| Austro-Hungarian "Habsburg" Class |
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Battleships |
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| Chief naval architect Siegfried Popper designed the new 8,300–t battleship type. As usual, lots of gun power had to be packed in the smallest possible displacement. Since the ships with more than 15,000 IHP reached speeds of 19 knots and similar foreign ships like Rostislav (Russia, 1897; four 25 cm, 16 knots), D’Entrecasteaux (France, 1896; two 24 cm, 19 knots), Henri IV. (France 1899; two 25 cm; 17 knots) were slower and had weaker armament, rear artillery was reduced to a single 24–cm gun. Heavy and medium caliber guns were produced by Friedrich Krupp, Essen. The last unit, the Babenberg got the first Škoda produced heavy guns, a slightly improved Krupp 24–cm cal 40 C/97 type. Construction of the first two units – Habsburg and Árpád – was started at the new San Marco shipyard in 1899. Following the launching of the Habsburg on 9 September 1900, construction of the third unit Babenberg started. The internationally renowned navy reference book by Fred T. Jane, The World’s Warships found words of praise in the 1902 issue: „…we gather that there are no two alike amongst them.” And one year later again: ”These are extremely powerful vessels for their size, fast and very handy.” Due to the rapid expansion of the international navies, the Habsburgs became obsolete within a short time and were assigned to the 1st Reserve by 1907. To lower their silhouette, the upper decks of Habsburg and Árpád were removed in 1910/11, but not those of Babenberg. At the onset of World War One the three ships formed the IVth Division till 1918 when they were demobilized. | ||||
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| Technical Data | ||
| Built: Displacement: Dimensions: Propulsion: Max. Speed: Range: Crew: |
1899/1902 at Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino,
Trieste 8,363.80 / 8.944.20 ts 114.50 × 19,80 (21.20 at casemates) ×7.10 (7.40 max.) m 11,900 / 13,340 iHP; 16 Belleville boilers; 2 VTE; 2 shafts 19.63 kts 3,600 nm @ 12 kts / 800 ts coal 32 + 606 |
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| Tactical Data | ||
| Main: Secondary: QF: Armour: Torpedoes: Searchlights: |
3×240 cal 40 C97 [1×2, 1×1] 12×150 cal 40 [12x1] 10×70 cal 45; 2x70 cal 18; 6x47 cal 44; 2x37 cal 33 belt: 220; deck: 63; turrets: 210 2x450 (sides, below waterline) 6x600 2x350 (7x600, 2x350 after reconstruction 1910/11) |
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