Principe Amedeo-class ironclad

Last updated

Pirofregata Principe Amedeo 1872.jpg
Painting of Principe Amedeo
Class overview
NamePrincipe Amedeo class
Builders
OperatorsFlag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Regia Marina
Preceded by Affondatore
Succeeded by Duilio class
Built1865–1875
In commission1874–1900
Completed2
Retired2
General characteristics [lower-alpha 1]
Type Ironclad warship
Displacement
Length79.73 m (261 ft 7 in)
Beam17.4 m (57 ft 1 in)
Draft7.9 m (25 ft 11 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed12.2 knots (22.6 km/h; 14.0 mph)
Range1,780  nmi (3,300 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement548
Armament
  • 6 × 254 mm (10 in) guns
  • 1 × 279 mm (11 in) gun
Armor

The Principe Amedeo class was a pair of ironclad warships built for the Italian Regia Marina (Royal Navy) in the 1870s and 1880s. They were the culmination of a major naval construction program designed to give Italy a powerful fleet of ironclads. The two ships, Principe Amedeo and Palestro, were the last Italian ironclads to feature sailing rigs and wooden hulls. They were armed with a battery of six 254 mm (10 in) guns and were capable of a speed in excess of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). The ships had uneventful careers, spending much of it in Italy's colonial empire. By the late 1880s, they were withdrawn from service and employed in secondary roles, first as headquarters ships for harbor defenses. Principe Amedeo was converted into a depot ship in 1895 and was discarded in 1910, while Palestro was used as a training ship from 1894 to 1900 before being scrapped between 1902 and 1904.

Contents

Design

In 1862, the Italian government under Prime Minister Urbano Rattazzi and his naval minister Carlo Pellion di Persano made the decision to build a fleet of ironclad warships. [1] The Italian fleet had already acquired a pair of small, French-built armored frigates of the Formidabile class, and two more vessels of the Re d'Italia class had been ordered from the United States. Five more ironclads were ordered from foreign shipyards, three wooden steam frigates already under construction were converted into armored ships, and four more ironclads were ordered from Italian shipyards. The two Principe Amedeo-class ships were the last two of this first generation of Italian ironclads. The design for Principe Amedeo was prepared by Inspector Engineer Giuseppe De Luca. He had initially planned on using entirely wooden hulls for the ships, but had changed to composite wood and iron construction by the time the ships were laid down. [2]

General characteristics and machinery

Plan and profile drawing of Palestro; Principe Amedeo's 10-inch guns were in a single casemate Palestro line drawing.png
Plan and profile drawing of Palestro; Principe Amedeo's 10-inch guns were in a single casemate

The two ships differed slightly in size. Principe Amedeo was 79.73 meters (261 ft 7 in) long between perpendiculars, while Palestro was 78.82 m (258 ft 7 in) long. Principe Amedeo had a beam of 17.4 m (57 ft 1 in) and a draft of 7.9 m (25 ft 11 in); Palestro's beam measured 17.3 m (56 ft 9 in), and she had a draft of 8 m (26 ft 3 in). Both ships displaced 5,761 long tons (5,853  t ) normally, but Principe Amedeo displaced 6,020 long tons (6,120 t) at full load and Palestro reached 3,218 long tons (3,270 t). The ships had an inverted bow with a naval ram below the waterline. Their superstructure was minimal, consisting primarily of a small conning tower forward. They had a crew of 548 officers and men. [3]

The ships' propulsion system consisted of one single-expansion steam engine that drove a single screw propeller, with steam supplied by six coal-fired, cylindrical fire-tube boilers. The boilers were trunked into a single funnel. The lead ship's engine produced a top speed of 12.2 knots (22.6 km/h; 14.0 mph) at 6,117 indicated horsepower (4,561 kW), while Palestro made 12.85 kn (23.80 km/h; 14.79 mph) at the same horsepower. They could steam for 1,780 nautical miles (3,300 km; 2,050 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). The ships were barque-rigged to supplement the steam engine; Principe Amedeo and her sister were the last rigged ironclad to be built by Italy. The ships' sail area were 36,738 square feet (3,413.1 m2) for Principe Amedeo and 37,361 sq ft (3,471.0 m2) for Palestro. [3]

