German battleship torpedoed by Italian sub

[paul.mercer]

Gentlemen,
Just watched a program called WW1 in colour and it showed a German Battleship with triple guns in her turrets turning over after being torpedoed by an Italian sub, what ship was this and what calibre guns did she have, did Germany invent the 3 gun turret?

[Herr Nilsson]

Probably not German, but Austrian:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Szent_Istv%C3%A1n

[Thorsten Wahl]

it was a motor torpedo boat not a submarine

[Alberto Virtuani]

Hi all,
this is the statue that in Milazzo (Sicily) was erected to celebrate the hero of the action, Luigi Rizzo, AFAIK the only man who was able to sink 2 battleships (SMS Wien and SMS Szent István), with a small motorboat (MAS).

rizzo.jpg (56.91 KiB) Viewed 11739 times

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Rizzo

He is considered the greatest Italian navy officer ever, twice decorated (quite surprisigly, while still alive !) with the highest Italian decoration (gold medal of military valor) + other decorations (among them the French "Croix de Guerre" and the British D.S.O.).

The last FREMM frigade of the Marina Militare was named upon him: https://www.naval-technology.com/uncate ... o-5792747/


Bye, Alberto

[Antonio Bonomi]

Hello everybody,

now that Alberto has disclosed my avatar image ( in full size ), ... ... here it is the story of Luigi Rizzo.

He has been surely the most courageous and decorated Italian sailor recently, and probably among the best in the whole world all times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIP5QU1ZM-0

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Rizzo

http://leganerd.com/2013/09/21/limpresa ... o-stefano/

PhotozHinds-ItMAS15-side.jpeg (49.79 KiB) Viewed 11727 times

MAS means : Motobarca Armata SVAN
SVAN means : Societa Veneta Automobili Navali ( built in Venice Arsenal )

For Gabriele D' Annunzio that with Luigi Rizzo made the " beffa di Buccari " MAS meant : Memento Audere Semper ( remember always to take risks)

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beffa_di_Buccari

54e6d4b290ee6b15b9b30f888022ffb5.png (31 KiB) Viewed 11727 times

Memento Audere Semper et Ventis Adversis ( Remember always to take risks despite unfavorable winds )


Bye Antonio

[paul.mercer]

Gentlemen,
Many thanks for your replies, two battleships sunk by an over-sized motor boat - makes you think!

[Byron Angel]

Considering the successes delivered by Rizzo in WW1 and by those intrepid Italian frogmen in Alexandria harbor in WW2, it is indeed interesting to ponder the return on investment enjoyed by the Regia Marina with respect to the money spent upon those MTBs and "Chariots" compared to the huge sums spent upon BBs in the two wars.


Byron