 Re d 'Italia initially served as the flagship of the Italian fleet , though she was replaced by the turret ship Affondatore shortly before the Battle of Lissa in 1866 . During that battle , Re d 'Italia was at the center of the melee . After her rudder was disabled by an Austrian vessel , the Austrian flagship , Erzherzog Ferdinand Max rammed her and tore a large hole in her hull . Re d 'Italia quickly rolled over and sank , taking some 400 of her crew with the ship , including her captain , Emilio Faà di Bruno . 
