The Francesco Caracciolo class remained a battleship rather than a battlecruiser because its protection was substantial even as its intended speed approached 28 knots. The design combined 15-inch guns, an 11.9-inch belt, small-tube boilers, and about 105,000 shaft horsepower. Its secondary armament was to include twelve 6-inch guns, eight 4-inch guns, and twelve 40 mm weapons. The machinery is compared with the faster Queen Elizabeth-class concept Jellicoe wanted while serving as Third Sea Lord. This combination shows how propulsion technology could change the balance among speed, armour, and armament without forcing a ship into the battlecruiser category.
Notable Point · 5:54-7:20
Francesco Caracciolo and the fast battleship idea
Italy's Francesco Caracciolo design combined 15-inch guns, an almost 12-inch belt, and a speed more often associated with battlecruisers.