HISTORY |
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RETURN TO THE HOMEPAGE
S.S. CONTE DI SAVOIA 1932 |
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In the late 1920s and
early 1930s the main Italian operators on the "Sunny Southern Route" to
North America from the Mediterranean to New York ordered their own
giant ocean liners. Navigazione Generale Italiana (NGI) and Lloyd
Sabaudo each ordered a single large express ships - the Rex and the
Conte di Savoia. However Mussolini
ordered the merger of the major Italian shipping lines into Italia
Flotte Riunite (later known as Italia Line). Thus the two intended
rivals became fleetmates.
Design and Construction (1930 - 1932): The Lloyd
Sabaudo contribution was the Conte di Savoia. She was an elegant and
well proportioned liner. Taking advantage of the warmer climate of the
more southernly route across the North Atlantic, she featured outdoor
swimming pools set within lido areas on the upper decks. She was also
unique among the great superliners of the era by having three gyro
stablisers installed within her lower hull to supress movement in rough
seas. She was built by Cantieri Riuniti dell'
Adriatico at Trieste in Italy. She was launched in October 1931, and christened by Her
Royal Highness The Princess of
Piedmont. The name honours the famous house of Savoy and means 'Count
of
Savoy'. She had a service speed
of somewhere in the vicinity of 27 knots. During her sea trials in
early
November 1932, the ship clocked up an amazing speed of 29.5 knots. By
this time she was ready to enter service. Italian Line
era (1932 - 1940): However
both ships were commercially successful and very popular.
Indeed the Conte di Savoia was widely regarded as the loveliest Italian
liner of the time. She sailed on her maiden voyage from Genoa to New
York via Naples and Gibraltar on the 30th November 1932. However about 900 miles off the
American coast an outlet valve below the waterline
jammed causing a large hole to be blown in the ship's side. This began
to run the risk of developing into an incident of Titanic style
catastrophe. However one brave man managed to plug the hole with
concrete and the ship made it to New York after all. She continued in service on the
transatlantic route until the outbreak of the Second World War.
The Final Years (1940 - 1950): Unfortunately Italy sided with Germany but despite this both the Rex and the Conte di Savoia continued their transatlantic crossings until 1940. The Conte di Savoia was thought to be too large and vulnerable to be risked as a troopship or for any use during the Second World War and so was sent to be laid up at Malamocco, near Venice on the Adriatic Coast. In 1943 she was briefly used as a troopship before returning to lay up. Sadly the Conte di Savoia was destroyed by Allied bombers in September 1943 during the Second World War. After the end of the war on the 16th October 1945 the ship was raised and exploratory discussions started about rebuilding her for a return to service. Unfortunately this proved too expensive and in the end in 1950 her remains were scrapped in Monfalcone. A sad end to a lovely ship.
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(c) The AJN Transport Britain Collection 2008 A Edward Elliott