Italian BB Plans After Vittorio Veneto

With the naval treaties, most of the major naval powers built BB's in the 35-45,000 ton range(North Carolina, KGV, Bismarck, etc.), followed with larger plans, most never completed (Montana, Lion, S. Soyuz, A-150). The only major power that doesn't seem to have any plans for post-treaty BB's is Italy. What were the Italians planning on building after the Vittorio Veneto class was completed?
 
Looking at the dates,
Littorio and Vittorio Veneto LD 34 L 37 Com 1940
Roma & Impero LD 38 L 39/40 Com 42/~
5&6 LD 40? L 42? Com 44

So they should have thought about it assuming it was stopped by war not money....?

Not sure thought that your
most of the major naval powers built BB's in the 35-45,000 ton range(North Carolina, KGV, Bismarck, etc.), followed with larger plans, most never completed (Montana, Lion, S. Soyuz, A-150)
is really linked each nation had very different time-scales and plans and you can add French & US as well and the earlier smaller ships.
 
Several years ago, Vincent P. O'Hara and Enrico Cernuschi published an article in Conway's called "The Breakout Fleet", i.e., the fleet that would break the RM out of the Med, for operations in the Indian Ocean via Italian Somaliland.

A couple relevant quotes:

Added to the modern units in service, on the stocks,and in the already approved 1935 Programme, the newfleet would, by 1942, muster a total of:
9 battleships
3 aircraft carriers
36 cruisers and oceanic scouts
142destroyers and torpedo boats
84 submarines
48 motor-torpedo boats
16 sloops
24 submarine hunters
18 minelayers
24 gunboats

However, just in case Mussolini judged this plan (from the beginning deliberately known as the ‘B Programme’) too expensive, the Naval General Staff had Programme A ready in the wings. This would result in a fleet of:
6 battleships
22 cruisers
116destroyers and torpedo boats
75 submarine s
48 motor -torpedo boats
8 sloops
24 submarine hunters
18 minelayers
24 gunboats

They include this on the battleships, after Littorio and Vittorio Veneto:

The New Battleship

According to the nearly universal doctrine of the age, the battleship reigned as Queen of the Sea. As a result of studies undertaken from 1934 by the chief of the Navy Corps of Engineers,General Umberto Pugliese, the Regia Marina hoped to add an additional pair of capital ships which, unlike the two Littorios laid down in 1934,could disregard Washington treaty limitations at a standard displacement of 41,000tons (quickly in creased after just a few months to 42,000tons due to design modifications).In tended to show the flag with periodic visits to the future East African bases, this battleship design formed the foundation of a new, greater Italian fleet.

In addition to meeting a detailed list of requirements, the ship had to be capable of steaming at 32knots and carrying nine 406/50 guns arranged in three triple turrets,as well as twelve 152/55 pieces also in triple turrets. The aerial component included four floatplanes launched from a new telescoping catapult and stowed in a covered hangar below decks astern. Pugliese designed a new keel between 1932 and 1934 when he headed the Spezia naval yard;this keel permitted a reduction in draught of one metre without sacrificing speed or range. The battleship’s lines were an improvement over the Littorios, and in 1937 the designers incorporated them into the two Romas

The 16in design later became the export design sent to the Soviet Union. And as mentioned, repeat Littorios were ordered instead.

I have the full article in pdf form. If you're interested, send me a PM with your email and I'll send it along.

Regards,
 
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