- Yes
- No
History:
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Faa di Bruno was a monitor ship used by the Italian Navy. Cannone navale da 381/40 cannon was built by Ansaldo-Schneider for the Italian Navy newest battleship, the Francesco Caracciello class, but since the Francesco Caracciello class was cancelled, the 381mm was not available. Therefore, the Faa di Bruno was built to divert the cannon to a monitor ship and to provide inexpensive and effective gunfire. Designed by Rear Admiral Giuseppe Rota and named after Italian naval officer “Emilio Faà di Bruno”, Faa di Bruno was launched in 1915 and commissioned in 1917.
Faa di Bruno installing 381mm - Venezia
Faa di Bruno first mission was the 11th Battle of Isonzo in August 1917, where she and the “Alfredo Cappellini”, also a monitor ship of the Italian Navy, bombarded the Austro-Hungarian forces, but did not achieve much significant results. She was discharged on November 13, 1924, but with the outbreak of WW2, she was recommissioned as the floating battery “GM 194”. She was towed to Genoa, where she remained throughout the war.
With the surrender of Italy, it was seized by the Germans in 1943 and apparently operated as KMS Biber, but with the end of the war, it ended a strange life by being scrapped in 1945.
Design:
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As mentioned above, the Faa di Bruno was adapted from the Cannone navale da 381/40 cannon, and the turret was capable of +15° elevation angle and +/-30° turn. It was also equipped with 4 × 76.2 mm/40 Ansaldo AA guns for self-defense.
Faa di Bruno firing the main cannon
Faa di Bruno was based on the crane ship GA 43 and powered by 2 Thornycroft vertical triple-expansion (VTE) steam engines, originally for MTB. During sea trials in 1917, the ship was able to travel at a maximum speed of 3.3 knots. (Tutel) However, during actual operation, she appears to have operated at a maximum of 2.5 knots.
Faa di Bruno poor shape makes her speed performance the worst, but when one looks at her armor, it is not as bad as one might think. In consideration of the bombardment from land-based batteries, barbettes were placed in the center of the hull, and the shape of the deck was shaped with a gentle slope from the centerline to the surface of the water. This allowed the ship to have a reasonable amount of armor.
What the slope looks like
Photo:
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Simplified blueprints
Faa di Bruno - Venezia
Faa di Bruno from the front
381mm shells actually used
Armament & Specifications:
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Displacement:2854 tons fully loaded
Length: 55.6 m (182.4 ft)
Beam: 27.0 m (88.5 ft)
Draft: 2.2 m (7.2 ft)
Propulsion:
1 Kess boiler(465 hp)
2 × Thornycroft vertical triple-expansion Steam engine
2 x propeller shaftsSpeed:3.3 knots (6.1 km/h)
Complement: 45
Armament:
2x Cannone navale da 381/40 cannon
4x 76.2 mm/40 Ansaldo AA gunsArmor:
Deck:40mm
Barbette:60mm
Turret:70+20+20mm
RN Faa di Bruno in the Game:
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I can’t imagine much, but I think this will be one of the best meme ships in the game. Given the low BR the availability of 381mm, I’m sure skilled players will love it.
It would be a special gift to Italy TT.
Source:
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WW1 Italian monitors
Italian monitor Faà di Bruno - Wikipedia
Faà di Bruno (monitore) - Wikipedia
FAÀ DI BRUNO monitor (1917)
BIBER monitor (1917 / 1943)
https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/cannoniere/faabruno_ponte.aspx
Image Source:
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Faa di Bruno - Italy - War Thunder - Official Forum
WW1 Italian monitors
Faà di Bruno (monitore) - Wikipedia
https://www.destinationsjourney.com/historical-military-photographs/faa-di-bruno-italian-monitor/
As a related suggestion, you should definitely check out the Francesco Caracciolo Class suggestion ))
Thanks for reading! :3