1928 and was used by the Italian Navy for training until 1943. After [[World War II]], this ship was handed over to the [[Soviet Union]] as part of [[war reparation]]s and was shortly afterwards decommissioned. The second ship of the design was {{ship|Italian training ship|Amerigo Vespucci||2}}. The ship was built in 1930 at the (formerly Royal) Naval Shipyard of [[Castellammare di Stabia]] ([[Naples]]). She was launched on 22 February 1931, and was put into service in July of that year. She is still being used to this day (2025).

In 1928, the unified command of the "''Armata Navale''" was abolished, and the fleet was divided in two [[Squadron (naval)|squadrons]] (''Squadre navali''), one based at La Spezia and the other based at Taranto.

===Italo-Ethiopian War===
[[File:Italian cruiser Raimondo Montecuccoli by Allan C. Green.jpg|thumb|Cruiser ''Raimondo Montecuccoli'' during a visit to Australia in 1938]]
The {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} played a limited role in the [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War|invasion of Ethiopia]]. While the [[Ethiopian Empire]] was landlocked, the navy was instrumental in delivering and supplying the invasion forces through [[Somalia|Somali]] and [[Eritrea]]n ports.

===Spanish Civil War===
At the time of the Italian intervention in the [[Spanish Civil War]], the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} sent naval units in support of the Italian Corps of Volunteer Troops (''[[Corpo Truppe Volontarie]]''). Approximately 58 Italian submarines took part in operations against the [[Spanish Republican Navy]]. These submarines were organized in a Submarine Legion and complemented German [[Kriegsmarine]] [[U-boat]] operations as part of [[Operation Ursula]]. At least two [[Spanish Second Republic|Republican]] freighters, one [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] and another [[Panamanian Public Forces|Panamanian]] were either sunk or forced to run aground by Italian destroyers near the [[Strait of Sicily]].<ref>Greene and Masignani, pp. 22–23</ref> Two light cruisers took part in the [[Bombing of Barcelona]] and [[Valencia, Spain|Valencia]] in 1937, resulting in the deaths of more than 30 civilians.<ref>Greene and Massignani, p. 22</ref>

===Albania===
In April 1939, the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} supported the [[Italian invasion of Albania|invasion of Albania]]. All ground forces involved in the invasion had to cross the [[Adriatic Sea]] from mainland Italy and the crossings were accomplished without incident.

==World War II==
{{See also|Naval history of World War II}}
[[File:Vittorio Veneto and Littorio during WW2.jpg|thumb|''Vittorio Veneto'' and ''Littorio'' on trials]]
[[File:Italian landing at Sitia 1941.jpg|thumb|upright|The Italian landing at [[Sitia]], [[Crete]], on 27 May 1941, was one of the few amphibious operations carried out by Italian forces.]]
On 10 June 1940, after the German [[Battle of France|invasion of France]], [[Fascist Italy|Italy]] declared war on [[French Third Republic|France]] and the [[United Kingdom]] and entered World War II. Italian dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] saw the control of the [[Mediterranean Sea]] as an essential prerequisite for expanding his "New Roman Empire" into [[Nice]], [[Corsica]], [[Tunis]] and the [[Balkans]]. Italian naval building accelerated during his tenure. Mussolini described the Mediterranean as "[[Mare Nostrum]]" (Our Sea).<ref name="Mollo, p.94">Mollo, p. 94</ref>

Before the declaration of war, Italian ground and air forces had prepared to strike at the beaten French forces across the border in the [[Italian invasion of France]]. By contrast, the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} prepared to secure the lines of communications between Italy, [[Italian Libya|Libya]] and the [[Italian East Africa|East African]] colonies. The Italian High Command (''[[Comando Supremo]]'') did not approve of the plan devised by the Italian Naval Headquarters (''[[Supermarina]]'') to occupy a weakly defended [[Siege of Malta (World War II)|Malta]],<ref name="Piekalkiewicz, p. 82">Piekalkiewicz, p. 82</ref> which proved a crucial mistake.<ref>see [[North African campaign#Tunisian campaign]] </ref>
British High Command, thinking that Malta could not be defended because of the proximity of [[Regia Aeronautica]] air bases in [[Italian Peninsula|Italy]], [[Sicily]], and [[Italian Libya|Libya]], had put little effort into bolstering the islands' defences. Thus, at the outset of the war there were only 42 anti-aircraft guns on the island and twelve [[Gloster Gladiator|Gloster Sea Gladiators]], half sitting in crates at the wharf.<ref name="Taylor 1974, p. 181.">Taylor 1974, p. 181.</ref>

Entering the war, the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} was operating under a number of limitations. Though significant assets were available to challenge the Royal Navy for control of the Mediterranean, there had been a lack of emphasis on the incorporation of technological advances such as [[radar]] and [[sonar]]. This meant that in night engagements or foul weather, the Italian ships were unable to detect the approach of their British adversaries. When engaged, they could only range their guns if they were able to visually locate their targets.

The {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} had six battleships with which to contend for control of the Mediterranean, the four most modern of which were being re-fitted at the outbreak of the war. In addition to the six capital ships, the Italians had 19 cruisers, 59 destroyers, 67 torpedo boats, and 116 submarines. Though the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} had a number of fast new cruisers with good range in their gunnery, the older classes were lightly built and had inadequate defensive armor. Numerically the Italian fleet was formidable, but there were a large number of older vessels, and the service suffered in general from insufficient time at sea for crew training.

