Hobby Boss 86502 Italian Heavy Cruiser Pola

Flap was an Italian heavy cruiser of the Second World War. The keel for this vessel was laid in March 1931, and the launch took place in December of the same year. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was 182.8 meters and a width of 20.6 meters. Full displacement reached approx. 14,200 tons and maximum speed to approx. 32 knots. The armament included: 8 203 mm guns, 16 100 mm guns and 4 40 mm guns. The unit also used two seaplanes.

Pola belonged to the four-unit Zara class of cruisers. Cruisers of this type were built as a de facto far-reaching extension of the Trento type units. Compared to their predecessors, they had much better armor at the expense of maximum speed. It should be added, however, that in the latter respect, the Zara type units were not inferior to British or French designs. In 1940, all units of this type were modernized primarily by strengthening their anti-aircraft armament. Cruiser Pola, in the period 1933-1936 took part in numerous revues and maneuvers in the Mediterranean Sea. In the period 1936-1939 Pola - with breaks - supported the activities of General Franco's troops during the Spanish Civil War. In 1940 he took part in the Battle of Cape Stilo, and during the British attack on Taranto (November 11-12, 1940) it managed to avoid damage. A year later - in 1941 - Pola fought at Cape Matapan, where she was first damaged by British deck aviation, and then surrendered to British destroyers that sent her to the bottom on March 29.