An item reported that the designs introduced by admiral Bettólo (1) for the new Italian battleships were mainly accepted by the naval staff. The building of 2 of such ships was to be started. The displacement was 8.500 tons and as dimensions 134,7 x 19,1 metres. The armour consisted of a Terni steel made 15,2cm thick belt and an over all armoured deck. Design maximum speed was 20 knots. The range was to be acceptable. The main armament consisted of 12-20cm quick firing guns to be mounted in casemates and not turrets as was until now believed and further more a large number of 7,6cm and smaller guns.
Note
1. Admiral Giovanni Bettólo (25 May 1846 Genoa, Italy-14 April 1916 Rome, Italy), chief naval staff 1907-1911 and minister of navy between 1899-1900, 1903 and 1909-1910.
