Piemonte spent World War I on active duty with the Regia Marina's Second Fleet rather than in a depot role. Her mixed battery and original 22-knot speed reflected an 1880s protected cruiser, yet Italy still counted her among ships available to reinforce a fleet action. A 1912 proposal would have placed an inclined flight deck over the after half of the ship, high enough to clear the funnels. The design was intended for both seaplanes and wheeled aircraft, but the navy declined because it did not then wish to operate aircraft at sea. The unbuilt conversion shows how radically an old hull's function might change when a new naval technology appears.
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Piemonte remains battle-ready and nearly becomes an aircraft carrier
Italy kept the 1880s cruiser Piemonte in its Second Fleet and considered adding an elevated flight deck for seaplanes and wheeled aircraft.