IT - Aquila Carrier Summary

This is an Axis & Allies sculpt of the Italian Aquila aircraft carrier from the Europe 1940 game.

Aquila was Italy's first aircraft carrier design and was never completed. Following World War I, the Italian Royal Navy began exploring the carrier concept but faced internal opposition over the role carriers should play in fleet, and their necessity. Most agreed to the potential usefulness of an aircraft carrier but opposed it for cost and practicality. Italy's limited industrial capacity, inadequate shipyards and lack of financial capital prevented her from building all the ships the navy wanted. Given the Mediterrean is a relatively small body of water, the lack of a naval air force was not deemed critical.

Since France was considered Italy's most likely foe in another European war, keeping parity with her was the paramount concern. And when France announced four new battelships, Italy chose to concentrate on battleships in response, and thereby scapping plans carrier construction. 

Shortly after Italy's entrance into the war, the decision was made to officially convert the ocean liner Roma into a fleet carrier. She was not finished in time to participate in the war.

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