RN Francesco Caracciolo

[red admiral]

First post of a long topic about Italian battleship Francesco Caracciolo and the many designs for her in 1914-1919.

A quick summary;
A-series with 12x381mm guns
B-series unknown?
C-series definitive Caracciolo with 8x381mm guns in duples. What was actually built (but not finished)
D-series with 12x381mm guns in 3 quadruples
F-series with 8x381mm guns in 2 quadruples
G-series with 16x381mm guns in 4 quadruples

A few pieces of fictional artwork as well, if completed, if updated in 1930s etc.

 

[red admiral]

After building the Cavour and Duilio class battleships in 1910-1912, the Regia Marina had a bit of a puase before continuing with construction of new ships. Various designs were considered with 280mm,305mm, 343mm, 356mm, 381mm and 406mm, but development focused on the 381mm gunned version.

In 1914 4 ships were laid down,
Francesco Caracciolo
Cristoforto Columbo
Marcantonio Colonna
Francesco Morosini

This final design had the following particulars

Displacement 34,000tons legend
212m x 29.6m x 9.5m
20 Yarrow boilers, oil firing, 4 Parsons Turbines driving 4 propellors
105,000shp giving 28knts
Range of 8000nm @ 10knts with 1800tons of oil
Armour
300mm - 220mm - 150mm belt
51mm deck
400mm turret faces, 300mm barbettes
Armament
8x381mm/40 in duples, 12x152/45, 12x100/47, 12x40/39

Images;
Francesco Caracciolo in various stages of completion in 1915

 

[red admiral]

D-series ships with 12x381mm guns in quadruple turrets

Displacement c. 35000tons
Speed between 25/27knts
Protection 270mm external belt, 150mm internal belt, deck unknown

Armament
D 16x170mm, 20x100/47
D' 12x170mm, 16x100/47
D'' 16x170mm, 22x100/47
D''' 24x100/47
D bis, 12x170mm, 30x100/47

 

[red admiral]

D''' and D bis images

 

[red admiral]

F-series with 8x381mm guns in 2 quadruple turrets

F
30,000tons
25/27knts
protection same
16x170mm, 24x100mm

F'
32,000tons
29/31knts
protection same
16x170mm, 24x100mm

 

[Grey Havoc]

Any idea as to why the Francesco Caracciolo was cancelled?

 

[Hoo-2b-2day]

These ships wer first suspened due to WW1 and when hostilties were over the design was outdated as well as Italy being unable to fund the completion of these ships. The name ships hull lingered around into the 1920's being considered for converion to a merchant ship or latter an aircraft carrier, but the money was not available so ended up being scrapped.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Makes sense. Any idea what major Naval, or more likely Army, project was competing for the same resources as the Francesco Caracciolo construction in 1916? Or was it just a general drain on/shortage of resources that caused a practically completed warship to be shelved?

 

[Tzoli]

Are you sure are those secondary guns are 170mm? There were no such calibre in use in the Regina Marina, only 152mm, 190mm and 203mm at that time.
Even the 152mm guns were of old British ones of the 6inch EOC QF Mark I on the Garibaldi class Armoured Cruiser which also used the 203mm EOC Pattern W, while the San Giorgo the 190mm Model 1908 guns.

 

[Frankthebuilder]

First post of a long topic about Italian battleship Francesco Caracciolo and the many designs for her in 1914-1919.

A quick summary;
A-series with 12x381mm guns
B-series unknown?
C-series definitive Caracciolo with 8x381mm guns in duples. What was actually built (but not finished)
D-series with 12x381mm guns in 3 quadruples
F-series with 8x381mm guns in 2 quadruples
G-series with 16x381mm guns in 4 quadruples

A few pieces of fictional artwork as well, if completed, if updated in 1930s etc.

Ho dear Friends
Here my art concepts of the battleship Caracciolo what if completed by 1919

 

[T-50]

First post of a long topic about Italian battleship Francesco Caracciolo and the many designs for her in 1914-1919.

A quick summary;
A-series with 12x381mm guns
B-series unknown?
C-series definitive Caracciolo with 8x381mm guns in duples. What was actually built (but not finished)
D-series with 12x381mm guns in 3 quadruples
F-series with 8x381mm guns in 2 quadruples
G-series with 16x381mm guns in 4 quadruples

A few pieces of fictional artwork as well, if completed, if updated in 1930s etc.

Ho dear Friends
Here my art concepts of the battleship Caracciolo what if completed by 1919

View attachment 652339

Very nice artwork.this ship would be very impressive if it was realy build!

 

[Tzoli]

Nice looking drawing though it is sad that it's such low resolution one you uploaded