700-40 SMS CUSTOZA - THE AUSTRIO-HUNGARIAN IRONCLAD

SMS Custoza was an Austro-Hungarian steam-powered armored liner from the second half of the 19th century. The keel for the vessel was laid in 1869, and its launch took place in 1872. The entry into service took place in 1875. The total length of the ship was 95 meters and a width of 17.7 meters. Full displacement reached approx. 7,700 tons, and the maximum speed - at the time of launching - to approx. 13-14 knots. The deck armament consisted of: 8 260 mm guns, 6 90 mm guns and 2 70 mm guns. SMS Custoza was the only vessel of its type. It was built at the Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino shipyard in what was then Austria-Hungary. The unit was the first armored battleship in the service of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, as well as the first large vessel built after the Battle of Lissa in 1866. In the light of the experience from this battle, the new ship received very good - for those times - armor and the ability to ram enemy units. SMS Custoza took part in an international military demonstration against the Ottoman Empire in 1880 and was modernized two years later. However, in 1902, the unit was reclassified as a training ship, and from 1914 it was used as a houseboat. In 1920, it was handed over to Italy as part of war reparations - it was demolished the same year.