Armament and armor

Palestro and Principe Amedeo were both armed with a main battery of six 254 mm (10 in) guns, though they were mounted differently in each ship. Principe Amedeo carried hers in a single armored casemate located amidships, while Palestro's guns were mounted in three armored casemates. The first was located forward, toward the bow, the second and third were placed close to the stern on each side of the ship. Both ships also carried an 279 mm (11 in) gun that was mounted forward as a bow chaser. Later in her career, Principe Amedeo received a secondary battery of six 74 mm (2.9 in) guns and six machine guns, along with two torpedo tubes. [4]

The two ships were protected by iron belt armor that was 221 mm (8.7 in) thick and extended for the entire length of the hull. The casemates were protected with 140 mm (5.5 in) of iron plating, and the small conning tower had 61 mm (2.4 in) thick iron plates. [3]

Ships

Palestro at anchor in La Spezia in 1887 Italian ironclad Palestro.jpg
Palestro at anchor in La Spezia in 1887
Construction data
NameBuilder [3] Laid down [3] Launched [3] Completed [3]
Principe Amedeo Regio Cantiere di Castellammare di Stabia August 186515 January 187215 December 1874
Palestro Arsenale di La Spezia 30 September or 2 October 187111 July 1875

Service history

Neither ship had a particularly eventful career. They were completed too late to take part in the final stages of the wars of Italian unification. Instead, they were assigned to the Italian colonial empire, with occasional stints in the main Italian fleet. [5] In 1880, Palestro took part in a naval demonstration off Ragusa in an attempt to force the Ottoman Empire to comply with the terms of the Treaty of Berlin and turn over the town of Ulcinj to Montenegro. [6] The following year, Principe Amedeo was involved in a collision with the ironclad Roma during a hurricane, though neither ship was damaged. [7]

In the late 1880s, both ships were withdrawn from frontline service and employed as headquarters ships for the defense of Taranto —Principe Amedeo—and La Maddalena —Palestro. Principe Amedeo was stricken from the naval register in 1895 and used as an ammunition depot ship in Taranto until 1910, when she was sold for scrap. Palestro was employed as a training ship between 1894 and 1900, when she too was stricken from the register. She was broken up between 1902 and 1904. [3]

Footnotes

Notes

  1. ↑ Figures are for Principe Amedeo

Citations

  1. ↑ Sondhaus, p. 11.
  2. ↑ Fraccaroli, pp. 337–340.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fraccaroli, p. 340.
  4. ↑ Clowes, p. 376.
  5. ↑ Ordovini, Petronio, & Sullivan, p. 358.
  6. ↑ London News, p. 278.
  7. ↑ "Stray Foreign Facts" (PDF). The New York Times. 23 November 1881.

Related Research Articles

Italian ironclad <i>Principe Amedeo</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Principe Amedeo was an ironclad warship built by the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s and 1870s. She was the lead ship of the Principe Amedeo class, alongside her sister ship Palestro. Principe Amedeo was laid down in 1865, launched in 1872, and completed in late 1874. She was armed with a battery of six 254 mm (10 in) guns and one 279 mm (11 in) gun. The last sail-rigged ironclad of the Italian fleet, she had a single steam engine that was capable of propelling the ship at a speed of slightly over 12 knots.

Italian ironclad <i>Palestro</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Palestro was an ironclad warship, the second and final member of the Principe Amedeo class, built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s and 1870s. She was armed with a battery of six 254 mm (10 in) guns and one 279 mm (11 in) gun. The last sail-rigged ironclad of the Italian fleet, she had a single steam engine that was capable of propelling the ship at a speed of slightly over 12 knots.

Italian ironclad <i>Roma</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Roma was an ironclad warship built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s; she was the lead ship of the Roma-class ironclads. Armed with a main battery of five 254 mm (10 in) and twelve 203 mm (8 in) guns in a broadside arrangement, Roma was obsolescent by the time she entered service. As a result, her career was limited. In 1880, she took part in an international naval demonstration off Ragusa to enforce the Treaty of Berlin. In November 1881, she collided with the ironclad Principe Amedeo in a storm in Naples, but she was not damaged. Roma was reduced to a guard ship in 1890 and then to a depot ship in 1895. In July 1896, she was scuttled to save the ship from a fire caused by a lightning strike. She was thereafter raised and broken up for scrap.

