italian battleship ship class battleships built 1910s served world war world war little saw combat ship supported operations spent rest decade reserve rebuilt powerful guns additional armor considerably speed sister ship participated july lightly damaged present british torpedo bombers attacked fleet taranto november torpedoed deliberately grounded hull underwater repairs completed italian surrender september ship captured germans use damaged allied air raid early capsized seven days later eventually scrapped description meters long waterline meters long overall ship beam meters draft meters displaced long tons normal load long tons deep load crew officers enlisted men ship machinery consisted parsons steam turbines driving propeller shaft steam turbines provided water tube boilers burned fuel oil burned oil coal designed reach maximum speed knots mph shaft horsepower failed reach goal sea trials despite generally exceeding rated power turbines ship maximum speed knots mph shp cruising radius nautical miles knots mph ship armed main battery thirteen guns triple gun turret twin gun turrets designated rear secondary battery comprised eighteen guns mounted casemates sides hull armed fourteen guns customary capital ships period equipped submerged torpedo tubes protected krupp cemented steel manufactured belt armor thick main deck thick conning tower main battery turrets protected worth armor plating modifications reconstruction shortly end world war number caliber guns reduced mounted turret tops new caliber millimeter anti aircraft guns installed abreast aft funnel addition license built pounder guns mounted forecastle deck foremast replaced legged mast moved forward funnels upgraded ship equipped handle seaplane mounted center turret time equipped fixed aircraft catapult port forecastle began extensive reconstruction october shipyard lasted june new bow section existing bow increased length meters meters beam increased meters ship draft deep load increased meters changes increased displacement long tons standard load long tons deep load ship crew increased officers enlisted men propeller shafts removed existing turbines replaced geared steam turbines rated shp boilers replaced yarrow boilers service maximum speed knots mph range nautical miles speed knots mph main guns bored millimeters center turret torpedo tubes removed existing secondary armament guns replaced dozen guns twin gun turrets millimeter guns twin turrets addition ship fitted dozen millimeter light guns twin gun mounts millimeter anti aircraft machine guns twin mounts machine guns replaced millimeter guns twin mounts mast replaced new forward conning tower protected millimeter thick armor atop conning tower fire control director fitted large stereo base length meters deck armor increased reconstruction total millimeters engine boiler rooms millimeters magazines distribution decks multiple layers meant considerably effective single plate thickness armor protecting barbettes reinforced millimeter plates armor weighed total long tons existing underwater protection replaced torpedo defense system large cylinder surrounded fuel oil water intended absorb blast torpedo lacked depth fully effective contemporary torpedoes major problem reconstruction ship increased draft meant waterline armor belt completely submerged significant load construction service named statesman laid august launched august completed april served flagship southern adriatic_sea world war saw action spent little time 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 torpedo boats conducted raids austro hungarian ships installations battleships preserved confront austro hungarian battle fleet event sought decisive engagement sailed north_america visited ports united_states halifax canada ship inactive personnel shortages refitted november march supported italian operations italian general staff murdered satisfied response ordered italian troops occupy island bombarded town guns killing wounding civilians escorted king victor iii wife aboard battleship state visit spain placed reserve return conveyed voyage libya ship placed reserve began reconstruction world war early world war sister took known july 1st battle squadron commanded admiral engaged major elements british escorting convoy malta alexandria italians finished escorting naples libya admiral commander mediterranean_fleet attempted ships italians base taranto crews fleets spotted middle afternoon italian battleships opened fire range nearly meters leading british battleships replied minute later minutes opened fire shells began small turn increased speed throw italian ship aim time shell struck distance meters uncertain severe damage ordered battleships turn away face superior british numbers successfully repairs completed end august ships unsuccessfully attempted intercept british convoys malta august september night november anchor taranto harbor attacked torpedo bombers british aircraft carrier warships ship gunners shot shortly aircraft dropped torpedo exploded underneath turret knocking main bow pump captain requested help ground ship nearby meter admiral commander vetoed request late use deeper meter following morning initially grounded keel temporarily took degree list settling degree list superstructure gun turrets water time lowest priority salvage battleships sunk attack little work months priority patch holes hull guns parts superstructure removed ship false upper sides hull prevent water hull pumping water overboard began metric tons long tons water pumped refloated june entered austro hungarian floating dry dock july damage extensive originally thought temporary repairs enable ship reach permanent repairs took december guns september replacing entire electrical system took longer navy took advantage delays incorporated modifications based lessons learned attack changes planned replacement secondary anti aircraft weapons dozen millimeter dual purpose guns twin mounts millimeter guns repair work suspended june estimated months work left remaining order construction needed smaller ships captured germans september italy surrendered allies reduced hulk damaged air raid february capsized february refloated shortly end war scrapped
Italian battleship Conte di Cavour