In Italy and abroad, the opportunity for the Marines to equip themselves with battleships is debated as if the Hampton Roads episode had no meaning. In the Regia Marina, thanks to Cavour's foresight, the line of thought in support of the armored ships had already translated into reality with the construction of the two pyrexes King of Italy and King of Portugal.
The organic plan is the first serious attempt to provide the Navy with a naval line responding to the needs of the country (at the same session of the Chamber the Persano minister also presented a bill about the creation in Livorno of a single Navy School, l 'Naval Academy, which would have the merit of removing all dualism ... because we have to do an Italian Navy.
But the Chamber, engaged in the discussion of the events of the Aspromonte that shortly after will lead to the fall of the government, postpones the consideration. 19 will have to pass years before the project becomes a reality).
Source: Military Navy
