Trumpeter 05348 1/350 Italian Heavy Cruiser Fiume Plastic Model Kit

Fiume was an Italian heavy cruiser from the interwar period and World War II. The keel for this unit was laid in April 1929, and the launch took place in April 1930. Entry into service with Regia Marine took place in November 1931. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was approximately 183 meters and a width of 20.6 meters. Full displacement reached approx. 14,200 tons, and the maximum speed was approx. 33 knots. The armament included: 8 203 mm guns, 16 100 mm guns and 6 40 mm guns. The unit also used two seaplanes.

Fiume was one of four Zara-class heavy cruisers. The Zara-class cruisers were built as a de facto far-reaching development of the Trento-type units. Compared to their predecessors, they had much better armor at the expense of maximum speed. It should be added, however, that in the latter respect, the Zara type units were not inferior to British or French designs. In 1940, all units of this type were modernized mainly by strengthening their anti-aircraft armament. One of the Zara-class cruisers was the Fiume, which was built at the shipyard Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino in Trieste. The unit, a few years after entering service, took part indirectly in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). At the outbreak of World War II, like the lion’s share of Regia Marine, it was active in the Mediterranean Sea. In July 1940, Fiume took part in the Battle of Cape Stilo. Interestingly, in November of the same year, Fiume was stationed at the base in Taranto, but managed to get out unscathed by a British air raid on this base on 11 November. Fiume was sunk in the course of the Battle of Cape Matapan on March 28, 1941 as a result of artillery fire from the battleship HMS Valiant.