A collision reveals Italy's torpedo-cruiser-heavy fleet

Giovanni Bausan collided with the torpedo cruiser Folgore and badly damaged the smaller vessel. The incident leads into an explanation of torpedo cruisers as defensive assets that might land a damaging torpedo even when facing a superior attacker. Italy could count four ironclads and eight cruisers in the maneuver force just discussed, but half of those cruisers were torpedo cruisers rather than large protected ships. The numbers advertised naval strength while also revealing the fleet's limited supply of heavy units. Torpedo armament helped make that mixed force more dangerous than its battle-line strength implied.