Trento

[shipstamps]

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Italian Naval Academy at Leghorn, three stamps were issued in 1931, the 1.25 lire value showing the cruiser Trento. She was launched in 1927 at the Orlando yard in Leghorn, and was completed in 1929. Of 10,000 tons, she had a length 646ft., a beam of 67.9ft, an armament of eight 8in. 16 3.9in. anti-aircraft, four 1 pdr. and eight machine guns, and was fitted with a catapult for launching the two seaplanes she carried. The Trento was torpedoed and sunk by H.M. ships in the Ionian Sea on June 15. 1942.
SG313 Sea Breezes 11/51

[Arturo]

Trento

In 1931, Italy issued a set of three stamps to commemorate “Cinqvantenerio” (50th Anniversary) of the founding of the Royal Naval Academy at Leghorn, Livorno in 1881. The other stamp is Training Ship “Amerigo Vespucci” (on Italy 1931, S.G.313, Scott: 266)

see Topic: “Amerigo Vespucci”

The Trento received her colors on Aug. 28, 1928 and on joining the fleet was attached to the 2nd naval Squadron. Her piecetime activities followed the usual naval routine, with the addition of cruises to various ports of the world, South America 1929, Aegean Sea 1930, and Far East in 1932. Her wartime service was very active, covering 52 missions, in which are included seven battles with the enemy. During these missions she cruised 27,518 miles.

The “Trento” was finally sunk on June 15, 1942 at 9:15 A.M. (during the first stage of the mid-June operation in Lat. 36° 10'N, and Long. 18° 40'E.

This is about the center of the Ionian Sea. She had left Naval Base Taranto on June 14th, one of a group of four cruisers (Gorizia, Trento, Garibaldi and Duca d’Aosta

see topic: “Emanuele Filiberto Duca D’Aosta 1934”

escorted by a division of destroyers. They were in liaison with the 9th Battle Squadron and were directed towards the waters of Crete to intercept an enemy naval force in escort of a convoy to Malta.

At 0500 on the morning of the 15th, the cruisers were attacked by torpedo bombers; one of the torpedos hit the “Trento” on the starbord bow and caused a fierce fire in the boiler rooms. Every effort was made to extinguish the fire and get the ship under way. The destroyers “Camicia Nera” and “Saetta” patrolled the waters around the motionless ship while the destroyer “Pigafetta” was passing a towline.

At 0910 the British submarine “Umbra”, Unperceived by the destroyers, crept in an fired torpedo which hit the forward ammunition stores, blowing them up. The” Trento” went down by the bow in a few minutes, then heeled over and sank.

Italy 1931, S.G.:312, Scott: 267.

Source: Watercraft Philately.