- Yes
- Maybe
- No
History.
In 1908 the Regia Marina made a request to the Italian naval military industries for a light ship with little protection but high speed and good armament to be used as a scout ship (and to be used as an answer to the Austro-Hungarian ship SMS Admiral Spaun). Major Giulio Truccone of the Naval Engineers designed the ship, and at the end of the design the ship was built at the Royal Arsenal in Venice. On August 19, 1911 the ship was launched, and on May 11 of the following year the ship entered service with the Regia Marina. The ship turned out to be very fast and well armed, and was assigned to the 1st Division of the 1st Squadron. At the outbreak of World War I the ship was stationed at Brindisi, and took part in the Otranto Landings from 1915. The ship did over fifty missions throughout the war, but was fortunate (and unfortunate) to participate in only one engagement and did not suffer (but neither did she do) any damage to enemy shipping. After the cessation of hostilities in 1926, the ship was briefly equipped with a Macchi M.18 seaplane, which was removed the following year. The ship later participated in a military tour at Yokohama and in 1935 was sent to the Horn of Africa to support Italian military operations against Abyssinia.
Armament and propulsion.
The ship was armed with 6 pieces of 120/50 Model 1909 (British license from Vickers-Armstrong) in single shafts, 6 pieces of 75/50 Model 1909 (of French origin) in single shafts, and 2 450 mm torpedo tubes.
As propulsion, the ship was powered by four Parsons-type steam turbines and ten Blechynden naphtha boilers producing 29,215 hp, which could propel the ship up to a maximum speed of 52 km/h.
Specifications.
Spoiler
Crew: 323
Length: 131.6 m
Beam: 12.8 m
Draft: 4.1 m
Propulsion: 4x Parsons-type steam turbines and 10x Blechynden naphtha boilers (29,215 hp total power)
Maximum speed: 52 km/h
Armament: 6x 120/50 Mod.09, 6x 75/50 Mod.09 and 2x 450 mm torpedo tubes
Armor: 38-100 mm
Pictures and drawnings.
Sources.