Italian cruiser Monzambano

{{main|Goito-class cruiser}}

{{lang|it|Monzambano}} was {{convert|73.4|m|sp=us}} long overall and had a beam of {{convert|7.88|m|abbr=on}} and an average draft of {{convert|3.31|m|abbr=on}}. She displaced {{convert|856|LT|sp=us|lk=on}} normally. Her propulsion system consisted of three double-expansion steam engines each driving a single screw propeller, with steam supplied by four coal-fired locomotive boilers. Exact figures for the ship's performance have not survived, but the members of the {{lang|it|Goito}} class could steam at a speed of about {{convert|18|kn|lk=in}} from {{convert|2500|to|3180|ihp|lk=in}}. {{lang|it|Monzambano}} had a cruising radius of {{convert|1100|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|10|kn}}. She had a crew of between 105 and 121.{{sfn|Fraccaroli|p=347}}

The primary armament for {{lang|it|Monzambano}} was five {{convert|14|in|abbr=on|0}} torpedo tubes. She carried a light gun battery for defense against torpedo boats. This consisted of six QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss 40-caliber guns, which were mounted singly. The ship was protected with an armored deck that was {{convert|1.5|in|abbr=on}} thick.{{sfn|Fraccaroli|p=347}}

{{lang|it|Monzambano}} was laid down at the {{lang|it|Arsenale di La Spezia}} on 25 August 1885, the first member of her class to begin construction. She was launched on 14 March 1888 and fitting-out work was completed on 11 August 1889.{{sfn|Fraccaroli|p=347}} In 1893, {{lang|it|Monzambano}} was laid up in La Spezia for the year, along with several other torpedo cruisers of the {{sclass|Partenope|cruiser|4}}, her sister {{ship|Italian cruiser|Goito||2}}, and {{ship|Italian cruiser|Pietro Micca||2}}; at the time, the Italian fleet mobilized only a handful of vessels for the annual training maneuvers, preferring to keep the most modern vessels in reserve to reduce maintenance costs.{{sfn|Garbett 1893|p=567}} That year, {{lang|it|Monzambano}} was activated for the major fleet maneuvers conducted in July with the 1st Division, with the ironclad battleships {{ship|Italian ironclad|Lepanto||2}} and {{ship|Italian ironclad|Ruggiero di Lauria||2}}, the torpedo cruiser {{ship|Italian cruiser|Euridice||2}}, and four torpedo boats. She served in the attacking squadron during a set of exercises that simulated a French attack on Naples.{{sfn|Clarke & Thursfield|pp=202–203}}{{sfn|Lansdale|pp=355–357}} On 1 October, she was stationed in Taranto along with the ironclads {{ship|Italian ironclad|Affondatore||2}} and {{ship|Italian ironclad|Ancona||2}}, the protected cruisers {{ship|Italian cruiser|Liguria||2}}, {{ship|Italian cruiser|Umbria||2}}, and {{ship|Italian cruiser|Etruria||2}}, the torpedo cruisers {{ship|Italian cruiser|Montebello||2}} and {{ship|Italian cruiser|Confienza||2}}, and several other vessels. She remained there through 1894.{{sfn|Garbett 1894|p=201}}

In 1895, {{lang|it|Monzambano}} was stationed in the 2nd Maritime Department, split between Taranto and Naples, along with most of the torpedo cruisers in the Italian fleet. These included her sister ships {{lang|it|Goito}}, {{ship|Italian cruiser|Montebello||2}}, and {{ship|Italian cruiser|Confienza||2}}, the eight {{lang|it|Partenope}}-class cruisers, and {{ship|Italian cruiser|Tripoli||2}}.{{sfn|Garbett 1895|p=90}} In 1898, {{lang|it|Monzambano}} was assigned to the Levant Squadron that patrolled the eastern Mediterranean. She served on the station with the ironclad battleship {{ship|Italian ironclad|Sardegna||2}}, the protected cruiser {{ship|Italian cruiser|Etruria||2}}, {{lang|it|Montebello}}, and the torpedo cruiser {{ship|Italian cruiser|Aretusa||2}}.{{sfn|Garbett 1899|p=855}} The ship was stricken on 26 August 1901 and broken up for scrap.{{sfn|Fraccaroli|p=347}}

{{reflist|20em}}

• {{cite book

|last1=Clarke

|first1=George S.

|last2=Thursfield

|first2=James R.

|title=The Navy and the Nation, or Naval Warfare and Imperial Defence

|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924030750636

|year=1897

|location=London

|publisher=John Murray

|oclc=3462308

|ref={{sfnref|Clarke & Thursfield}}

|name-list-style=amp

}}

• {{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 – Italy

|journal=Journal of the Royal United Service Institution

|publisher=J. J. Keliher

|location=London

|year=1893

|volume=XXXVII

|pages=566–568

|oclc=8007941

|ref={{sfnref|Garbett 1893}}

}}

• {{cite journal

|editor-last=Garbett

|editor-first=H.

|title=Naval and Military Notes

|journal=Journal of the Royal United Service Institution

|publisher=J. J. Keliher

|location=London

|year=1894

|volume=XXXVIII

|pages=193–206

|oclc=8007941

|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

|editor-last=Garbett

|editor-first=H.

|title=Naval Notes – Italy

|journal=Journal of the Royal United Service Institution

|publisher=J. J. Keliher

|location=London

|year=1899

|volume=XLII

|pages=855–857

|oclc=8007941

|ref={{sfnref|Garbett 1899}}

}}

• {{cite journal

|last=Lansdale

|first=P. V.

|title=Italian Naval Manoeuvres

|journal=Notes on the Year's Naval Progress

|pages=354–373

|publisher=Government Publishing Office

|location=Washington, D. C.

|year=1894

|oclc=727366607

|ref={{sfnref|Lansdale}}

}}

• [https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/LMNO/monzambano_incrociatore.aspx Monzambano] Marina Militare website {{in lang|it}}

{{Portal bar|Italy|Engineering}}

{{Goito-class cruiser}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monzambano}}

Category:Goito-class cruisers

Category:1888 ships

Category:Ships built in La Spezia