French Cruiser Jean de Vienne - Italian "FR.11"

Italian "FR.11"

She was handed over to Italy's Regia Marina, renamed FR.11 and raised on 18 February 1943. Italy got many French ships in November 1942, not only the Jean de Vienne : 2 light cruisers, 11 destroyers, 11 minor ships (corvettes, etc..), 9 subs and 10 minesweepers

A refit began but this had not finished at time of the Italian armistice (it was rebuilt nearly 85% of the ship).

By the end of June 1943 the FR.11 was ready to be moved from Tolone to Liguria for the last repairs, and a crew from the sunken Italian cruiser "Trieste" was sent to Tolone in order to manage the ship. But the departure was delayed and the vessel fell into German hands once more on September.

In an air raid, she was hit by incendiary bombs on 24 November 1943 and set ablaze, gradually listing until she rested against the quayside. When Toulon was liberated by the Allies in August 1944 (Operation Dragoon), a refit was considered but the idea was abandoned and the Jean de Vienne was scrapped.

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