Italy's lack of raw materials meant that it would have great difficulty building new ships over the course of the war.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} Thus, the assets that it had  were handled with caution by ''Supermarina''. Allied commanders at sea had a fair degree of autonomy and discretion to fight their vessels as circumstance allowed, but Italian commanders were required to confer with their headquarters before committing their forces in an engagement that might result in their loss.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} That led to delays in arriving at decisions and actions being avoided even when the Italians had a clear advantage.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} An example occurred during "[[Malta Convoys#September 1940 – Operation Hats|Operation Hats]]" in which the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} had superior forces but failed to commit them to take advantage of the opportunity.<ref>Tobagi pp. 30–31</ref>

A further key disadvantage in the convoy support and interception battles that dominated the [[Battle of the Mediterranean]] was the intelligence advantage granted to the British in intercepting [[Ultra (cryptography)|German ''Ultra'']] and, through this, the key information on Italian convoy routes, times of departure, time of arrival, and make up of the convoy.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

The warships of the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} had a general reputation as being well-designed. Italian small attack craft lived up to expectations and were responsible for many successful actions in the Mediterranean. Though Italian warships lacked [[radar]], that was partly offset in fair weather by good optical [[Rangefinding telemeter|rangefinder]] and [[fire-control system|fire-control]] systems.<ref>Luciano Garibaldi, ''Century of War'' (2001)</ref>

The Italian Navy lacked a fleet air arm.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} The High Command had reasoned that since the Italian navy would be operating solely in the Mediterranean, their vessels would never be far from an airfield and so the time and the resources needed to develop a naval air arm could be directed elsewhere. This proved problematic on a number of occasions. The Italians had the aircraft carriers {{ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Aquila||2}} and {{ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Sparviero||2}} under construction at the start of the war, but neither was ever completed.<ref name="Mollo, p.94"/> Lastly, the lack of natural oil reserves and subsequent shortage of oil precluded extensive fleet operations.<ref name="Piekalkiewicz, p. 82"/>

===Mediterranean===
[[File:HMS Queen Elizabeth after the modernisation.jpg|thumb|right|{{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|1913|6}} in [[Alexandria]] harbour surrounded by [[Torpedo nets|anti-torpedo nets]]. {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} divers heavily damaged her on 19 December 1941.]]

The {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} and the Royal Navy engaged in a two-and-a-half-year struggle for control of the Mediterranean. The {{lang|it|Regia Marina}}'s primary goal was to support the Axis forces in [[North African campaign|North Africa]] while obstructing the supply route to [[Alexandria]] and cutting off supplies to Malta. The Royal Navy's major effort was to maintain supply to the military forces and people of Malta, and secondarily to interdict convoy shipments to North Africa.<ref name="Coggins p. 179">Coggins p. 179</ref>{{#tag:ref|The ''British Official History'' states "All the major operations of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean in 1942 prior to the Anglo-American landing in November ([[Operation Torch]]) were concerned with taking convoys into Malta."<ref name="Coggins p. 179"/>|group=N}}  The first major action occurred on 11 November 1940 when the British aircraft carrier {{HMS|Illustrious|87|6}} launched two waves of [[Fairey Swordfish]] torpedo-bombers in a [[Battle of Taranto|surprise raid]] against the Italian Fleet moored at the naval base of [[Taranto]]. The raid came in undetected, and three battleships were sunk. Another major defeat was inflicted on the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} at [[Battle of Cape Matapan|Cape Matapan]], where the Royal Navy and the [[Royal Australian Navy]] intercepted and destroyed three heavy cruisers ({{ship|Italian cruiser|Zara||2}}, {{ship|Italian cruiser|Pola||2}} and {{ship|Italian cruiser|Fiume||2}}; all of the same class) and two {{sclass|Oriani|destroyer|2}}<nowiki/>s in a night ambush, with the loss of over 2,300 seamen. The Allies had [[broken the Italian codes]] and the [[Ultra (cryptography)|Ultra]] intercepts uncovered the Italian movements and [[radar]], which enabled them to locate the ships and range their weapons at distance and at night. The better air reconnaissance skills of the Royal Navy's [[Fleet Air Arm]] and their close collaboration with surface units were other major causes of the Italian debacle.

On 19 December 1941, the battleships {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|1913|6}} and {{HMS|Valiant|1914|6}} were damaged by [[limpet mine]]s planted by Italian [[frogmen]], knocking both out of the conflict for almost two years. This [[Raid on Alexandria (1941)|action]], coming on the heels of the loss of the ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse'' in the South China Sea, significantly weakened the surface strength of the Royal Navy, making it difficult for them to challenge Italian control of the eastern Mediterranean.{{#tag:ref|"Consequently, the Alexandria Fleet remained for many months without any battleships, and it was forced to abandon any further open activity. In fact, Admiral Cunningham wrote that his Fleet now ''should have to leave it to the Royal Air Force to try if they could dispute the control of the Central Mediterranean with the enemy's fleet.''(...) In fact, it opened a period of clear Italian naval supremacy in the east-central Mediterranean".<ref>Bragadin, p. 152</ref>|group=N}}

On the night of 19 December, [[Force K]], comprising three cruisers and four destroyers based at [[Malta]], ran into an Italian minefield off [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]]. Three cruisers struck mines, with the [[cruiser]] {{HMS|Neptune|20|6}} lost, along with the [[destroyer]] {{HMS|Kandahar|F28|6}}. In addition, another destroyer was seriously damaged. All told 800 seamen were lost, and Force K, which had been effectively interdicting Axis convoys, was put out of action. This series of successes allowed the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} to achieve naval supremacy in the central Mediterranean. Coupled with an intensive bombing campaign against Malta, the Axis supply routes from southern Europe to North Africa were almost untouched by the Royal Navy or its allies for the next several months.

