Despite being commissioned in June of 1942, Roma could do little in action for the Italians faced resource shortages which left Roma to sit and act as an impressive floating air defense platform denying airspace over strategic areas. Allied bombing missions against La Spezia resulted in considerable damage to the warship in June of 1943 but she did not sink.
When the Italian surrender arrived in September of 1943, Roma left with an Italian Navy contingent for Malta where internment would take place. While en route and at the Strait of Bonifacio (running between the islands of Corsica and Sardinia), she and the fleet were attacked by German bombers (utilizing radio-controlled "Fritz-X" bombs). Suffering damage, Roma pressed on but was eventually done in by additional bombs, one which penetrated her decks and detonated a forward ammunition area resulting in catastrophic damage. She went down in full along with some 1,393 of her crew. Her sisters Littorio and Vittorio Veneto made it safely to Malta where they were successfully interned.
The wreck of Roma was not discovered until June of 2012.
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