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Wednesday 19 November 2014

Austrian broadside ironclad Juan d'Austria 1861-1919


Also called a 2nd class armoured frigate with wood built hull. Worse qualities. Laid down at the shipyard Stabilimento Technico Triestino, Italy in October 1862, launched on 26 July 1862 and completed in 1863. Original specifications. A displacement of 3.558 tons and as dimensions 70,78 (between perpendiculars) x 14,00 x 6,32 metres or 232’2” x 45’11” x20’9”. The 2-cylinder horizontal engine supplied 1.900 ihp allowing a speed of 11 knots. The armour consisted of a 11cm thick belt. The original armament consisted of 15-15c, 24 pd muzzle loading rifles, 16-48pd guns, 1-12pd gun and 1-6 pd gun. In 1867 replaced by 12-7”Armstrong muzzle loading guns and 2-3cm 4-d boat guns. Her crew numbered them 386 men. Sister ships were the Prinz Eugen and the Kaiser.

All three ships were rebuilt as centre battery ships. As the Don Juan d'Austria was laid down at the shipyard Tabilimento Technico Triestino, Italy on 14 February 1874, launched on 25 October 1875, completed on 26 June 1876, stricken on 29 June 1904, accommodation ship for the staff of the torpedo service, confiscated after the First World by Italy but sunk in 1919.