Italian cruiser Folgore

{{main|Folgore-class cruiser}}

{{lang|it|Folgore}} was {{convert|56.7|m|sp=us}} long overall and had a beam of {{convert|6.31|m|ftin|abbr=on}} and an average draft of {{convert|2.15|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. She displaced {{convert|364|LT|sp=us|lk=on}} normally. Her propulsion system consisted of a pair of horizontal double-expansion steam engines each driving a single screw propeller, with steam supplied by four coal-fired locomotive boilers. {{lang|it|Folgore}} could steam at a speed of {{convert|17|kn|lk=in}} from {{convert|2150|ihp|lk=in}}. She had a crew of between 57 and 70.{{sfn|Fraccaroli|p=347}}

The primary armament for {{lang|it|Folgore}} was three {{convert|14|in|abbr=on|0}} torpedo tubes. For defense against torpedo boats, she was also equipped with two QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt /43 guns, two QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns and four {{convert|37|mm|abbr=on|1}} /25 guns, all mounted singly. The ship carried no armor protection.{{sfn|Fraccaroli|p=347}}

{{lang|it|Folgore}} was built at the {{lang|it|Regio Cantiere di Castellammare di Stabia}} (Royal Dockyard in Castellammare di Stabia). She was launched on 29 September 1886 and was completed on 16 February 1887.{{sfn|Fraccaroli|p=347}} On 10 June, the annual fleet maneuvers began; {{lang|it|Folgore}} was assigned to the "defending squadron", along with the ironclads {{ship|Italian ironclad|Enrico Dandolo||2}}, {{ship|Italian ironclad|Palestro||2}}, {{ship|Italian ironclad|Castelfidardo||2}}, and {{ship|Italian ironclad|Affondatore||2}}, the protected cruiser {{ship|Italian cruiser|Dogali||2}}, and several smaller vessels. The first half of the maneuvers tested the ability to attack and defend the Strait of Messina, and concluded in time for a fleet review by King Umberto I on the 21st. The second phase consisted of joint maneuvers with the Italian Army; {{lang|it|Folgore}} and the torpedo cruiser {{ship|Italian cruiser|Tripoli||2}} were tasked with blockading Livorno. The exercises lasted until 30 July.{{sfn|Beehler|pp=164, 166}}

The following year, she took part in the annual fleet maneuvers, along with five ironclads, a protected cruiser, the torpedo cruisers {{lang|it|Tripoli}}, {{ship|Italian cruiser|Goito||2}}, and {{ship|Italian cruiser|Saetta||2}}, and numerous smaller vessels. The maneuvers consisted of close-order drills and a simulated attack on and defense of La Spezia. Later that year, the ship was present during a naval review held for the German Kaiser Wilhelm II during a visit to Italy.{{sfn|Brassey|p=453}} The ship's career was cut short on 5 July 1889, when she collided with the protected cruiser {{ship|Italian cruiser|Giovanni Bausan||2}} while the two ships were steaming off Capri. {{lang|it|Folgore}} was badly damaged, and she could not be restored to her original capabilities. She was accordingly laid up.{{sfn|Fraccaroli|p=347}}

{{lang|it|Folgore}} was briefly recommissioned to take part in the annual fleet maneuvers in 1894, along with her sister ship {{lang|it|Saetta}}. After two months in service, both vessels returned to the reserve.{{sfn|Garbett 1894|p=565}} As of 1895, she was located in La Spezia, along with {{lang|it|Saetta}}.{{sfn|Garbett 1895|p=90}} That year, unrest in the Ottoman Empire that killed hundreds of foreign nationals prompted several of the European great powers to send an international fleet to pressure the Ottomans into compensating the victims.{{cite news|title=Sultan Continues to Defy the Menaces of the Powers|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=27 November 1895|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1895/11/27/page/4/article/foreign-news|access-date=31 May 2016}} In November, a small Italian squadron was sent to Smyrna to join the fleet in there; {{lang|it|Folgore}} was mobilized as part of a larger force in Naples that consisted of the ironclads {{lang|it|Francesco Morosini}}, {{ship|Italian ironclad|Lepanto||2}}, and {{ship|Italian ironclad|Ruggiero di Lauria||2}}, the protected cruiser {{ship|Italian cruiser|Elba||2}}, the torpedo cruiser {{ship|Italian cruiser|Calatafimi||2}}, and five torpedo boats. This second squadron was stocked with coal and ammunition in the event that it would need to reinforce the squadron at Smryna.{{sfn|The Fleets in the Levant|p=16,664}} She remained in reserve until 12 April 1900, when the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} sold the ship for scrap. {{lang|it|Folgore}} was thereafter broken up.{{sfn|Fraccaroli|p=347}}

{{reflist|20em}}

• {{cite journal

|last=Beehler

|first=W. H.

|journal=Information from Abroad

|title=Naval Manoevres, 1887: Italian

|pages=164–167

|year=1887

|location=Washington, D.C.

|publisher=Government Printing Office

|oclc=12922775

|ref={{sfnref|Beehler}}

}}

• {{cite journal

|editor-last=Brassey

|editor-first=Thomas A.

|journal=The Naval Annual

|title=Foreign Naval Manoevres

|pages=450–455

|year=1889

|location=Portsmouth

|publisher=J. Griffin & Co.

|oclc=5973345

|ref={{sfnref|Brassey}}

}}

• {{cite book

|last=Fraccaroli

|first=Aldo

|editor-last=Gardiner

|editor-first=Robert

|chapter=Italy

|pages=334–359

|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905

|year=1979

|location=London

|publisher=Conway Maritime Press

|isbn=978-0-85177-133-5

| url-access = registration

| url = https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds0000unse_l2e2

|ref={{sfnref|Fraccaroli}}

}}

• {{cite journal

|editor-last=Garbett

|editor-first=H.

|title=Naval and Military Notes

|journal=Journal of the Royal United Service Institution

|year=1894

|volume=XXXVIII

|location=London

|publisher=Harrison & Sons

|pages=557–572

|ref={{sfnref|Garbett 1894}}

}}

• {{cite journal

|editor-last=Garbett

|editor-first=H.

|title=Naval and Military Notes – Italy

|journal=Journal of the Royal United Service Institution

|publisher=J. J. Keliher

|location=London

|year=1895

|volume=XXXIX

|pages=81–111

|oclc=8007941

|ref={{sfnref|Garbett 1895}}

}}

• {{cite journal

|title=The Fleets in the Levant

|journal=Scientific American Supplement

|volume=XL

|number=1043

|location=New York

|pages=16,663–16,664

|oclc=809204954

|ref={{sfnref|The Fleets in the Levant}}

}}

• [https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/Incrociatori.aspx Incrociatori] Marina Militare website

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{{Folgore-class cruiser}}

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Category:1886 ships

Category:Ships built in Castellammare di Stabia

Category:Folgore-class cruisers