[[File:The Sinking of HMS Bedouin.jpg|thumb|{{HMS|Bedouin|F67|6}} sinking after being disabled by Italian cruisers and hit by an aerial torpedo during Operation Harpoon]]
The Italian fleet went on the offensive, blocking or mauling three large Allied convoys bound for Malta. This led to a number of naval engagements, including the [[Second Battle of Sirte]] in March 1942, [[Operation Harpoon (1942)|Operation Harpoon]] and [[Operation Vigorous]], (known as the "Battle of Mid-June") and [[Operation Pedestal]] (the "Battle of Mid-August"). All of these engagements ended favourably for the Axis. Despite this activity, the only real success of the Italian fleet was the surface attack on the Harpoon convoy, supported by Axis aerial forces. These attacks sank several Allied warships and damaged others. Only two transports of the original six in the convoy reached Malta. This was the only undisputed squadron-sized victory for Italian surface forces in World War II.{{#tag:ref|"Clearly this was an Axis victory and a tactical victory for the Italian Navy. Part of the convoy did get through to Malta, but the British suffered far heavier losses than did the Italians and Mussolini would later personally present medals to Da Zara and some of his men for their efforts. It would be the only squadron-sized surface naval victory of the war for Italy."<ref>Greene & Massignani p. 238</ref>|group=N}}

Despite the heavy losses suffered by the merchantmen and escorting forces of convoy Pedestal, the oil and supplies brought through allowed the near starving island of Malta to continue to hold out. With Allied landings in North Africa, [[Operation Torch]], in November 1942, the fortunes of war turned against the Italians. Their sea convoys were harassed day after day by the aerial and naval supremacy of the Allies. The maritime lane between Sicily and Tunisia became known as the "route of death". After years of back and forth, the Axis forces were forced to surrender in Tunisia, bringing the campaign for North Africa to a close.

The {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} performed well and bravely in its North African convoy duties, but remained at a technical disadvantage. The Italian ships relied on speed but could easily be damaged by shell or torpedo, due to their relatively thin armour, as happened in the [[Battle of Cape Spada]]. The fatal and final blow to the Italian Navy was a shortage of fuel, which forced its main units to remain at anchor for most of the last year of the Italian alliance with Germany.<ref>Garibaldi, ''Century of War'' (2001) p. 151</ref>

===Atlantic===
From 10 June 1940, submarines of the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} took part in the [[Battle of the Atlantic]] alongside the U-boats of [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]''. The Italian submarines were based in [[Bordeaux]], [[France]] at the [[BETASOM]] base. While more suited for the Mediterranean Sea than the [[Atlantic Ocean]], the thirty-two Italian submarines that operated in the Atlantic sank 109 Allied ships for a total of 593,864 tons.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

The {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} even planned an attack on [[New York Harbor]] with midget submarines for December 1942, but this plan was delayed for many reasons and was never carried out.<ref>Borghese, p. 262</ref>

===Red Sea===
Initially, Italian forces enjoyed considerable success in [[East Africa]]. From 10 June 1940, the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}}'s [[Red Sea Flotilla]], based at [[Massawa]], [[Eritrea]], posed a potential threat to Allied shipping crossing the [[Red Sea]] between the [[Indian Ocean]] and the Mediterranean Sea. This threat increased in August 1940 with the [[Italian conquest of British Somaliland]], which allowed the Italians the use of the port of [[Berbera]]; in January 1941, however, British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces launched a successful [[counterattack]] in East Africa and the threat posed by the Red Sea Flotilla disappeared.

Much of the Red Sea Flotilla was destroyed by hostile action during the first months of war or when the port of Massawa fell in April 1941. However, there were a few survivors. In February 1941, prior to the fall of Massawa, the colonial ship {{ship|Italian colonial ship|Eritrea||2}} and the [[Armed merchantmen|auxiliary cruisers]] {{ship|Italian ship|Ramb I||2}} and {{ship|Italian ship|Ramb II||2}} broke out and sailed to [[Kobe]], [[Japan]]. While ''Ramb I'' was sunk by the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] cruiser {{HMNZS|Leander}} off the [[Maldives]], ''Eritrea'' and ''Ramb II'' made it to Kobe. As the port of Massawa was falling, four submarines—{{ship|Italian submarine|Guglielmotti|1938|2}}, {{ship|Italian submarine|Galileo Ferraris|1934|2}}, {{ship|Italian submarine|Perla||2}}, and {{ship|Italian submarine|Archimede|1939|2}}—sailed south from Massawa, rounded the [[Cape of Good Hope]] and ultimately sailed to [[Occupation of France by Nazi Germany|German occupied]] [[Bordeaux]], [[France]]. One or two Italian merchant ships from the Red Sea Flotilla made it to [[Vichy French]]-controlled [[Madagascar]].

On 10 June 1941, the British launched Operation Chronometer, landing a battalion of troops from the [[British Indian Army]] at [[Assab]], the last Italian-held harbour on the Red Sea.<ref>Rohwer & Hümmelchen (1992), p. 78</ref>  By 11 June, Assab had fallen. Two days later, on 13 June, the Indian trawler ''Parvati'' became the last naval casualty of the [[East African campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]] when it struck a moored mine near Assab.<ref>Shah, Mian Zahir (2001). ''Anecdotes of the Pakistan Navy''. PN Book Club Publication, pp. 3–6. {{ISBN|969-8318-03-8}}</ref>

===Black Sea===
{{main|Black Sea Campaigns (1941–44)}}
[[File:MAScamo.jpg|thumb|[[Dazzle camouflage|"Dazzle" painted]] Italian World War II [[MAS (boat)|MAS]] boat.]]
In May 1942, at German request, the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} deployed four 24-ton torpedo motorboats (''Motoscafo Armato Silurante'', [[MAS (ships)|MAS]]), six {{sclass2|CB|midget submarine}}s, five torpedo motorboats, and five explosive motorboats to the [[Black Sea]]. The vessels were transported overland to the [[Danube|Danube River]] at [[Vienna]], [[Austria]], and then transported by water to [[Constanța]], [[Romania]]. The flotilla had an active and successful campaign, based at [[Yalta]] and [[Feodosiya|Feodosia]].

