NAVYPEDIA

Support the project with paypal


HOME
FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
ITALY
CRUISERS
MARCO POLO armoured cruiser (1894)


Photo



Marco Polo 1898

Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Marco Polo, 4.1918- Cortellazzo, 10.1920- Europa, 1.1921- Volta     R. Cantiere di Castellamare di Stabia 7.1.1890 27.10.1892 21.7.1894 troop transport 4.1918, discarded 1.1922


Technical data


Displacement normal, t

4511

Displacement full, t

4820

Length, m

99.7 pp 106.1 oa

Breadth, m

14.7

Draught, m

5.88

No of shafts

2

Machinery

2 VTE, 4 cylindrical boilers

Power, h. p.

10663

Max speed, kts

17.8

Fuel, t

coal 600

Endurance, nm(kts)4700(10)
Armour, mm

belt: 100, gunshields: 50, CT: 50, deck: 25

Armament

6 x 1 - 152/40 A91, 10 x 1 - 120/40 A91, 2 x 1 - 75/21 Uchatius 29cwt BL No1, 9 x 1 - 57/40 H, 2 x 1 - 37/25 H lungo, 2 x 1 - 11.4/94, 5 - 450 TT (1 bow, 4 beam)

Complement

402



Standard scale images


<i>Cortellazzo</i> 1918
Cortellazzo 1918
<i>Marco Polo </i>1895
Marco Polo 1895


Graphics


<i>Marco Polo</i> 1898
Marco Polo 1898
<i>Cortellazzo</i> 1918  
Cortellazzo 1918  


Project history

Marco Polo, the first Italian armoured cruiser, was designed by Eng Insp Carlo Vigna, who modified an earlier, improved Etna class cruiser design. She was too lightly armed and protected to be considered successful, and her designed speed of 19kts was never attained.

Ship protection

Main 100mm belt protected most part of the length, its lower edge connected with deck slopes.

Modernizations

1911: - 6 x 1 - 120/40, 3 x 1 - 57/40, 1 x 1 - 11.4/80, 1 - 450 TT (bow)

(1917 - 1918, Arsenale di Venezia): ship was converted to troop transport, new armament consisted of light guns only.

Naval service

In 1917-1918 Marco Polo was converted to landing personnel transport Cortelazzo. After war she served hardly more than 3 years, but for this time she was twice renamed. She was and discarded 1.1921 but immediately reinstated in the ship list. She was stricken again 5.1.1922 and sold for BU.