Vittorio Veneto-class

The Vittorio Veneto was a helicopter cruiser designed for the Italian Navy to conduct anti-submarine warfare. Originally planned as a two-ship class, the second vessel, Italia, was cancelled. The design was an evolution of the Andrea Doria class, intended to provide a larger platform for an expanded airwing and improved operations in adverse weather. Italcantieri constructed the vessel at the Castellammare di Stabia shipyard. The ship was laid down in 1965, launched in 1967, and commissioned in 1969.

The ship's layout features two combination mast-funnels and a raised rear deck. Unlike contemporary frigates with superstructure hangars, the Vittorio Veneto houses aircraft in a hangar located beneath the flight deck, using two elevators for transport between levels. The vessel is propelled by geared steam turbines and utilizes stabilizing fins to facilitate helicopter operations. The primary armament initially consisted of a twin-arm launcher for surface-to-air and anti-submarine missiles, dual-purpose guns situated around the superstructure, and torpedo tubes. The missile magazine employs a three-drum configuration. Between 1981 and 1984, the ship underwent modernization that updated the electronics suite, including early warning and air search radars. During this period, the vessel received surface-to-surface missile launchers, close-in weapon systems, and updated surface-to-air missiles. The propulsion system was also modified to operate on diesel fuel.

Based in Taranto, the Vittorio Veneto served as the flagship of the Italian Navy from 1969 until 1985. In 1997, while serving as the flagship for a multinational task force protecting aid deliveries to Albania, the ship ran aground near Vlorë but was recovered without damage. After 1995, the cruiser was used primarily as a training ship. The vessel was placed into reserve in 2003 and decommissioned in 2006. It was scrapped in Turkey in 2021.