NAVYPEDIA

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Regina Margherita 1908

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Regina Margherita			R. Arsenale di La Spezia	20.11.1898	30.5.1901	14.4.1904	sunk 11.12.1916
Benedetto Brin			R. Cantiere di Castellamare di Stabia	30.1.1899	7.11.1901	1.9.1905	internal explosion 27.9.1915

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	13215
Displacement full, t	Regina Margherita: 14093 Bendetto Brin: 14737
Length, m	130.0 pp 138.7 oa
Breadth, m	23.8
Draught, m	Regina Margherita: 8.81 Benedetto Brin: 9.00
No of shafts	2
Machinery	Regina Margherita: 2 VTE, 28 Niclausse boilers Benedetto Brin: 2 VTE, 28 Belleville boilers
Power, h. p.	Regina Margherita: 21790 Benedetto Brin: 20475
Max speed, kts	Regina Margherita: 20.3 Benedetto Brin: 20
Fuel, t	coal 2000
Endurance, nm(kts)	10000(10)
Armour, mm	Terni Harvey; side: 150, deck: 80, CT: 150, turrets: 200, battery: 150
Armament	2 x 2 - 305/40 M, 4 x 1 - 203/45, 12 x 1 - 152/40 A99, 20 x 1 - 76/40 A, 2 x 1 - 47/40 H, 2 x 1 - 37/25 H lungo, 2 x 1 -11.4/94, 4 - 450 TT (sub, beam)
Complement	812 - 900

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Designed under the 1898 Naval programme by Eng Admiral Benedetto Brin, then minister of the Navy, who required a modern, well-armed and fast ship even if this meant some sacrifice in respect of protection (a feature too often neglected in Italian warships). The armament originally comprised 2 305mm and 12 203mm guns (identical to that of the four Regina Elenas laid down in 1901-03), but after Brin's death the design was modified by Eng Admiral Ruggero Alfredo Micheli. As with other large vessels of the Italian fleet, these ships emerged as hybrids between the powerful but slow battleship and the fast cruiser type, and had only moderate protection. Actually, the two Regina Margheritas, though neither as large as the major contemporary foreign battleships nor as last as cruisers, proved to be good warships, and very seaworthy. One peculiar aspect was the 'double-symmetrical' bridge/conning tower, one forward the other aft. While the Morosini and the two Saint Bons could burn not only coal but also oil, the two Regina Margheritas represented a backward step, since they burnt only coal.

Ship protection

Ships were protected by 150mm belt on full ship length and 80mm deck above.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

  Regina Margherita was sunk 11.12.1916 off Valona by two mines laid by the German submarine UC14; Benedetto Brin was lost as a result of Austrian sabotage at Brindisi 27.9.1915.