SS Roma (1926)
 SS Roma
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Italy | |
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Port of registry |  Genoa, Italy |
| Builder | Ansaldo Shipyards, Genoa, Italy |
| Launched | 26 February 1926 |
| Completed | September 1926 |
| In service | 21 September 1926 |
| Fate | Sabotaged and partially sunk in 1945 by Italian Co-Belligerent Navy , raised and scrapped 1952 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type |
|
| Tonnage | 32,583 GRT |
| Length | 215.25 m (706.2 ft) |
| Beam | 25.2 m (82.7 ft) |
| Draft | 9.2 m (30.2 ft) |
| Propulsion | 8 steam turbines geared 4 shafts, 4 screws |
| Speed | 20 knots |
SS Roma was an
History
Ocean Liner career
Following the end of
Unlike Roma's sister ship MS Augustus, Roma was powered by eight turbines connected in couples to four shafts. Steam for the turbines was provided by 9 double-ended and 4 single-ended boilers; all in all, the ship was able to boast a maximum speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph).[2] Some of the machinery was sourced from the canceled Italian Navy Francesco Caracciolo-class battleship Cristoforo Colombo.[3] Roma could carry approximately 1675 passengers in four classes (375 first, 300 second, 300 intermediate, 700 third class).
Her two funnels were repainted into the Italian Line's colors after her company merged with Lloyd Sabaudo and Cosulich Line to form the new Italian Line. In 1933 the intermediate class was replaced by the touristic one. The main deck was covered with teak.
On 30 January 1932, Roma rammed the American ocean liner President Roosevelt at New York, severely damaging President Roosevelt.[4] President Roosevelt was repaired and returned to service. The Roma continued passenger service until the Italian declaration of war in 1940, after which she was laid up until 1941.[5]
Conversion to aircraft carrier
When World War II broke out, she was laid up and later taken over by the Royal Italian Navy. She was then rebuilt and transformed into an aircraft carrier named Aquila. Her speed was increased to 30 knots after the refitting. She was however 90% complete when the Kingdom of Italy signed the 1943 armistice.[6] She was thereafter taken over by the
Fearing that the Germans could seize her and scuttle her as a
After the end of the conflict, some consideration was given to her possible completion and commission, however, this was deemed anti-economical and politically problematic.[8] Her wreckage was raised and in 1949 towed to La Spezia, renamed as Pontone P227. Here, she was to be fully scrapped by 1952.[9]
See also
References
- ^ Portaerei Italiane 1936-1945. Italy: Delta Editrice. 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ a b Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1934–35 (PDF). New York: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1935. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
- ^ Ordovini, Petronio; et al., p. 332
- ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 46045. London. 1 February 1932. col F, p. 19.
- ^ Portaerei Italiane 1936-1945. Italy: Delta Editrice. 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Portaerei Italiane 1936-1845. Italy: Delta Editrice. 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Portaerei Italiane 1936-1945. Italy: Delta Editrice. 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Portaerei Italiane 1936-1945. Italy: Delta Editrice. 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Portaerei Italiane 1936-1945. Italy: Delta Editrice. 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
Bibliography
- Ordovini, Aldo F.; Petronio, Fulvio; et al. (2017). "Capital Ships of the Royal Italian Navy, 1860–1918: Part 4: Dreadnought Battleships". Warship International. LIV (4): 307–343. ISSN 0043-0374.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1932 | |
|---|---|
| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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