italian cruiser protected cruiser italian regia marina royal_navy built 1880s lead ship class included sister ships named mount island sicily ship laid january launched september completed december armed main battery inch inch guns steam speed knots mph frequently cruised abroad career including visits united_states world exposition respectively served training ship naval cadets saw action italo turkish war primarily providing gunfire support italian troops ashore libya outbreak world war withdrawn service employed headquarters ship commander italian fleet taranto later light forces based old cruiser finally sold scrap description feet inches perpendiculars beam feet inches mean draft feet displaced long tons crew numbered officers men ship horizontal compound steam engines driving single propeller steam provided double ended cylindrical boilers credited speed knots mph indicated horsepower cruising radius nautical miles speed knots mph main armament ships consisted armstrong inch caliber breech loading guns mounted barbettes fore aft equipped inch caliber breech loading guns carried sides ship anti torpedo boat defense fitted millimeter pounder hotchkiss guns millimeter pounder hotchkiss guns armed inch torpedo tubes mounted bow underwater water protected armored deck waterline maximum thickness inches conning tower worth armor plating ship rebuilt forecastle decks added armament revised heavy inch guns replaced quick firing inch guns breech loading inch guns replaced inch guns amidships service history built shipyard keel laid january completed hull launched september fitting work finished commissioned italian fleet december served permanent squadron commissioning served waters end period protected cruisers represented italy international naval review new_york held start world exposition chicago exposition marked anniversary arrival north_america contingents france germany britain spain nations participated celebration visit flew flag italo war stationed red_sea supported italian interests revolt assigned cruiser squadron ship transferred far_east time visit sydney australia returned home disarmed commissioned flagship converted training cruiser naval cadets visited united_states september new_york_city included ships german british french fleets addition hosting navy occasion joined cruiser saw limited action italo turkish war outbreak war september stationed eastern africa italy colonies joined cruisers december stationed battleship cruiser torpedo boats provided gunfire support italians defending city remained january bulk italian fleet returned italy repairs april bombarded ottoman positions outside august sent men ashore relieve garrison september shelled ottoman troops near ruins ancient tripoli following month ottomans agreed surrender ending war september withdrawn service training ship instead floating headquarters italy entered world war ship harbor defense ship returning previous role headquarters ship commander chief italian fleet taranto transferred served headquarters ship rear admiral battle old cruiser sold scrapping surviving ship class
Italian cruiser Etna