Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:45:20-2:47:15

Why the Italian Navy entered the war without carriers

Italy expected land bases to cover the Mediterranean, overlooking the persistence and responsiveness of organic carrier aviation.

Aircraft CarriersFleet Air DefenceMediterranean WarNaval LogisticsRegia Marina
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Question

Why did the Italian Navy not build aircraft carriers before the war?

Short answer

It relied on land-based air cover and lacked naval aviation control, underestimating the value of a mobile airfield at sea.

Notes

Air-force control of aviation and confidence in Mediterranean airfields discouraged Italian carrier construction. On paper, land-based aircraft seemed able to cover most places where the Regia Marina expected to fight. The flaw is endurance: those aircraft must spend time reaching the fleet, then depart to refuel and rearm, leaving gaps unless very large numbers are available. A carrier moves the airfield, maintenance, fuel, and weapons with the force, making it an infrastructure and logistics hub as much as a ship.