italian battleship italian pre dreadnought battleship laid launched completed member class included vessels regina armed main battery guns guns fast period speed nearly knots mph saw action took attack amphibious assaults islands rhodes remained service world war saw action result cautious policies italian austro hungarian navies remained italian inventory stricken naval register september subsequently broken scrap design meters long overall beam maximum draft displaced long tons combat load propulsion system consisted vertical triple expansion engines rated indicated horsepower steam engines provided coal fired boilers ship propulsion system provided speed knots mph range approximately nautical miles knots mph crew officers enlisted men built ship armed caliber guns placed single gun turrets forward aft ship equipped guns twin turrets amidships close range defense torpedo boats provided battery guns equipped torpedo tubes placed hull waterline protected krupp steel manufactured main belt thick deck thick conning tower protected armor plating main battery guns thick plating inch gun turrets thick sides service history laid shipyard august launched april fitting work ship completed december commissioning assigned active duty squadron remained included sisters regina class battleships time battleships represented italy line battle fleet active duty squadron typically service seven months year training rest year placed reserve italo turkish war italy declared war ottoman_empire order seize libya ottoman holdings mediterranean september duration conflict served 1st division 1st squadron sister ships command vice admiral september sister armored cruiser conducted sweep hopes catching turkish training squadron time returning shortly sister armored cruisers conducted blockade port tripoli ships relieved october battleships vessels class october rest 1st division escorted convoy italian fleet bombarded city morning ottoman garrison refused surrender bombardment parties ships infantry went ashore italians quickly forced ottomans withdraw city evening short siege ottoman forces withdrew october leaving city italians december ships 1st squadron dispersed ports remained stationed sister armored cruiser protected cruiser ships assisted defense recently conquered city turkish counter attacks early bulk fleet withdrew italy maintenance necessary months combat operations small force cruisers light craft left patrol north african coast ottoman fleet remained confined port left taranto april demonstration coast battleships left squadrons met april island combined fleet steamed north following day ships cut submarine telegraph cables dardanelles ships steamed entrance dardanelles attempt lure ottoman fleet ottoman coastal fortifications began italian ships fire italians returned fire inflicted damage april fleet returned italy leaving flotilla torpedo boats cruise ottoman coast april 1st division departed taranto bound island rhodes 3rd division battleships escorted convoy island italian heavy ships cruised city rhodes transports landed expeditionary force miles south soldiers quickly advanced city supported artillery fire italian fleet turks surrendered city following day involved seizure islands crete rhodes june rest 1st division stationed rhodes months ships cruised prevent turks attempting launch amphibious operations retake islands italy seized returned italy late august repairs replaced battleships 2nd squadron left port october recalled later day ottomans agreed sign peace treaty end war world war italy declared neutrality outbreak world war august july triple convinced italians enter war promises territory acquisition italy primary rival decades primary opponent conflict austro hungarian battle fleet lay directly narrow adriatic_sea admiral italian naval chief staff believed austro hungarian submarines operate effectively narrow waters adriatic threat underwater weapons capital ships use fleet active way instead decided implement blockade relatively safer southern end adriatic battle fleet smaller vessels boats conducted raids austro hungarian ships installations battleships preserved confront austro hungarian battle fleet event sought decisive engagement result sisters significant action war duration conflict sisters assigned 2nd division spent war rotating bases taranto combat light cruisers austro hungarian navy raided barrage ensuing battle sisters raised steam assist allied warships italian commander refused permit join battle fear loss submarine infested adriatic november participated occupation constantinople following surrender ottomans protected cruiser joined fleet british french greek warships entered dardanelles landed troops occupy city world major navies including italy signed early effort stop naval arms races seen causes great war according terms treaty italy sisters newer dreadnought battleships small size age ships italians kept ships service indefinitely replaced new battleships normal practice treaty system provided replacements ship years old retained years signing treaty september stricken naval register subsequently broken scrap
Italian battleship Roma (1907)