700-52 BENEDETTO BRIN ITALIAN PRE-DREADNOUGHT NAVY BATTLESHIP

Benedetto Brin was an Italian battleship (the so-called pre-dreadnought) from the beginning of the 20th century and during the First World War. The keel for the vessel was laid in 1899, and its launch took place in 1901. Entry into service in the Regia Marina took place in 1905. The length of the ship was 138.65 meters and a width of 23.84 meters. Full displacement reached approx. 14,800 tons, and the maximum speed - at the time of launching - to approx. 20 knots. The deck armament, at the time of launching, consisted of, among others: 4 305 mm guns, 4 203 mm guns or 12 152 mm guns. Benedetto Brin was one of two Regina Margherita-class ships. It was built at the Italian shipyard of Castellmmare. Units of this type were built to complement the line of battleships of the Ammiraglio di Saint Bon class. Compared to their predecessors, they primarily had more powerful medium armaments and a slightly better top speed. However, their armor was weaker. Benedetto Brin took part in the Italian-Turkish war of 1911-1912, and in its course, among other things, participated in the firing of Tripoli. He also took part in the First World War, but in its course - in September 1915 - sank as a result of an internal explosion in the port of Brindisi. The wreckage of the battleship has become a grave for over 450 members of its crew.