italian ironclad regina lead ship class ironclad warships built french shipyards italian regia marina 1860s sister ships broadside ironclads mounting battery inch guns broadside laid july launched april completed april regina took italian war independence attacked frigates austrian second division damaged vessels career limited war owing emergence modern ironclads severe reduction italian naval budget following defeat rebuilt central battery ship time modernized late 1880s eventually broken scrap design regina meters long overall beam average draft displaced metric tons long tons short tons normally long tons short tons load broadside ironclad initially armed main battery inches guns millimeters guns armament changed career ship protected iron belt armor thick extended entire length hull waterline battery deck protected iron plate crew officers men ship propulsion system consisted single expansion steam engine drove single screw propeller steam supplied coal fired rectangular boilers engine produced speed knots mph indicated horsepower steam nautical miles speed knots mph ship initially schooner rigged supplement steam engine masts later reduced barque rig ultimately lost sailing rig completely having replaced pair military masts fighting tops service history regina built french shipyard keel laid july completed hull launched april ship completed april delivered italian fleet june italy declared war austria italian war independence fought concurrently italian fleet commander admiral initially adopted cautious course action unwilling risk battle despite fact austrian fleet weaker claimed simply waiting ironclad ram route britain weakened morale fleet subordinates openly accusing rear admiral brought austrian fleet june attempt draw italians time italian ships disarray ships entire armament problems engines ironclads fit action formed prepare attack ships held council war aboard determine sortie engage time austrians withdrawn making decision minister navy urged act suggested island restore italian confidence defeat battle previous month july left conducted sweep adriatic encountered austrian ships returned 13th july took italian fleet bound arrived 18th brought troop transports carrying soldiers italian warships began bombarding austrian forts island intention landing soldiers fortresses response austrian navy sent fleet attack italian ships time commanded captain ironclads coastal defense ship spending 18th unsuccessfully bombarding austrian fortresses italians withdrew late day preparing launch attack following morning sent ships bombard town unable effect landing morning ordered attack ironclads force harbor defenses regina rest fleet attempt suppress outer fortifications second attack proved failure decided attempt day bulk fleet try disable outer forts preparation landing italians begin attack dispatch boat arrived bringing news approach fleet disarray ships admiral miles northeast main force ironclads away west immediately ordered ships form line abreast formation line ahead formation regina initially ship line later joined shortly action began decided leave flagship transfer subordinates ships aware change left fight individuals direction dangerously stopping allowed significant gap open ships rest fleet took fleet gap ships attempt split italian line initiate melee failed ram italian vessels pass turned ships took heavy fire austrians quickly inflicted damage ironclads attacking division division including engaged division steam frigates melee regina collided damaging ram bow withdrew austrian ironclads turned attention ships division time rammed sunk burning broke engagement consolidate forces ships low coal ammunition badly crews rallied half hearted attempt launch attack italian fleet began withdraw followed austrians night began fall opposing fleets completely heading respectively iron plate destroyed steel shot lodged badly burned flames nearly reached powder magazine return damaged austrian ship line sms kaiser ironclad battle replaced ordered attack main austrian naval base war ended operation carried later career rest long career regina served variety roles main fleet italy colonial empire immediate aftermath war italian naval budget drastically reduced significant cuts fleet great difficulty ironclad squadron attack port september wars italian unification instead ships laid sailors man sent home time ship rebuilt central battery ship guns located central armored guns placed bow chase guns mounted stern time armament revised guns bow guns broadside stern regina took launching ceremony ironclad september present italian ironclad king aboard yacht british ironclads hms monarch vice admiral members mediterranean_fleet ship barque rig replaced military masts time rearmed guns smaller guns close range defense torpedo boats included guns guns hotchkiss revolver cannon received torpedo tubes ship stricken naval register subsequently broken scrap
Italian ironclad Regina Maria Pia