Benedetto Brin 1905
| 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 |
|
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 |
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.
Regina Margherita 1908
© Ivan Gogin, 2014