Italian battleship Andrea Doria

Designation: Andrea Doria Classification Type: Battleship Ship Class: Andrea Dorea-class Country of Origin: Italy Initial Year of Service: 1913 Number in Class: 2

General characteristics Displacement: As built: 22,956 tons normal 24,729 tons full load As modernized: 26,434 tons normal 29,391 tons full load Length: 168.96 m (554.3 ft) Beam: 28.03 m (92.0 ft) Draft: 8.58 m (28.1 ft) Propulsion: As built: Steam turbine system 20 boilers 4 shafts 30,000 shp As modernized: Steam turbine system 8 Yarrow type boilers 2 shafts 75,000 shp Speed: As built: 21 knots (39 km/h) As modernized: 27 knots (50 km/h) Complement: As built: 1,233 As modernized: 1,485 Armament: As built: 13 × 305 mm (12 in) guns (Three triple and two double turrets) 16 × 152 mm (6 in) guns 13 × 76 mm (3 in) guns 6 × 76 mm anti-aircraft guns 3 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes As modernized: 10 × 320 mm (12.6 in) guns (Two triple and two double turrets) 12 × 135 mm (5.3 in) guns (Four triple turrets) 13 × 76 mm guns 10 × 90 mm (3.5 in) anti-aircraft guns 15 × 37 mm anti-aircraft guns 16 × 20 mm anti-aircraft guns Armor: Belt: 100 mm Turrets: 275 mm Decks: 250 mm

The Andrea Doria class was a class of battleships of the Regia Marina (Italian Navy). Two were built in the La Spezia and Castellammare shipyards between 1912 and 1915. These ships were improved versions of the Conte di Cavour battleships. Although both of these ships were completed during World War I, they did not see action. Both were extensively modernized prior to World War II.


The Andrea Doria was one of two battleships in the Andrea Doria-class serving the Italian Navy in th 20th century. Construction was handled between the shipyards of La Spezia and Castellammare from 1912 onwards until the vessels were launched in 1915 and made ready for operational service by 1916. Based on the Conte di Cavour battleship design, the Andrea Doria arrived too late to see any combat action in the war and would have to wait for history's second greatest global conflict before she could fire her guns in anger.

The Andrea Doria's profile was dominated by its twin mast and funnels, opening up a space amidships for a primary turret emplacement. The Andrea Doria class was a class of battleships of the Regia Marina (Italian Navy).In her early form, the vessel featured 13 x 12" main guns held in five total turrets, three with triple barrels and two with dual barrels. This main armament was supplemented by 16 x 6" guns, 13 x 3" guns and 3 x 135mm torpedo tubes for considerable offensive firepower. Defensive armament consisted of 6 x 76mm guns for anti-aircraft duty. Power was initially supplied by a steam turbine with twenty boilers feeding four shafts at 30,000 shaft horsepower. After modernization, this turned into a steam turbine system with eight Yarrow type boilers feeding just twin shafts but at a great 75,000 shaft horsepower load. Crew complement was a total of 1,233 sailors.

As time went on, it was seen fit to modernize the type and the Andrea Doria received a complete overhaul prior to World War 2 that even her armament did not escape. This later version of the vessel featured 10 x 12.6" main guns in two triple and two double turret emplacements. This was supplemented by 12 x 5.3" guns, 10 x 3.5" anti-aircraft guns, 13 x 76mm guns, 15 x 37mm anti-aircraft cannons and 16 x 20mm anti-aircraft cannons (note removal of torpedo tubes). In all, the Andrea Doria became a more powerful vessel in her later career than she was when first introduced. Crew complement increased in her new form to 1,485 sailors.

Andrea Doria was launched in time to see active service in World War 1 but did not see any combat action until after the war in 1919, where she served with the Allied Intervention Force in the Black Sea in the Russian Civil War as an escort. Beyond that, the vessel led a quiet life on the seas until the build up to World War 2. She saw a major refit from 1937 through 1940, with additional armor added to critical areas and turrets along with the aforementioned change in armament. Her machinery changed as well and she received a boost to her top speed thanks to redesigned twin screws over her original quadruple design and new boiler systems powering her steam turbine.

In combat, the Andrea Doria took part in the convoy battles dotting the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions seeing notable action in the First Battle of Sirte. With her battle days numbered and Italy on the verge of capitulation, the Andrea Doria was placed in reserve by 1942, eventually surrendering to British forces near Malta that same year and interned the following year after Italy's official defeat. The Andrea Doria-class was superceded by the Littorio-class of warships in World War 2.