Ship History

	HISTORY


RETURN TO THE HOMEPAGE S.S. CONTE DI SAVOIA 1932
In the late 1920s and early 1930s the main Italian operators on the "Sunny Southern Route" to North America from the Mediterranean to New York ordered their own giant ocean liners. Navigazione Generale Italiana (NGI) and Lloyd Sabaudo each ordered a single large express ships - the Rex and the Conte di Savoia. However Mussolini ordered the merger of the major Italian shipping lines into Italia Flotte Riunite (later known as Italia Line). Thus the two intended rivals became fleetmates. Design and Construction (1930 - 1932): The Lloyd Sabaudo contribution was the Conte di Savoia. She was an elegant and well proportioned liner. Taking advantage of the warmer climate of the more southernly route across the North Atlantic, she featured outdoor swimming pools set within lido areas on the upper decks. She was also unique among the great superliners of the era by having three gyro stablisers installed within her lower hull to supress movement in rough seas. She was built by Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico at Trieste in Italy. She was launched in October 1931, and christened by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Piedmont. The name honours the famous house of Savoy and means 'Count of Savoy'. She had a service speed of somewhere in the vicinity of 27 knots. During her sea trials in early November 1932, the ship clocked up an amazing speed of 29.5 knots. By this time she was ready to enter service. Italian Line era (1932 - 1940): However both ships were commercially successful and very popular. Indeed the Conte di Savoia was widely regarded as the loveliest Italian liner of the time. She sailed on her maiden voyage from Genoa to New York via Naples and Gibraltar on the 30th November 1932. However about 900 miles off the American coast an outlet valve below the waterline jammed causing a large hole to be blown in the ship's side. This began to run the risk of developing into an incident of Titanic style catastrophe. However one brave man managed to plug the hole with concrete and the ship made it to New York after all. She continued in service on the transatlantic route until the outbreak of the Second World War. The Final Years (1940 - 1950): Unfortunately Italy sided with Germany but despite this both the Rex and the Conte di Savoia continued their transatlantic crossings until 1940. The Conte di Savoia was thought to be too large and vulnerable to be risked as a troopship or for any use during the Second World War and so was sent to be laid up at Malamocco, near Venice on the Adriatic Coast. In 1943 she was briefly used as a troopship before returning to lay up. Sadly the Conte di Savoia was destroyed by Allied bombers in September 1943 during the Second World War. After the end of the war on the 16th October 1945 the ship was raised and exploratory discussions started about rebuilding her for a return to service. Unfortunately this proved too expensive and in the end in 1950 her remains were scrapped in Monfalcone. A sad end to a lovely ship.