NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Shipyard No. 68		68	CNT, Monfalcone	3/1915	---	---	BU incomplete

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	4872
Displacement full, t	5353
Length, m	137.0 oa 135.3 wl
Breadth, m	14.7
Draught, m	4.90
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 DaBud steam turbines, 14 Yarrow boilers
Power, h. p.	37000
Max speed, kts	28
Fuel, t	coal + oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	3000(13)
Armour, mm	side: 100, deck: 63 - 25, CT: 100
Armament	8 x 1 - 149/47 G. L/50 K.10, 2 x 1 - 90/42 G. L/45 K.16 TAG/BAG, 2 x 2 - 450 TT
Complement

Standard scale images

Project history

In 1913 the Chinese government ordered four light cruisers of two different designs from Cantiere Navale Triestino, Monfalcone. Preparatory work began in December 1914, the keel of the large Chinese cruiser being laid in March 1915. When Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on 23 May 1915 only parts of the keel and some frames were erected.

Unfortunately the battle line virtually ran across the shipyard area, resulting in damage beyond repair to most of the ships under construction there. When Austrian troops re-captured the area on 27 October 1917 during the 12th battle of the Isonzo, the four cruisers for China showed remarkably little damage because construction was so little advanced.

The design of the large Chinese cruiser could be easily reworked to Austro-Hungarian standards, the 37,000shp turbine set and the entire boiler system were ready for delivery, and 31% of the hull material was already stockpiled, so plans were drawn up in April 1918 to restart work on at least the large cruiser. Proposed armament was 8-15cm/50, 9-90mm/50 AA, 4-45cm TT (2x2). However, during the discussions the war reached a point where it became impossible to restart construction.

Ship protection

100mm belt protected machinery only, 25mm flat main deck was connected with its upper edge. 63mm lower deck protected ship ends. CT had 100mm sides.