The design paired ten 14-inch guns in two triple and two twin turrets with fourteen 5.9-inch casemate guns. A crew of roughly 1,000 to 1,100 officers and men would operate the ship. The smaller weapons included two 1.9-inch (47 mm) guns and between eight and twelve 3.5-inch anti-aircraft guns, alongside other rapid-fire mounts. That dense battery suited the confined Adriatic, where Italian motor torpedo boats and aircraft could threaten a capital ship at close range. Five or six 21-inch torpedo tubes added another offensive option. The armour belt reached roughly 12.2 inches, while the turrets and conning tower carried still heavier protection over a much thinner deck. This was a conventional but formidable battleship tailored to close waters.
Chapter · 22:56-25:15
A gun and armour scheme tailored to close waters
Heavy main and secondary batteries sat beside numerous rapid-fire weapons, torpedo tubes, and substantial armour suited to an Adriatic threat environment.