
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 yet 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.
|