Good point. I had considered the French rivalry with Italy in the context of helping drag out the war, but now that you mention it the Italian fleet being away on raids or prize hunting would certainly create openings for France to push harder (particularly if French nationals get killed in attacks) on Rome. The legitimacy and strength of Italian control in Eretria is iffy at best, and after Fashoda France is still on the hunt for her colonial "jewel in the crown" that a consolidated East African Empire might provide. Now that she's in a period of Detente with Britain, would she use Italy's lack of naval power projection, need for French capital and resources, and diplomatic vulnerability to undermine her position in Ethiopia to try to establish their own protectorate there?
Pretty much. Rome becomes quite vulnerable, as they have to use a large component of their navy to even hope to project force enough to make a difference. But, in the event of this, I'd imagine there'd be French pressing. And if the Italians actually
lose significant surface ships, then it's certain the French will move in on the Italian projects.
I had a vision of
Italia steaming in convoy with the other 5 cruisers to try and make a quick raid on port. The US gets word and sends their cruisers to engage. It becomes a bit of a running battle, as the US cruisers take advantage of their speed due to not needing to conserve fuel to stay at range.
Italia's guns cause some damage due to their range, but they can only bring two to bear so shots can't easily be made.
And, in the end, the US cruisers delay long enough for
Puritan and
Vesuvius to draw in close (the former being rushed into service, and the latter too short ranged to risk in a daytime engagement), with the latter's pneumatic guns stealthily firing and the Italians unable to locate the ship in the dusk without the bloom from gunfire.
Puritan draws forward and engages
Italia on the broadside, with her 4 12" guns being able to take chunks out of
Italia's unarmored broadside and
Italia being unable to depress her own guns enough to get a good bead on
Puritan. It ends with the crippled Italian flagship having to strike its colors, and the rest of the Italian fleet fleeing to sea. The rest of the US vessels are battered, but are close enough to shore that none manages to founder even if one barely survives due to the efforts of its crew.
I mean, I don't see the Italians being
that big of a gambler, but I can't think of any other way to engage the US successfully, as allowing a buildup of forces doesn't work for Italy, and going on raids risks triggering intervention while the US sits there and builds up.
How well would the Italian boat handle the Atlantic? being built for the Med is different than a open ocean ship
The cruisers would be fine, I feel.
Etna et al were known to make visits to American countries OTL, and I haven't seen anything that noted they were particularly bad. Those were, of course, peacetime visits where fuel wasn't an issue.
Mind, if they actually get caught in a storm, that'd be the worst timing. And considering that Italy would declare war sometime mid 1891, that means they're right at the start of hurricane season. Could make things interesting.