After Italy quit the war ([[Armistice of Cassibile]], September 1943) most of the Italian vessels on the [[Black Sea]] were transferred to [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]''. In early 1944, six MAS boats were transferred to the [[Royal Romanian Navy]].<ref>Antony Preston, ''Warship 2001–2002'', Conway Maritime Press, 2001, p. 81</ref> 
By August 1944, they were ultimately captured by Soviet forces when [[Constanța]] was [[Second Jassy-Kishinev Offensive|captured]].

The five surviving midget submarines were transferred to the Royal Romanian Navy.<ref>Robert Gardiner, ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946'', Naval Institute Press, 1980, pp. 311 & 361</ref><ref>W.M. Thornton, ''Submarine Insignia and Submarine Services of the World'', Pen and Sword Publishing, 1996, p. 100</ref><ref>Paul Kemp, ''Midget Submarines of the Second World War'', Chatham, 1999, p. 65</ref><ref>Bryan Perrett, Ian V. Hogg, ''Encyclopedia of the Second World War'', Longman, 1989, p. 279</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=J_PNAwAAQBAJ&dq=cb+transferred+Romanian+Navy&pg=PT351 Maurizio Brescia, ''Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regia Marina 1930–1945'', Seaforth Publishing, 2012]</ref>

===Lake Ladoga===
{{main|Baltic Sea Campaigns (1939–1945)}}
The {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} operated [[XII Squadriglia MAS|a squadron]] of four MAS boats on [[Lake Ladoga]] during the [[Continuation War]] (1941–1944). As part of [[Naval Detachment K]], German, Italian, and Finnish vessels operated against Soviet gunboats, escorts and supply vessels during the [[Siege of Leningrad]] between 21 June and 21 October 1942. The Italian vessels were ultimately turned over to [[Finland]].

===Far East===
The {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} had a naval base in the [[Italian concession of Tientsin|concession territory]] of [[Tianjin|Tientsin]] in [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|China]]. The primary Italian vessels based in China were the mine-layer ''[[Italian minelayer Lepanto|Lepanto]]'' and the gunboat {{ship|Italian gunboat|Carlotto||2}}. During World War II, Italian supply ships, auxiliary cruisers and submarines operated throughout the waters of the Far East, often in disguise.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} The Italians also utilized Japanese-controlled port facilities such as [[Shanghai|Shanghai, China]], and [[Kobe]], [[Empire of Japan|Japan]].

Seven Italian submarines operating from [[German military administration in occupied France during World War II|occupied France]] were converted by the Italians into "[[Merchant submarine|transport submarines]]" in order to exchange rare or irreplaceable trade goods with Japan. The submarines {{ship|Italian submarine|Alpino Bagnolini||2}}, {{ship|Italian submarine|Barbarigo||2}}, {{ship|Italian submarine|Comandante Cappellini||2}}, {{ship|Italian submarine|Giuseppe Finzi||2}}, {{ship|Italian submarine|Reginaldo Giuliani||2}}, {{ship|Italian submarine|Enrico Tazzoli|1935|2}}, and {{ship|Italian submarine|Luigi Torelli||2}} were converted for service with the ''[[Monsun Gruppe]]'' ("Monsoon Group"). The name of ''Comandante Cappellini'' was changed to {{ship|Italian submarine|Aquila III||2}}.

Twelve additional [[Italian R-class submarine|R-class]] [[blockade runner|blockade running]] transport submarines were specifically designed for trade with the Far East, but only two of these vessels were completed before Italy quit the war. Both of these submarines were destroyed by Allied action almost as soon as they were launched.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

===Armistice of 1943===
In 1943, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was deposed and the new Italian government agreed to an [[Armistice with Italy|armistice with the Allies]]. Under the terms of this armistice, the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} had to sail its ships to an Allied port. Most sailed to Malta, but a flotilla from [[La Spezia]] headed towards [[Sardinia]]. This was intercepted and attacked by German aircraft and the battleship {{ship|Italian battleship|Roma|1940|2}} was sunk by two hits from [[Fritz X]] guided glide-bombs. Among the 1600 sailors killed on board ''Roma'' was the Italian Naval Commander-in-Chief, Admiral [[Carlo Bergamini (admiral)|Carlo Bergamini]].<ref>[http://www.regiamarina.net/detail_text_with_list.asp?nid=123&lid=1 Carlo Bergamini, Biography by Pier Paolo Bergamini]</ref>

As vessels became available to the new Italian government, the [[Italian Co-Belligerent Navy]] was formed to fight on the side of the Allies.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} Other ships were captured in port by the Germans or scuttled by their crews. Few {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} crews chose to fight for Mussolini's new fascist regime in northern Italy, the [[Italian Social Republic]] (''Repubblica Sociale Italiana'', RSI). Mussolini's pro-German National Republican Navy (''Marina Nazionale Repubblicana'') hardly reached a twentieth the size attained by the co-belligerent Italian fleet.<ref>Mollo, p. 100</ref>  In the Far East, the Japanese occupied the Italian concession territory of Tiensin.

