Regia Marina fleet box from Warlord Games

Regia Marina fleet box

At the time of Italy's entry into World War II, it possessed a modern and – at least on paper – highly efficient fleet. Four battleships and eight heavy cruisers were at its disposal, and three more battleships were being outfitted. However, there were (initially) no aircraft carriers, not least because the Regia Marina was intended to operate near allied air bases in Italy and Africa.

As would be expected of a force operating among the islands of the Mediterranean, the light forces were quite numerous, including 14 light cruisers, 128 destroyers, and 62 motor torpedo boats, a weapon favored by the Italians and well-suited to the local conditions. No fewer than 115 submarines were available. The main Italian naval base was in Taranto, home to the combat ships. Lighter groups were stationed outside ports on the Italian mainland, in Sicily, and on the Red Sea.

The Regia Marina's primary task was to disrupt British logistics and trade across the Mediterranean and to keep Axis powers' connections to North Africa open. Large-scale operations involving the Royal Navy were neither desirable nor truly necessary for carrying out this mission.

The box contains:

• Aquila-class aircraft carrier - Aquila
• Conte di Cavour-class battleship - Conte di Cavour 1940
• Etna-class cruisers - Etna 1942
• Zara-class cruiser - Pola 1940
• Luigi Cadorna-class cruiser - Luigi Cadorna 1940
• Navigatori-class destroyer x3
• Torpedo bomber aircraft - Flights Reggiane RE.2001 Falco II x4
• Ship charts and damage report
• Assembly instructions

Models are supplied unassembled and unpainted.