Page:The Development of Navies During the Last Half-Century.djvu/312

 'Sardegna,' and 'Sicilia,' which in arrangement are more like our new first-class battle ships. They carry four 67-ton guns, placed in pairs in a barbette at each end of the ship, but the principle of omitting all thick external armour is still adopted. Then there are three others, the 'Andrea Doria,' 'Ruggiero di Lauria,' and 'Francesco Morosini,' of 11,000 tons, somewhat similar to the 'Duilio' and 'Dandolo,' but carrying four 105-ton breech-loading guns in a central redoubt instead of in turrets. Thus Italy possesses ten ironclads of 11,000 tons and upwards, of which all but two are equipped with the most modern artillery and machinery.

She has been equally enterprising with cruisers and smaller vessels. In the 'Piemonte,' built by Sir William Armstrong's firm, she acquired, with the moderate dimensions of 2500 tons, a vessel capable of steaming 20 knots in smooth water without unduly pressing the machinery. This also was associated with a very powerful armament of quick-firing guns. There has been a tendency to overload such vessels with guns, and in the case of the 'Piemonte' my impression on seeing her was that a lighter armament would be more suitable to her dimensions.

Of torpedo-catchers Italy has several of 750 tons and a speed of 20 knots. In this type the experiment was tried of employing three screws to obtain greater speed, for which the 'Tripoli' was selected. But the result was not favourable. It is possible that in a vessel of large size a screw in the centre and one on each side of the stern may answer, but in a small ship they must