There was little use for the surrendered Italian battleships and there was doubt about the loyalties of the crews, so these ships were interned in [[Egypt]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} In June 1944, the less powerful battleships (''Andrea Doria'', ''Duilio'' and ''Giulio Cesare'') were allowed to return to [[Augusta, Sicily|Augusta]] harbour in [[Sicily]] for training. The others, {{ship|Italian battleship|Vittorio Veneto||2}} and ''Italia'' (ex-{{ship|Italian battleship|Littorio||2}}), remained at [[Ismaïlia]] in the [[Suez Canal]] until 1947. After the war, ''Giulio Cesare'' was passed to the Soviet Union.

In the Co-belligerency period, until [[Victory in Europe Day|"VE" (Victory in Europe) Day]], Italian light cruisers participated in the [[Battle of the Atlantic|naval war in the Atlantic Ocean]] with patrols against German raiders. Smaller naval units (mainly submarines and torpedo boats) served in the Mediterranean Sea. In the last days of war, the issue of whether Italian battleships and cruisers should participate in the [[Pacific War]] was debated by the Allied leaders.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

There were also Italian naval units in the Far East in 1943 when the new Italian government agreed to an armistice with the Allies. {{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} The reactions of their crews varied greatly.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} In general, surface units, mainly supply ships and auxiliary cruisers, either surrendered at Allied ports (''Eritrea'' at [[Colombo]], [[Ceylon]]) or, if in Japanese controlled ports, they were scuttled by their own crew (''Conte Verde'', ''Lepanto'', and ''Carlotto'' at [[Shanghai]]). ''Ramb II'' was taken over by the Japanese in Kobe and renamed ''Calitea II''. Four Italian submarines were in the Far East at the time of the armistice, transporting rare goods to Japan and Singapore: {{ship|Italian submarine|Ammiraglio Cagni||2}}, {{ship|Italian submarine|Comandante Cappellini||2}} ({{ship|Italian submarine|Aquilla III||2}}), {{ship|Italian submarine|Reginaldo Giuliani||2}}, and {{ship|Italian submarine|Luigi Torelli||2}}. The crew of ''Ammiraglio Cagni'' heard of the armistice and surrendered to the Royal Navy off [[Durban]], [[South Africa]]. ''Comandante Cappellini'', ''Reginaldo Giuliani'', and ''Luigi Torelli'' and their crews were temporarily interned by the Japanese. The boats passed to German U-boat command and, with mixed German and Italian crews, they continued to fight against the Allies.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} 
The [[Kriegsmarine|German navy]] assigned new officers to the three submarines. The three were renamed {{GS|UIT-23||2}}, {{GS|UIT-24||2}} and {{GS|UIT-25||2}} and took part in German war operations in the Pacific. ''Reginaldo Giuliani'' was sunk by the British submarine {{HMS|Tally-Ho|P317|6}} in February 1944. In May 1945, the other two vessels were taken over by the [[Japanese Imperial Navy]] when [[German Instrument of Surrender|Germany surrendered]]. 
<br/>About twenty Italian sailors continued to fight with the Japanese. ''Luigi Torelli'' remained active until 30 August 1945, when, in Japanese waters, this last Fascist Italian submarine shot down a [[North American B-25 Mitchell]] bomber of the [[United States Army Air Forces]].<ref>Willmott, H P (2009). ''The Last Century of Sea Power: From Port Arthur to Chanak, 1894–1922''. Indiana University Press, p. 276. {{ISBN|0253352142}}</ref>

== After World War II ==
{{main|Marina Militare}}
After the end of hostilities, the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} started a long and complex rebuilding process. At the beginning of the war, the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} was the fourth largest navy in the world with a mix of modernised and new battleships. The important combat contributions of the Italian naval forces after the signing of the armistice with the Allies on 8 September 1943 and the subsequent cooperation agreement on 23 September 1943 left the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} in a poor condition. Much of its infrastructure and bases were unusable and its ports mined and blocked by sunken ships. However, a large number of its naval units had survived the war, albeit in a low efficiency state. This was due to the conflict and the age of many vessels.

The vessels that remained were:{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}
* 2 incomplete and damaged aircraft carriers
* 5 battleships
* 9 cruisers
* 11 destroyers
* 22 frigates
* 19 corvettes
* 44 fast coastal patrol units
* 50 minesweepers
* 16 amphibious operations vessels
* 2 school ships
* 1 support ship and plane transport
* various submarine units

On 2 June 1946, the Italian monarchy was abolished by a popular referendum. The Kingdom of Italy (''Regno d'Italia'') ended and was replaced by the [[Italian Republic]] (''Repubblica Italiana''). The {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} became the Navy of the Italian Republic (''Marina Militare'').

== Peace treaty ==
On 10 February 1947, a [[Treaty of Peace with Italy, 1947|peace treaty]] was signed in [[Paris]] between the Italian Republic and the victorious powers of World War II. The treaty was onerous for the Italian Navy. Apart from territorial and material losses, the following restrictions were imposed:
* A ban on owning, building or experimenting with atomic weapons, self-propulsion projectiles or related launchers
* A ban on owning battleships, aircraft carriers, submarines and amphibious assault units.
* A ban on operating military installations on the islands of [[Pantelleria]] and [[Pianosa]]; and the [[Pelagie Islands]].
* The total displacement, battleships excluded, of the future navy was not allowed to be greater than 67,500 tons, while the staff was capped at 25,000 men.