Italian ironclad <i>Venezia</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Venezia was the second of two Roma-class ironclad warships built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s. She was armed with a main battery of eighteen 254 mm (10 in) guns in a central armored casemate. Her lengthy construction time, a result of her re-design from a broadside ironclad, quickly rendered her obsolescent compared to the new turret ships that began to enter service in the 1880s. As a result, her career was limited. She became a training ship in 1881 and served until 1895. Venezia was broken up for scrap the next year.

Italian ironclad <i>Regina Maria Pia</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Regina Maria Pia was the lead ship of the Regina Maria Pia class of ironclad warships built in French shipyards for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s. She and her three sister ships were broadside ironclads, mounting a battery of four 203 mm (8 in) and twenty-two 164 mm (6.5 in) guns on the broadside. Regina Maria Pia was laid down in July 1862, was launched in April 1863, and was completed in April 1864.

Italian ironclad <i>San Martino</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

San Martino was a Regina Maria Pia-class ironclad warship, the second member of her class. She was built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s; like her three sister ships, she was built in France. San Martino was laid down in July 1862, was launched in September 1863, and was completed in November 1864. The ships were broadside ironclads, mounting a battery of four 203 mm (8 in) and twenty-two 164 mm (6.5 in) guns on the broadside.

Italian ironclad <i>Castelfidardo</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Castelfidardo was the third of four Regina Maria Pia-class ironclad warships built in French shipyards for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s. Castelfidardo was laid down in July 1862, was launched in August 1863, and was completed in May 1864. She and her three sister ships were broadside ironclads, mounting a battery of four 203 mm (8 in) and twenty-two 164 mm (6.5 in) guns on the broadside.

Italian ironclad <i>Ancona</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Ancona was an ironclad warship, the last member of the Regina Maria Pia class built in French shipyards for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s. Ancona was laid down in August 1862, was launched in October 1864, and completed in April 1866. She and her three sister ships were broadside ironclads, mounting a battery of four 203 mm (8 in) and twenty-two 164 mm (6.5 in) guns on the broadside.

Italian ironclad <i>Re di Portogallo</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Re di Portogallo was an ironclad warship built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s, the second and final member of the Re d'Italia class. She was laid down at the William H. Webb Shipyard in New York in December 1861, was launched in August 1863, and was completed a year later in August 1864; the two Re d'Italia-class ships were the only Italian ironclads built in the United States. The ships were broadside ironclads, armed with a battery of six 72-pounder guns and thirty-two 164 mm (6.5 in) guns.

Italian ironclad <i>Principe di Carignano</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Principe di Carignano was the lead ship of the Principe di Carignano class of ironclad warships built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s. She was the first ironclad built in Italy; her keel was laid January 1861, her hull was launched in September 1863, and she was completed in June 1865. Principe di Carignano was a broadside ironclad armed with a battery of ten 203 mm (8 in) guns and twelve 164 mm (6.5 in) guns.

Italian ironclad <i>Messina</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Messina was the second of three Principe di Carignano-class ironclads built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s. She was laid down in September 1861, her hull was launched in December 1864, and she was completed in February 1867. Messina was a broadside ironclad armed with a battery of four 203 mm (8 in) guns and eighteen 164 mm (6.5 in) guns. Her career was limited, owing to the emergence of more modern ironclads and a severe reduction in the Italian naval budget following their defeat at the Battle of Lissa in 1866. She was discarded in 1875 and sold to ship breakers to help pay for new ironclads then under construction.

