Italian Gabbiano-class Corvette 1020 On the night of 26

On the night of 26 February

They were fast and highly-mobile vehicles

The large flat rear deck made her suitable to test the concept of a helicopter carrier – the world’s first – using a Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri (Hummingbird) as a spotter aircraft

the QF 6-pounder made an immediate impact on the battefield

Italian Gabbiano-class Corvette 1020 On the night of 26The Italian Navy was a professional force that had high hopes for its performance in WWII. Italian light forces were to gain a reputation for skill, daring and great bravery under Mussolini and his cohorts, and even after. By the start of the war, as well as capital ships, it fielded 59 destroyers and 67 torpedo boats, a fast class of small destroyers. The navy, modern in other ways, was short of fuel, hampering many operations despite the bravery and