A FINELY DETAILED 1:100 SCALE STATIC DISPLAY MODEL OF THE MONARCH-CLASS COASTAL DEFENCE SHIP WIEN BUILT FOR THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN NAVY, 1898

modelled by N. Hawkins, with 36in. laminated and carved hull, with sponson booms, scuppers, companionway, covered and open portholes, twin props with brass propellers and rudders, varnished wood deck complete with polished metal and painted details as appropriate and including ventilators, anchors with chains, fitted boats swung out in davits, main and secondary armament, ventilators with red painted interiors, lifebuoys, funnel with safety valve extension pipe, searchlights, capstans, companionways and other details, loosely mounted in brass dolphin supports to felt-lined display base with glazed wooden cover, overall measurement -- 23½ x 52 x 16½in. (60 x 132 x 42cm.)

One of a class of three 5,700 ton 'Monarch' Class coastal defence ships, Wien was built by Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino between 1893-1897, was armed with two 9.4in. Krupp guns supported by 23 further guns of assorted calibres and manned by a crew of 423 officers and men. Her first task on commissioning was to take part in Queen Victoria's International Fleet Review off Spithead to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee before hurrying off to blockade Crete during Greco-Turkish War that year. After a series of training cruises, she was laid up in 1906 with only the occasional ceremonial duty to fulfil. Briefly recommissioned during the Second Balkan War, she was put back to ordinary again by March 1913. When WWI broke out she was attached to the 5th Division and sent to defend the naval base at Cattaro, but could not elevate her guns sufficiently. Remaining there anyway as a deterrent, she was eventually sent in 1917 to serve as a guard ship at Trieste. Whilst there she went and bombarded Italian gun emplacements at Cortellazo with some success. Determined to avenge this, the Italians mounted a torpedo attack and successfully sank Wien on 10th December 1917 with the loss of 45 men.