Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-16
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On JdHuuIy ISL, loJU, tncre were
building three iron-clads Of the first
class, with total of 40,456 metric tons
displacement; of the second class, six
torpedo rams, of 1899 metric tons; and
of the third class, one gunboat and
seven torpedo cruisers. The total ton
mage of the vessels then under way was
63,Sl0, and their horsepower 1f6,700.
Two Of the first class ironclads building
10 months ago are now practically
ready for service-the Re Umherto and
the Sardegna-and the Piemonte, of the
second class. The Italian navy was
manned last year by six vice-admirals,
10 rear-admirals, 1859 captains, 1928 lieu
tenants and sub-lieutenants, SO marine
guards, 277 engineers and machinists,
142 medical staff, 2SS commisariat, so
"del' oorpo Reale Equipaggi," and
20,429 men. There were $50 officers and
4Q4S men on unlimited leave or in re-
set1H, the total strength of the navy, of
alTfanks, being thus 62,910.
Included in the Italian navy are II
armored ships, of which are of the
most modern construction, with dis
placement each of over II 900 metric
tons. Their speed is fully equal to that
of ships of their class, averaging be-
tween 10 and 1874 knots per hour, and
they are armed with Armstrong breech-
loading rifles with calibre of from 10
to II inches.
The most formidable vessels in the
Italian fleet are the Italia. Lepanto, Re
Umberto, and Sardegna. These four
have all been launched since 1880, and
range in tonnage between 1929 and
1888 metric tons; they have no side
armor, but inclined armor 10 inches
thick on the citadel, and 15A inches
thick around the funnel hatchways, with
armor on ammunition tubes 10 inches
thick. The Italia, launched in 1880,
has displacement of 1888 tons; en-
gines of 1858 horse power; 4 10O-ton
and S4-ton guns; and speed of 1873
knots. The Lepanto, launched in 1899,
has displacement of 1850; engines of
1877 horsepower; A 1l0-ton and 8 g.
inch breech-loading guns; and speed
OF 1874 knots. The Re Umberto,
launched in 1888, has a displacement of
1928 tons; engines Of 1920 horse
power; a 6s-ton and Alton guns; and
a speed of Is knots. The Sardegna
launched in 1890, has displacement Of
1850 tons; engines Of 1920 horse
power; 67-ton, 8 15-centimetre, 6 12-
centimetre, and 10 quick firing and
machine guns; and a speed Of IS knots.
Still another tirst-class sea going armor-
clad sister ship to the Sardegna is under
construction, and will be named the
Stella.
Next comes a squadron OF five for
mldable armor- Clads of about II 600
metric tons displacement. OF these the
Dullio, which was launched in 1876, at
which time she was the most formidable
war vessel atloai, has engines of 7,711
horsepower, a citadel encased in 22-inch
armor, and carries four 100-ton breech-
loading Armstrong guns, but her speed
is only Is knots per hour. The Dandolo.
launched in 1878, is almost identical in
construction with the Duilio, but has a
little greater horsepower and half a
knot greater speed. The other three
vessels Of this class are the Ruggiero
di LAURA, the francesca Morosini, and
the Andrea Doria. They were launched
in 1884 and 1885, have engines of 10000
horsepower, armor IS inches in thick
ness, a speed of 16 knots, and carry
4 1OO-ton and 9 4-ton Armstrong
Dreecn l0aderS.
The other vessels of the first cl1ss
five IN number, were launched as far
back as 1896, have displacement Of
about 1000 tons, engines of from $500
to 3,2OO horsepower, armor of from a
TO D inches in thickness, speed of from
II to ID knots, and are variously armed
with guns from 10 10 tons in weight
Of the cruisers ready for sea, there
are 6 torpedo rams, and without that
outfit, launched between 1861 and 1889.
Their tonnage ranges between 2,220and
$3.50 tons, and their horsepower from
insignificant figures all the way up to
12,2O0. Three of the Oldest of these
second-class ships have an armor Al
inches in thickness, but two of these
have speed Of only Z knots.
The most scrviceable of the whole un-
armored Italian fleet is the magnificent
cruiser Piemonte, which was launched
in 1889, having been built in England
by Sir W. &. Armstrong, Mitchell IL Co.
She is comparatively small vessel, Of
only $500 tons displacement, and car
ries only 72O tons of machinery, and yet
she was designed to develop II 800
horsepower and attain speed Of 81 5
knots on the measured mile. On her
final trial, however, she developed the
remarkable speed of 22.3 knots. She
carries s 6-inch quick-firing 5-ton guns,
6 44-inch quick-tiring 2-ton guns, 10
6-pounder Hotchkiss guns, 6 1-pounder