Ancona came close enough for a point-blank broadside against Erzherzog Ferdinand Max, but at least many guns contained powder without shot. The failure turned what should have been a lethal opportunity into evidence of poor loading discipline and rushed preparation. With the Austrian flagship damaged, Affondatore had another chance to ram Kaiser, but Persano ordered the attack broken off. Together the episodes show how technical opportunity disappeared when crews and commanders had not practised their ships as a coherent system.
Notable Point · 41:43-43:10
Powder without shot exposes unready gun crews
Ancona's point-blank broadside failed because guns had powder but no shot, while Persano then abandoned another apparent chance to ram Kaiser.