regina class battleship regina class class battleships built italian regia marina class comprised ships ships designed namesake died ships completed armed main battery guns steam speed knots mph ships saw extensive service italian fleet decade careers saw action participated seizure north_africa operations eastern mediterranean_sea reduced training ships world war ships lost heavy death tolls conflict exploded september struck sank december design negative experience preceding class weak engage foreign battleships slow catch cruisers italian navy wanted new battleship returned larger effective size particular wanted able challenge new class battleships built neighboring austria hungary returned inch gun standard navies day sacrificed armor protection achieve high speed ships represented hybrid type merged firepower slow battleships speed cruiser initially wanted arm ships inch guns guns death admiral altered design double number inch guns expense medium caliber pieces general characteristics machinery regina class ships meters long waterline long overall beam draft drew slightly displaced metric tons long tons short tons normal loading combat load displaced long tons short tons slightly heavier displaced long tons short tons hulls equipped double ships built ram bow raised forecastle deck masts fighting tops foremast located directly conning tower bridge ships crew officers enlisted men ships propulsion system consisted triple expansion engines steam engines provided coal fired water tube boilers regina equipped number belleville boilers lead ship engines rated indicated horsepower slightly efficient ihp ships speed mph range approximately nautical miles mph armament armor ships armed caliber guns placed twin gun turrets forward aft equipped guns casemates superstructure guns casemates hull close range defense torpedo boats provided battery guns ships carried pair guns guns maxim guns regina class battleships equipped torpedo tubes placed hull waterline ships regina class protected harvey steel manufactured main belt thick deck thick conning tower guns protected armor plating main battery guns stronger armor protection thick coal extensively protection scheme including layer intended protect ships underwater damage ships class service history regina served active duty squadron years careers participated peacetime routine fleet training frequently served fleet flagship completion new regina class battleships september italy declared war ottoman_empire starting ships saw action war 2nd squadron took attack tripoli october involved campaign seize rhodes eastern mediterranean_sea italy initially remained neutral world war convinced triple enter war germany austria-hungary italians austro hungarians adopted cautious fleet policy confined waters adriatic_sea regina class battleships action served training ship based destroyed internal explosion harbor september heavy loss life men ship crew died explosion serving training ship served somewhat longer struck laid german submarine night december men killed sinking
Regina Margherita-class battleship