italian battleship pre dreadnought battleship italian built 1890s laid july launched april completed lead ship class sister ship ship armed main battery inch guns capable speed knots mph served active squadron italian navy years career assigned war involved seizure island rhodes provided gunfire support italian infantry ship world war slated broken need warships granted respite spent war harbor defense ship venice april primarily floating anti aircraft battery stricken naval register june subsequently broken scrap design meters long overall beam maximum draft displaced long tons combat load propulsion system consisted triple expansion engines rated indicated horsepower steam engines provided coal fired cylindrical water tube boilers ship propulsion system provided speed knots mph range approximately nautical miles knots mph crew officers enlisted men built ship armed caliber guns placed twin gun turrets forward aft equipped guns individual casemates amidships guns shielded pivot mounts directly battery ship gun armament rounded guns guns carried torpedo tubes deck mounted launchers ship protected harvey steel main belt thick deck thick conning tower protected armor plating main battery guns thick plating casemates thick service built laid july launched april fitting took place ship began sea trials january commissioned february preliminary power trials began reached knots mph official speed trials took place reached speed knots mph trials completed following day ship spent years career 1st squadron sister regina class battleships october participated major fleet maneuvers command vice admiral exercises lasted october maneuvers culminated mock attack italian fleet harbor defenses taranto maneuvers served hostile squadron tasked attacking friendly squadron sister assigned italo turkish war september italy declared war ottoman_empire order seize libya initially served 3rd division 2nd squadron later transferred commanded ship heavily involved fighting north_africa months war december transferred italy april rest division sailed rendezvous divisions met april island combined fleet steamed north following day ships cut submarine telegraph cables dardanelles 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 rest escorted convoy island rhodes italian heavy ships demonstrated city rhodes transports landed expeditionary force miles south soldiers quickly advanced city supported artillery fire italian fleet turks surrendered city following day italian troops completed conquest island bombarded ottoman positions support italian offensive end returned italy july rest division withdrawn italy replace worn gun barrels repairs october ottomans agreed sign peace treaty end war war installed platforms abreast funnels mast rangefinder added conning tower participated international naval demonstration protest balkan wars ships navies included demonstration british pre dreadnought hms king edward vii austro hungarian pre dreadnought sms french armored cruiser german light cruiser important action combined flotilla command british admiral cecil blockade coast goal blockade prevent serbian reinforcements supporting siege montenegro besieged combined force ottomans pressured international blockade serbia withdrew army subsequently occupied joint allied ground force world war italy declared neutrality outbreak world war august july triple convinced italians enter war outbreak war prompted italy retain sister scheduled disposal austro hungarian navy italy traditional naval rival primary opponent conflict italian naval chief staff admiral believed active fleet policy prohibited threat submarines confined waters adriatic_sea instead decided implement blockade southern end adriatic battle fleet smaller vessels boats conducted raids austro hungarian ships installations capital ships preserved confront austro hungarian battle fleet event sought decisive engagement result ship particularly active war onset italian participation war harbor defense ship venice sister old battleship cruisers smaller craft april floating anti aircraft battery defend venice continued role end war november ship remained italian navy inventory short time end war stricken naval register june subsequently broken scrap
Italian battleship Ammiraglio di Saint Bon