Protected Cruiser Libia (1917 Refit)

[WayOfTheWolk 1,573]

Libia

Introduction:

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Originally laid down as the "Drama" in 1907 for the Ottoman Navy, the ship was confiscated by the Italians during the Italo-Turkish War of 1911 and renamed "Libia" then after. She was a copy of the earlier British built protected cruiser Hamidiye for the Ottomans built at the Ansaldo shipyard in Genoa. The new warship was launched on November 11, 1912 and commissioned on March 25, 1913 with modifications made to conform to Italian standards. Compared with other earlier Italian protected cruisers Libia was by far the fastest maxing out at 22 knots and had thicker armor which pleased the admiralty. 

Service Career:

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On the the eve of war September 3, 1914 the ship was in Durazzo Albania. Prince William ruler of the country suddenly left Albania in fear of civil war turning the country into full chaos. With refugees feeling the city for the city's port Libia's captain ordered Italian marines to restore order in Durazzo until the evacuation could complete. They themselves departed soon after. When Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary in May 1915 Libia took part in the Otranto Barrage though she did not encounter enemy action. In September 1916 Libia ordered into the Bay of Salamis amid tensions between the Allies and Hellenic government during the Noemvriana. The Allies would later seize the Greek fleet in December forcing Greece to enter the war on their side. In 1917 Libia underwent a refit receiving three 3-inch AA guns. Postwar in 1921 the Libia went on a world tour at the command of Admiral Ernesto Burzagli. When she stopped in San Francisco, November 1921 then obscure filmmaker Frank Capra made a documentary on Libia, his first film. She received another refit in 1925 removing her 15cm guns. Subsequently Libia was deployed to the far east as part of the Italian Battalion in China carrying troops meant to guard local diplomatic stations. Tragedy struck on March 28, 1929 when Libia struck the Chinese steamer SS Kangtai killing 30 merchant mariners. Libia remained in China throughout the rest of her career until being replaced by the scout cruiser Quarto in 1935. Libia was stricken from the naval register on March 11, 1937 and scrapped. 

Photographs:

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Libia sometime during her world tour between 1921-1923

Libia at Shanghai, 1932

Libia anchored in port 

Ship artwork from world tour

Libia in the Thames, March 1919

Libia at sea during her world tour, 1921

Technical Data:

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General Specifications:

Displacement: 3760 tonnes

Length: 111.8 m

Beam: 14.5  m

Draft: 5.5 m

Installed Power: 15 x Niclausse boilers  

Propulsion: 2 x shafts, 2 x vertical triple expansion engines (11530 hp)

Speed: 22.9 knots

Crew: 314 men

 

Armor (Terni Cemented Steel):

Deck: 100mm

Conning Tower: 100mm sides

Gunshields: 76mm

 

Armament: (1917)

2 x 152/50 A1913 guns 

8 x 120/45 A1913 guns

8 x 47/50 V1908 guns

6 x 37/25 H1890 lungo guns

3 x 76/40 A1917 AA guns

2 x 450mm torpedo tubes (beam)

Sources:

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• Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906–1921 . Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.
• https://www.navypedia.org/ships/italy/it_cr_libia.htm
• https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/LMNO/libia.aspx
• https://www.naval-encyclopedia.com/ww1/italy/italian-cruisers
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_cruiser_Libia

 

Edited April 14, 2021 by WayOfTheWolk

[GandhiKhan 187]

Open for Discussion! 

[Artyom_Ascaron 48]

Yes! give it to us asap!

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

Would be such a cool addition 

[Milocat 4,857]

+1, this would be fun to see.

[Valcour 1,141]

+1   for its story alone!

 

[Nicholas_Concu 2,636]

+1

[jon_man1199 563]

a +1 from me. I've actually seen and might have photos of some of her plans and her original nameboard. They still exist at il Museo Storico Navale

[John4Plays 70]

Yes, +1 from me!

[LukTroy 124]

+1. It would give some flavour to the italian tech tree because of it's uniqueness.

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

I want all the possible WW I ships.  Please Gaijin.