Regina Margherita class battleship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Benedetto Brin. |
|
| General Characteristics |  |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 14,574 tons |
| Length: | 138.6 m |
| Beam: | 23.8 m |
| Draft: | 8.9 m |
| Propulsion: | 28 boilers, 2 shafts, 20,000 hp |
| Speed: | 20 knots |
| Range: | 10,000 miles at 10 knots |
| Complement: | 1,000 |
| Armament: | 4 305/40 mm 4 203/45 mm 12 152 mm 20 76 mm 4 450 mm torpedo launchers |
Regina Margherita was a class of battleships built for Italian Regia Marina in 1898 - 1905. The class comprised two ships: Regina Margherita and Benedetto Brin.
Designed by Benedetto Brin, they had a considerable speed for the time (20 knots) and were well armed, with three main calibers of 152, 203 and 305 mm. However, the armor was quite reduced, making them practically equivalent to battle cruisers: the 150 mm protection of the belt, for example, could be pierced by 305 mm guns from 15-20 km of distance.
The ships were never proved in battle against enemy vessel, as they both went lost for accidental causes in 1915.
[edit] Ships
[edit] Regina Margherita
It was launched at La Spezia in 1901, to be finished three years later.
She was the flagship of the Italian Mediterranean Fleet until 1910. Due to an explosion during repair works in 1911, she did not took part to the first phases of the Italian-Turkish War. In 1912 it was in the Aegean Sea, together with Benedetto Brin.
In 1915, while exiting the port of Valona in heavy sea conditions, she struck into two mines and sunk. 674 men died.
[edit] Benedetto Brin
The ship was launched at Castellammare di Stabia in 1901, and was finished in 1905. It went lost in the harbour of Brindisi, on September 27, 1915, due to enemy sabotage. 454 members of the crew died.
