History
The Regia Marina was created in 1861 when Italy became a single country. It was built to protect the long coastline of Italy and to show that Italy was a strong nation in Europe. They spent many years building big ships to compete with other European powers.
When Italy joined World War II, the navy focused on controlling the Mediterranean Sea. They fought many battles against the British Royal Navy to secure paths for supply ships. These battles were very important because they determined who could control the war in North Africa.
After Italy signed an armistice in 1943, the navy's role changed significantly. Many ships were scuttled or handed over. After the war, when Italy became a republic, the navy was renamed the Marina Militare. It left behind the old name and moved toward a new future with its allies.
