
The Leonardo da Vinci in 1911. It would take
two years to refloat her after the fatal
explosion. |

The overturned hull, seen in a photo taken
August 3, 1916. She has not et begun to sink
into the mud. |

After refloating, the overturned hull is
pushed into drydock in September 18, 1919. |

By the next day the hull is properly braced,
and the pontoons are being removed to drain
the dock. |

September 21th: the drydock is drained, and
the ship rests on timber framework. |

Repairs are well under way in this undated
photo, taken from an airship. |

The upside-down ship is towed out to be righted
after repairs to the hull, January 22, 1921. |

A large basin was dredged out to give the
ship room to roll over without hitting the
bottom. |

With 400 tons of solid ballast to make her
keel-heavy, water is let in to start her
rolling over. |

As the water weighs down the starboard side,
the ship suddenly rolls herself upright. |

"Every wrong rights itself,"
The ship is upright, with a list from the
ballast water. |

After pumping out the water, the ship will
sit on an even keel, ready for a refit and
a return to service. |

The hull is level, being attended by a floating
crane and an old sailing vessel turned barge. |
Unfortunately, the decission was made to
halt repairs at this point. As the economic
conditions continued to deteriorate, there
were no funds available to rebuild the ship.
In May of 1923 the Leonardo da Vinci was
stricken from the navy list and sold for
scrap.
|