Caio Duilio and Enrico Dandolo were roughly 12,000-ton seagoing turret ships built around the protection and firepower associated with monitors. Saint-Bon had promoted the concept before becoming minister: the design was presented in March 1873, and his term in office then let him carry the proposal into construction. Each ship carried four enormous muzzle-loading 18-inch guns, with mechanical assistance intended to improve handling and rate of fire, and could make roughly 13 knots in practical service. Muzzle loading was retained because the available breech mechanisms were not considered safe enough for weapons of this scale. Duilio also carried a small stern-launched torpedo boat, an idea suited to an independent cruising concept but later discarded when the ships’ Mediterranean role made shore-based boats readily available.
Chapter · 29:17-33:15
Caio Duilio class: 18-inch guns and a carried torpedo boat
The Caio Duilio class embodies Saint-Bon’s high-impact fleet policy with four 18-inch guns, armored-turret architecture, and an embarked torpedo boat.