NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Francesco Caracciolo			R. Cantiere di Castellamare di Stabia	16.10.1914	12.5.1920	---	cancelled 1.1921
Cristoforo Colombo			Ansaldo, Genova	14.3.1915	---	---	cancelled 1.1921
Marcantonio Colonna			Odero, Sestri Ponente	3.3.1915	---	---	cancelled 1.1921
Francesco Morosini			Orlando, Livorno	27.6.1915	---	---	cancelled 1.1921

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	31400
Displacement full, t	34000
Length, m	201.6 pp 212.0 oa
Breadth, m	29.6
Draught, m	9.50
No of shafts	4
Machinery	4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 20 Yarrow boilers
Power, h. p.	105000
Max speed, kts	28
Fuel, t	oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	8000(10)
Armour, mm	belt: 300, decks: 50, turrets: 400, battery: 220, CT: 400
Armament	Francesco Caracciolo, Francesco Morosini: 4 x 2 - 381/40 A1914, 12 x 1 - 152/50 A1913, 8 x 1 - 102/45 S,A1917, 12 x 1 - 40/39 V,T1917, 8 - 450 TT (beam) Marcantonio Colonna: 4 x 2 - 381/40 V1914, 12 x 1 - 152/50 A1913, 8 x 1 - 102/45 S,A1917, 12 x 1 - 40/39 V,T1917, 8 - 450 TT (beam) Cristoforo Colombo: 4 x 2 - 381/40 S1914, 12 x 1 - 152/50 A1913, 8 x 1 - 102/45 S,A1917, 12 x 1 - 40/39 V,T1917, 8 - 450 TT (beam)
Complement

Standard scale images

Project history

Designed by Eng Rear-Admiral Edgardo Ferrari. The original plan for these four super-dreadnoughts (the first in the Italian Navy) was for ships armed with 12 381mm guns and with 20 152mm guns for the medium calibre. The final project provided for battleships similar to the British Queen Elizabeth class, with the above armament (8 HC guns, 12 MC guns). But for lack of steel and other materials, and, on the other side, for the need of destroyers, submarines and light craft, the Italian Navy was compelled to abandon the completion of these powerful battleships.

Caracciollos construction was suspended in March 1916 when about 9000 tonnes of the hull had been built. Work resumed in October 1919 and the ship was launched, but the hull was sold, on 25 October 1920, to the 'Navigazione Generale Italiana' shipping company, which intended to convert her to a merchant ship. But the hull was dismantled and scrapped. Work on Colombo was suspended in March 1916, when about 12.5% of the hull had been built, 5% of the machinery finished: total construction about 5.5%. Work on Colonna and Morosini was suspended soon after beginning. The ships were planned to be commissioned: the first three in 1917, the fourth in 1918.

Ship protection

Ships were planned to receive 300mm belt and 50mm decks.