by Gregory Shoda |
Francesco Morosini & her sisters Ruggiero di Lauria & Andrea Doria were designed as smaller versions of the earlier Duilio-class ironclads but still packed a heavy main armament of 17 inch guns. As these monster guns took 8 minutes to reload and fire, the secondary armament of 2 6-inch and 4 4.7-inch guns appears to have been inadequate. The 2 large cranes give Francesco Morosini a unique look. The bow crane makes me think of a rhinoceros beetle.