Italian ironclad <i>Conte Verde</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Conte Verde was the third of three Principe di Carignano-class ironclads built for the Italian Regia Marina, though she differed in several respects from her sisters. Unlike the other two members of her class, she did not receive complete iron armor, instead relying on partial plating at her bow and stern. She was laid down in February 1863, she was launched in July 1867, and she was completed in December 1871. Conte Verde was a broadside ironclad armed with a battery of four 203 mm (8 in) guns and eighteen 164 mm (6.5 in) guns. Her career was limited, owing to the emergence of more modern ironclads and a severe reduction in the Italian naval budget following their defeat at the Battle of Lissa in 1866. She was discarded in 1880 and sold to ship breakers to help pay for new ironclads then under construction.

Italian ironclad <i>Terribile</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Terribile was the first ironclad warship to be built for the Italian Regia Marina, and the second member of the Formidabile class. Terribile and her sister, Formidabile, were both built in France. A broadside ironclad, she was laid down in June 1860, launched in February 1861, and was completed in September that year. She was the first Italian ironclad to enter service and was equipped with four 203 mm (8 in) and sixteen 164 mm (6.5 in) guns.

Italian ironclad <i>Formidabile</i> Ironclad warship of the Italian Royal Navy

Formidabile was the lead ship of the Formidabile-class ironclad warships, the first ships of that type to be built for the newly formed Italian Regia Marina. Formidabile and her sister, Terribile, were both built in France; Formidabile was laid down in December 1860, was launched in October 1861, and was completed in May 1862. She was a broadside ironclad, equipped with four 203 mm (8 in) and sixteen 164 mm (6.5 in) guns.

<i>Roma</i>-class ironclad Ironclad warship class of the Italian Royal Navy

The Roma class was a pair of ironclad warships built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s and 1870s. The class comprised two ships, Roma and Venezia. Roma was a broadside ironclad armed with five 254 mm (10 in) and twelve 203 mm (8 in) guns, while Venezia was converted into a central battery ship during construction, armed with a much more powerful battery of eighteen 10-inch guns. Neither ship had an eventful career, due in large part to their rapid shift to obsolescence. Venezia and Roma were withdrawn from service for auxiliary duties in 1880 and 1890, respectively. Both were stricken from the naval register in 1895 and broken up for scrap the following year, Roma having been badly damaged in a fire in 1895.

<i>Regina Maria Pia</i>-class ironclad Ironclad warship class of the Italian Royal Navy

The Regina Maria Pia class was a group of four ironclad warships built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s. The class comprised four ships, Regina Maria Pia, San Martino, Castelfidardo, and Ancona. They were built by French shipyards, since Italian yards were unable to meet the demand of the rapidly expanding Italian fleet. The ships were broadside ironclads and mounted a battery of twenty-six muzzle loading guns.

<i>Re dItalia</i>-class ironclad Ironclad warship class of the Italian Royal Navy

The Re d'Italia class was a pair of ironclad warships built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s. The class comprised two ships, Re d'Italia and Re di Portogallo. The two ships were built in the United States, and were based on the French ironclad Gloire; they were armed with a battery of thirty-eight guns in a broadside arrangement and were protected with 120 mm (4.7 in) of wrought iron plating.

<i>Principe di Carignano</i>-class ironclad Ironclad warship class of the Italian Royal Navy

The Principe di Carignano class was a group of three ironclad warships built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s. The class comprised the ships Principe di Carignano, Messina, and Conte Verde. Originally ordered as wooden frigates, they were the first ironclads to be built in Italy, but the inexperience of the Italian shipyards and the redesign process produced lengthy construction times, such that only the lead ship was completed in time to see action during the Third Italian War of Independence in 1866. The first two ships were protected by a complete belt of wrought iron plating that was 121 mm (4.75 in) thick, while Conte Verde only received a partial iron belt.

<i>Formidabile</i>-class ironclad Ironclad warship class of the Italian Royal Navy

The Formidabile class was a pair of ironclad warships built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1860s. The class comprised two ships, Formidabile and Terribile. Initially ordered for the Regia Marina Sarda, by the time they were completed the Kingdom of Sardinia had unified the rest of the Italian states and created the Regia Marina. They were the first ironclads built for the Italian fleet. Wooden-hulled vessels plated with 4.3 inches (109 mm) of wrought iron, they were armed with a battery of twenty guns in a broadside arrangement.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.