Built as a battleship by Reale Cantiere di Castellamare di Stabia for the Italian Navy.
30 January 1899 keel laid down.
07 November 1901 launched as the BENEDETTO BRIN, one sister the REGINA MARGHERITA.
Displacement 12,427 tons, dim. 183.9 x 23.8 x 9.0m. (draught), length bpp. 130.0m.
Powered by two sets one cylinder triple expansion steam engines, manufactured by the Hawthorn Group, normal speed by 15.000hp, 18 knots, forces speed 19.000 hp, speed 20 knots. Twin shafts, 26 boilers manufactured by Belleville.
Coal normal 1,000 tons, maximum 2,000 tons.
Range by a speed of 10 knots, 10,000 mile.
The weight of the hull was 6,195 ton, machinery and boilers weighed 1,603 ton.
She did have three funnels with the forward funnels paired abreast.
Armament in 1914, 4 – 12 inch, 4 – 8 inch, 12 – 6 inch, 20 – 12pdr., 2 – 1 pdr. guns. 4 – 18 inch torpedo tubes.
Crew 720.
01 September 1905 commissioned, building cost £1,150.000.
She was the flagship of rear Admiral Rubin de Cervin, when she was lying in Brindisi Harbour on 28 September 1915, when fire broke suddenly out near the after magazine due to enemy sabotage. Within a very short space of time the magazine exploded and the battleship sank. At that time she carried a complement of 720, but it is not likely that this number was on board at the explosion. The survivors numbered 8 officers and 370 ratings. Rear Admiral de Cerven went down with the vessel.
She was a total loss only most of her heavy guns were salvaged.
Italy 1978 170li sg1553, scott?
Source: Navucula and some web-sites. Jane’s 1914.