The treaty also ordered Italy to put the following ships at the disposals of the victorious nations [[United States]], Soviet Union, Great Britain, France, [[Greece]], [[Yugoslavia]], and Albania as war compensation:{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}
* 3 battleships: {{ship|Italian battleship|Giulio Cesare||2}}, {{ship|Italian battleship|Italia|1943|2}}, {{ship|Italian battleship|Vittorio Veneto||2}};
* 5 cruisers: {{ship|Italian cruiser|Emanuele Filiberto Duca d'Aosta||2}}, {{ship|Italian cruiser|Attilio Regolo||2}}, {{ship|Italian cruiser|Scipione Africano||2}}, {{ship|Italian cruiser|Eugenio di Savoia||2}} and  {{ship|Italian sloop|Eritrea||2}};
* 7 destroyers; 5 of the {{sclass2|Soldati|destroyer|4}}, {{ship|Italian destroyer|Augusto Riboty||2}} and {{ship|Italian destroyer|Alfredo Oriani||2}};
* 6 minesweepers;
* 8 submarines, including three of the {{sclass|Acciaio|submarine|4}};
* 1 sailing school ship: {{ship|Italian training ship|Cristoforo Colombo||2}}.

The convoy escort {{ship|Italian ship|Ramb III||2}} ultimately became the Yugoslav Navy yacht {{ship||Galeb|ship|2}}. ''Galeb'' was used by the [[List of heads of state of Yugoslavia|President]] of the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] [[Marshal of Yugoslavia|Marshal]] [[Josip Broz Tito]] on his numerous foreign trips and to entertain heads of state.

==Ships==

=== Pre–World War I ===

====Battleships====
{{further|List of ships of the line of Italy}}
{{further|List of ironclad warships of Italy}}
{{further|List of battleships of Italy}}

===World War I===

====Battleships====
[[File:Italian battleship Vittorio Emanuele during World War I.jpg|thumb|right|{{ship|Italian battleship|Vittorio Emanuele||2}} battleship during WWI]]
{{main|List of battleships of Italy}}

====Cruisers====
{{main|List of cruisers of Italy}}

====Destroyers====
{{main|List of destroyers of Italy}}

===World War II===

====Aircraft carriers====
* {{ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Aquila||2}} (modification of the liner ''Roma'', built but never used)
* {{ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Sparviero||2}} (modification of the liner ''Augustus'', never completed)

====Seaplane carriers====
* {{ship|Italian seaplane carrier|Giuseppe Miraglia||2}} (extensively converted merchant ship ''Città di Messina'' for the seaplane carrier role, commissioned as a seaplane transport by 1940)

====Battleships====
[[File:Italian battleship Roma (1940) starboard bow view.jpg|thumb|{{ship|Italian battleship|Roma|1940|2}} in 1940]]
{{main|List of battleships of Italy}}

====Heavy cruisers====
{{main|List of heavy cruisers of Italy}}

====Light cruisers====
{{main|List of cruisers of Italy}}

====Aviation and transport cruisers====
* ''Bolzano'' class: {{ship|Italian cruiser|Bolzano||2}} aviation and transport cruiser (as regular heavy cruiser, extensively damaged by submarine torpedoes and proposed for reconstruction to a hybrid carrier/transport design)

====Destroyers====
{{main|List of destroyers of Italy}}

====Torpedo boats====
* {{sclass|Spica|torpedo boat|4}}: 30 vessels
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Airone|1938|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Alcione|1937|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Aldebaran||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Altair||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Andromeda||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Antares||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Aretusa||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Ariel||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Astore|1934|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Calipso|1938|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Calliope|1938|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Canopo|1936|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Cassiopea|1936|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Castore||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Centauro|1936|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Cigno|1936|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Circe||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Climene|1936|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Clio|1938|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Libra||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Lince||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Lira||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Lupo||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Pallade|1937|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Partenope||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Perseo|1935|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Pleiadi||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Polluce||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Sagittario|1936|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Sirio|1935|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Spica|1934|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Vega||2}}
* {{sclass|Rosolino Pilo|destroyer|4}}: 7 vessels
* {{sclass|Audace|torpedo boat|4}}: 1 vessel
** {{ship|Italian destroyer|Audace|1916|2}}
* {{sclass|Giuseppe Sirtori|destroyer|4}}: 4 vessels
* {{sclass|La Masa|destroyer|4}}: 7 vessels
* {{sclass|Palestro|torpedo boat|4}}: 4 vessels
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Palestro||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Confienza||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|San Martino||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Solferino||2}}
* {{sclass2|Generali|destroyer|4}}: 6 vessels
** {{ship|Italian destroyer|Generale Antonio Cantore||2}}
** {{ship|Italian destroyer|Generale Antonio Cascino||2}}
** {{ship|Italian destroyer|Generale Antonio Chinotto||2}}
** {{ship|Italian destroyer|Generale Carlo Montanari||2}}
** {{ship|Italian destroyer|Generale Marcello Prestinari||2}}
** {{ship|Italian destroyer|Generale Achille Papa||2}}
* {{sclass|Curtatone|destroyer|4}}: 4 vessels
** {{ship|Italian destroyer|Calatafimi||2}}
** {{ship|Italian destroyer|Castelfidardo||2}}
** {{ship|Italian destroyer|Curtatone||2}}
** {{ship|Italian destroyer|Monzambano||2}}
* {{sclass|Orsa|torpedo boat|4}}: 4 vessels
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Pegaso|1936|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Procione|1937|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Orione|1937|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Orsa|1937|2}}
* {{sclass|Ciclone|torpedo boat|4}}: 16 vessels
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Aliseo||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Animoso||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Ardente||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Ardimentoso|1942|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Ardito||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Ciclone||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Fortunale||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Ghibli||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Groppo||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Impavido||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Impetuoso||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Indomito||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Intrepido||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Monsone||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Tifone||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Uragano||2}}
* {{sclass|Ariete|torpedo boat|4}}: 16 vessels
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Alabarda||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Ariete||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Arturo||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Auriga||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Balestra||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Daga||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Dragone||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Eridano||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Fionda||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Gladio||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Lancia||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Pugnale||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Rigel||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Spada||2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Spica|1944|2}}
** {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Stella Polare||2}}

