Q&A · 2:13:43-2:16:45

Capitani Romani guns could simplify a Littorio secondary battery

Replacing separate 6-inch, 4.7-inch, and 3.5-inch batteries with twin 135 mm mounts would trade specialized weapons for a large unified dual-purpose battery.

Question

How would you design a battleship around Capitani Romani-class escorts and their guns?

Short answer

Begin with a Littorio hull and replace its mixed secondary and anti-aircraft batteries with about twelve twin 135 mm dual-purpose mounts, then solve the resulting arcs and weight problems.

Notes

The historical Littorio arrangement divided secondary and anti-aircraft work among several calibers and mount types. The proposed redesign uses the Capitani Romani class's twin 135 mm dual-purpose mount to replace those separate batteries. Six mounts per side would produce twenty-four guns with simpler ammunition and fire-control requirements. The layout still has to preserve arcs, superstructure clearance, aircraft handling, and topweight, making the exercise a study in integration rather than a free increase in firepower.