The Roma sistership of the Littorio and Vittorio Veneto
An item reported that the meeting between the French minister Piétri and British naval experts were still without result. This was caused by the intention of Italy to start in 1934 with the building of 2-35.000 ton battleships.(1) The intention was to persuade Italy to accept as 25.000 tons as maximum tonnage for battleships which would isolate the USA which wanted larger battleships.(2) This British-French-Italian front against the USA was however to fail if Italy did not change her building plans. Politicians remarked that on the guest list for a banquet at the French embassy at London, England the names of the American naval experts were missing. The American ambassador Bingham was invited but disarmament delegate Norman Davis not.(3)
Notes
1. The Littorio-class battleships finally consisted of the Littorio (renamed Italia in 1943), Vittorio Veneto, Roma and Impero (never completed) with a displacement varying between 45.028 and 45.485 tons and a main armament of 3x3-38,1cm/15” L/50 guns. The first two already laid down on 28 October 1934.
2. The Second London Naval Disarmament Conference was held in London, United Kingdom from 9 December 1935 on ending in the so-called Second London Naval Treaty signed by the United Kingdom, USA and France. Japan and Italy both did not ratify in contrary to the past. Dealing with the capital ships was a maximum displacement of 35.000 tons armed with maximum 14” guns. There was an escape for the calibre, if Italy or Japan still not ratify after 1 April 1937 was 16” allowed. In 1938 was the maximum displacement increased to 45.000 tons. As a result of the outbreak of the Second World War on 1 September 1939 ended in fact the treaty effectively.
3. Norman Hezekiah Davis (9 August 1878 Normandy, Bedford, Tennessee, USA-2 July 1944 Hot Springs, Virginia, USA), diplomat and for instance delegate for the USA at the General Disarmament Conference, Genova, Switzerland.