====Submarines====
{{main|List of submarines of Italy}}

====Auxiliary cruisers====
* {{sclass|Ramb|auxiliary cruiser|4}}: 4 vessels (only 2 converted to [[auxiliary cruisers]]) – 3,667 t
** {{ship|Italian ship|Ramb I||2}}
** {{ship|Italian ship|Ramb II||2}}

== Ranks and ratings of the Navy ==
{{main|Military ranks of the Kingdom of Italy}}

=== Fleet forces ===

====Commissioned officer ranks====
The rank insignia of [[commissioned officer]]s.
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2| {{flagicon|Italy|naval|variant=1861}} Royal Italian Navy<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mollo |first1=Andrew |author-link1=Andrew Mollo |title=The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, Insignia & Organisation |date=2001 |publisher=Silverdale books |location=Leicester |page=93 |isbn=1-85605-603-1}}</ref>
| colspan=2| [[File:Shoulder boards of grande ammiraglio of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of grande ammiraglio of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=1| [[File:Shoulder boards of ammiraglio d'armata of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of ammiraglio d'armata of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=1| [[File:Shoulder boards of ammiraglio designato d'armata of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of ammiraglio designato d'armata of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Shoulder boards of ammiraglio di squadra of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of ammiraglio di squadra of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Shoulder boards of ammiraglio di divisione of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of ammiraglio di divisione of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Shoulder boards of contrammiraglio of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of contrammiraglio of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Shoulder boards of capitano di vascello of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of capitano di vascello of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Shoulder boards of capitano di fregata of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of capitano di fregata of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Shoulder boards of capitano di corvetta of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of capitano di corvetta of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=1| [[File:Shoulder boards of primo tenente di vascello of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of primo tenente di vascello of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=1| [[File:Shoulder boards of tenente di vascello of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of tenente di vascello of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=3| [[File:Shoulder boards of sottotenente di vascello of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of sottotenente di vascello of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=3| [[File:Shoulder boards of guardiamarina of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]] [[File:Rank insignia of guardiamarina of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
| colspan=12| [[File:Shoulder boards of aspirante of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=2| {{lang|it|[[Grand admiral|Grande ammiraglio]]}}
| colspan=1| {{lang|it|[[Fleet admiral|Ammiraglio d'armata]]}}
| colspan=1| {{lang|it|Ammiraglio designato d'armata}}
| colspan=2| {{lang|it|[[Squadron admiral|Ammiraglio di squadra]]}}
| colspan=2| {{lang|it|[[Divisional admiral|Ammiraglio di divisione]]}}
| colspan=2| {{lang|it|[[Counter admiral|Contrammiraglio]]}}
| colspan=2| {{lang|it|[[Ship-of-the-line captain|Capitano di vascello]]}}
| colspan=2| {{lang|it|[[Frigate captain|Capitano di fregata]]}}
| colspan=2| {{lang|it|[[Corvette captain|Capitano di corvetta]]}}
| colspan=1| {{lang|it|[[Ship-of-the-line lieutenant|Primo tenente di vascello]]}}
| colspan=1| {{lang|it|[[Ship-of-the-line lieutenant|Tenente di vascello]]}}
| colspan=3| {{lang|it|[[Ship-of-the-line lieutenant|Sottotenente di vascello]]}}
| colspan=3| {{lang|it|[[Gardes de la Marine|Guardiamarina]]}}
| colspan=12| {{lang|it|[[Aspirant|Aspirante guardiamarina]]}}
|}

====Other ranks====
The rank insignia of [[non-commissioned officer]]s and [[Enlisted rank|enlisted personnel]].
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OR/Blank}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2| {{flagicon|Italy|naval|variant=1861}} Royal Italian Navy
| colspan=6| [[File:Shoulder boards of capo di prima classe of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|45px| ]]<br />[[File:Rank insignia of capo di prima classe of the Italian Navy.svg|45px]]
| colspan=1| [[File:Shoulder boards of capo di seconda classe of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|45px| ]]<br />[[File:Rank insignia of capo di seconda classe of the Italian Navy.svg|45px| ]]
| colspan=1| [[File:Shoulder boards of capo di terza classe of the Regia Marina (1936).svg|45px| ]]<br />[[File:Rank insignia of capo di terza classe of the Italian Navy.svg|45px| ]]
| colspan=2 rowspan=2|
| colspan=6| [[File:Rank insignia of secondo capo of the Italian Navy.svg|50px]]
| colspan=6| [[File:Rank insignia of sergente of the Italian Navy.svg|50px]]
| colspan=4 rowspan=2|
| colspan=2| [[File:Rank insignia of sottocapo of the Italian Navy.svg|50px]]
| colspan=6| [[File:Rank insignia of comune di prima classe of the Italian Navy.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| '''No insignia'''
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=6| {{lang|it|Capo di Prima Classe}}
| colspan=1| {{lang|it|Capo di Seconda Classe}}
| colspan=1| {{lang|it|Capo di Terza Classe}}
| colspan=6| {{lang|it|Secondo Capo}}
| colspan=6| {{lang|it|Sergente}}
| colspan=2| {{lang|it|Sottocapo}}
| colspan=6| {{lang|it|Comune di 1ª classe}}
| colspan=2| {{lang|it|Comune di 2ª classe}}
|}

