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Revision as of 22:15, 4 January 2005

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==Italian aircraft carriers==

''Aquila'' is considered the first aircraft carrier built for the [[Italian Navy]], and the only one before the future ''[[Italian aircraft carrier Conte di Cavour|Conte di Cavour]]''. However, Regia Marina had already tested the capabilities of ships with improved air capabilities, just after the [[World War I]]. In [[1923]], the auxiliary carrier ''Giuseppe Miraglia'' was launched, but the experiment was soon abandoned.

The role of the aircraft carriers was undervaluated by the Regia Marina, as well as by other navies, up until 1940; furthermore, the Regia Marina was to operate in the narrow Mediterranean sea, close to Italian air bases. These considerations led to the position, held by Italian High commands, that there was no need for aircraft carriers, since "''Italy itself is an aircraft carrier layed over Mediterranean''", as [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]] once said.