La Pirofregata corazzata Re d’Italia

Abstract

Characteristics and service data of the ironclad Re d’Italia (sunk in the battle of Lissa) have been thoroughly dealt with by Franco Gay in the book Le navi di linea italiane (1861-1875) published in 2011 by Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare.This article presents the original plans of the Re d’Italia, drawn by her builder William Henry Weeb, which had not ever been published either in Italy or elsewhere; they show the internal arrangements of the ship, never before known. Furthermore, the article shows the highly favourable comments the ironclad received from the American press. The article also dwells upon the reasons why the Italian Prime Minister and Minister of the Navy count Camillo Benso di Cavour decided to order two ironclad and why he ordered them to an American shipyard, not without some opposition from Italian politicians, naval officers and shipbuilding engineers. From the scant sources available this article also try to cast some light about how it was that count Cavour become acquainted with Webb, a matter very little explored in the past.