=== Technical services ===
====Enlisted ratings, non-commissioned officers and warrant officers====
* ''Comune di 2ª classe'' – [[Seaman apprentice]] (historical equivalent in the British Navy, ordinary seaman)
* ''Comune di 1ª classe'' – [[Seaman (rank)|Seaman]] (historical equivalent in the British Nave, able bodied seaman)
* Sottocapo – [[Leading seaman]]
* Sergente – Petty officer 2nd class
* Secondo capo – Petty officer 1st class
* Capo di terza classe – Chief petty officer 2nd class
* Capo di seconda classe –  Chief petty officer 1st class
* Capo di prima classe – Warrant officer

====Officers====
* ''Aspirante'' – [[Aspirant]] (roughly equivalent to midshipman in the British Navy)
* ''Sottotenente'' (Sublieutenant) – [[Second lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]]
* ''Tenente'' – [[Lieutenant]]
* ''Primo Tenente'' – First Lieutenant
* ''Capitano'' – [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]
* ''Primo Capitano'' – [[Senior captain|First Captain]]
* ''Maggiore'' – [[Major (rank)|Major]]
* ''Tenente Colonello'' – [[Lieutenant colonel|Lieutenant Colonel]]
* ''Colonello'' – [[Colonel]]
* ''Colonello Comandante'' – [[Colonel commandant]]
* ''Maggiore Generale'' – [[Major general|Major General]]
* ''Tenente Generale'' – [[Lieutenant general]]
* ''Generale ispettore'' – General

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="250" mode="packed">
File:Italian cruiser Montecuccoli.jpg|Cruiser ''Raimondo Montecuccoli'' in Venice in 1941
File:Maiale at gosport.jpg|Original ''Maiale'' ([[manned torpedo]]) on display
File:Teseo Tesei.jpg|Major [[Teseo Tesei]], inventor of the ''Maiale'', ready to ride one in [[Malta]].
File:RSMG Adua.jpg| Italian submarine ''Adua'', sunk in September 1941 near [[Gibraltar]].
File:Sella at anchor.jpg|The destroyer ''Sella'', one of the major Italian navy units in the [[Aegean Sea]]
File:Olterra at Algeciras.jpg|[[Italian auxiliary ship Olterra|Auxiliary ship ''Olterra'']], outfitted as a secret base for [[manned torpedo]]es at [[Algeciras]]
File:Eugenio Di Savoia aerial view.jpg|Light cruiser ''Eugenio di Savoia'', Admiral Da Zara's flagship during the [[Operation Harpoon (1942)|battle of Mid-June (1942)]]
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Italian concession of Tianjin]]
* [[Italian Co-belligerent Navy]]
* [[List of battleships of Italy]]
* [[Lists of ships of World War II]]
* [[Naval history of World War II]]
* [[Regia Aeronautica]]
* [[Royal Italian Army]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{reflist|group=N}}

===Citations===
{{reflist|33em }}

===Bibliography===
* Borghese, Junio Valerio (1952). ''Sea Devils'', translated into English by James Cleugh, with introduction by the [[United States Naval Institute]] {{ISBN|1-55750-072-X}}
* ''Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905'', London, Conway is Maritime Press (1979), {{ISBN|0-85177-133-5}}
* Coggins, Jack  ''The Campaign for North Africa''. New York, Doubleday & Company (1980) {{ISBN|0-385-04351-1}}.
*  Garibaldi, Luciano. ''Century of War''. Friedman/Fairfax Publishers. New York, 2001. {{ISBN|1-58663-342-2}}
* Greene, Jack & Massignani, Alessandro (1998). ''The Naval War in the Mediterranean, 1940–1943'', Chatham Publishing, London. {{ISBN|1-86176-057-4}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Meyer|first1=Günther|title=Italian Warships on the Northern Italian Lakes|journal=Warship International|date=2012|volume=XLIX|issue=2 |page=174|issn=0043-0374}}
* Mollo, Andrew. "The Armed Forces of World War II". {{ISBN|0-517-54478-4}}
* {{Cite book| publisher = Naval Institute Press| isbn = 978-1-59114-648-3| last = O'Hara| first = Vincent P.| title = Struggle for the Middle Sea: the great navies at war in the Mediterranean theater, 1940–1945| location = Annapolis, Md| date = 2009}}
* Piekalkiewicz, Janusz. ''Sea War: 1939–1945''. Blandford Press, London & New York, 1987, {{ISBN|0-7137-1665-7}}
* {{cite book| first1= Jürgen |last1=Rohwer| first2=Gerhard| last2=Hümmelchen| title=Chronology of the war at sea, 1939–1945: the naval history of World War Two| publisher=Naval Institute Press| year=1992| location=Annapolis, MD| edition=2nd, rev. expanded| isbn=1-55750-105-X| orig-date=1968 (in German)}}
* [[A. J. P. Taylor|Taylor, A.J.P.]] and S.L. Mayer, eds. ''A History Of World War Two''. London: Octopus Books, 1974. {{ISBN|0-7064-0399-1}}.
* Tobagi, Walter, ''The Fall of Fascism: Badoglio & C Strategists of Defeat – 1943''. Milan, Italy: Fabbri Brothers, 1973.

==External links==
{{commons category|Regia Marina}}
* [http://www.marina.difesa.it/storiacultura/storia/almanacco/Pagine/home.aspx Official historical site of the Italian Navy] {{in lang|it}}
* [http://www.regiamarina.net/ The Italian Navy in World War II]

{{Regia Marina}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Regia Marina| ]]
[[Category:1861 establishments in Italy]]
[[Category:1946 disestablishments in Italy]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1946]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1861]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of Italy in World War I]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of Italy in World War II]]
[[Category:Naval history of World War II]]
[[Category:Military history of the Mediterranean]]