 Construction of the ships was very lengthy , and by the time they were completed , the first pre @-@ dreadnought battleships were being built . Rendered obsolescent by these new ships , the Ruggiero di Laurias had limited careers . The spent their time in service alternating between the Active and Reserve Squadrons , and they were primarily occupied with conducting training exercises . The ships were removed from service in 1909 – 11 ; Francesco Morosini was expended as a target ship , while Ruggiero di Lauria became a floating oil tank and Andrea Doria was converted into a depot ship . During World War I , Andrea Doria returned to service as a guard ship before being repurposed for oil storage after the war , eventually being broken up in 1929 . Ruggiero di Lauria survived until 1943 , when she was sunk by bombers during World War II . Her wreck was salvaged in 1945 . 
