Regia Marina
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The Regia Marina (RM) or Royal Italian Navy was the navy of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1946. In 1946, with the birth of the Italian Republic, the Regia Marina changed its name to Marina Militare.
The Sea Battle of Lissa, by Carl Frederik Sørensen, 1868
Szent István low in the water, after being torpedoed by Italian MAS boats
Duilio after refitting
Amerigo Vespucci, launched in 1931; here in the harbor of New York, 1976
Battle of Lissa (1866)
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The Battle of Lissa took place on 20 July 1866 in the Adriatic Sea near the Dalmatian island of Vis and was a significant victory for an Austrian Empire force over a numerically superior Italian force. It was the first major sea battle between ironclads and one of the last to involve deliberate ramming. The Italian navy fired roughly 1450 shots during the engagement but failed to sink any Austrian ship and lost two ironclads.
The Sea Battle of Lissa, Carl Frederik Sørensen
Tegetthoff (centre) at the Battle of Lissa, painting by Anton Romako.
SMS Kaiser at Lissa in the aftermath of the battle, undergoing repairs
Italian fleet in Ancona after the Battle of Lissa